“Speed kills power,” says Abner Mares
Photo by Ray Flores
Change of venue will take away a home field advantage from former Mexican Olympian, Abner Mares, but he is not concerned. “My speed should kill his power,” said Mares, 24, after a rigorous training session with trainer Clemente Medina at the Maywood Boxing Club last Tuesday:” As once again Pacquiao showed in a Margarito fight that speed kills power.”
Tired of waiting for a rematch with” The Filipino Flash”, Nonito Donaire, his opponent, Vic Darchinyan (35-2-1,27KO) accepted an invitation to enter the tournament. He is out to prove that he is the best bantamweight in the world. No stranger to Emerald Queen Casino, a place where he demolished a crafty Russian light bantamweight champion, Dimitri Kirilov in 2008, Darchinyan, 34, comes into a tournament as the most experienced champion. Some believe that former flyweight and current super flyweight champion Darchinyan could be too small for 118 pound division because last time he challenged for a bantamweight title he got beat by Joseph Agbeko. “I just went for a knock out,” explained the Armenian banger who calls Australia his home: “He got under my skin a few days before the fight at a press conference and I lost my head. This time I will use my experience. Physically I am ready to fight at bantamweight. I am not looking for excuses.”
Young Abner Mares is not looking for any excuses either. Knowing how much is on the line in this fight, Mares intensified his training to three times a day; road work in the morning, training at Maywood Boxing club early noon and strength and conditioning training in the evening. “It’s always great going back to where you started from. Clemente is a great trainer,” said Mares who came back to work with his original coach in the pro ranks, Clemente Medina: “All around this whole camp has been great.”
Earlier this year, unbeaten Mares (20-0-1,13KO) challenged his close friend, Yonnhy Perez for a bantamweight crown. Twelve round war had Los Angeles fans at a Staples Center in frenzy. Mares thought he did enough to win. The judges didn’t. They scored it a draw thus allowing Perez to retain his title. Abner Mares is ready to give it another try on December 11th against Darchinyan.
“We know he is going to come strong pushing us back, said Mares about his opponent:” At the end we might be the ones pushing him back. I think my speed should definitely overcome Vic’s power.” On paper, this match up is as intriguing as you are going to get. But boxing is a lot like weather in Hawaii; one could never tell what’s next.
Born in Odessa, Ukraine in 1962, Igor Frank,
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