Gonzalez: I Saw Abner Mares Was Worried Before the Fight

By Edward Chaykovsky

WBC featherweight champion Jhonny Gonzalez (55-8, 47KOs) feels better than ever after knocking out Abner Mares (26-1-1, 14KOs) in the first round of Saturday's fight at the StubHub Center in Carson, California. Gonzalez had some personal problems, and an injury, before last year's decision loss to Daniel Ponce De Leon. He was convinced of victory after examining Mares' mannerisms at their final press conference. He says Mares looked worried and very timid.

"I had some personal problems in the past but now they are behind me. Before the fight with Ponce De Leon I injured a rib. I was sparring and I injured a rib and I didn't want to cancel the fight. It was a big stage, an important show, Canelo Alvarez was fighting and I wanted to be on that card. I learned from that. Next time if I get hurt I won't fight," Gonzalez said.

"Since the press conference [I was confident that I would win]. This week, since the press conference. I wasn't able to go to the last press conference because I had a problem with my flight, but this week at the press conference I saw something in him. I saw something in him and I knew that I won the first round. He looked a little worried because he knew I was ready."