by Rick Reeno

WBC featherweight champion Abner Mares (26-0, 14KOs) advised BoxingScene.com that three potential opponents are being discussed for his planned return in the fall. Mares will face either undefeated Jayson Velez of Puerto Rico, top contender Robinson Castellanos or former champion Jhonny Gonzalez. Mares is hoping to return on the undercard of the mega-match between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, which takes place on September 14th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Gonzalez lost an eight round technical decision to Daniel Ponce De Leon last September. He picked up two wins since then. Velez (20-0, 15KOs) was scheduled to face Ponce De Leon earlier this year, but withdrew with an injury. He returns on Saturday night in Tabasco, Mexico. Castellanos (18-9, 11KOs), the WBC's silver champion at featherweight, won a final eliminator in April with a twelve round split decision over Celestino Caballero.