By Ryan Burton
Three-division world champion Abner Mares (31-2-1) is looking to have a big 2018.
After fighting just once in 2016 and 2017, the WBA "regular" featherweight champion believes that he will achieve greater results in the new year.
Part of the reason why Mares is so confident is the work that he has done with world class trainer Robert Garcia.
The career if Mares was shooting high, until he was knocked out in one round by Jhonny Gonzalez in a big upset in 2013.
He was away from the ring for nearly a year before his next fight took place, eleven months later.
Mares went through several trainers, but hooked up with Garcia after losing a majority decision to Leo Santa Cruz in August, 2016.
The switch was made prior to his training camp for his fight against Jesus Cuellar last December. The change paid immediate dividends as Mares dropped Cuellar, who himself was previously trained by Garcia, in route to a points victory.
"I think my work speaks for itself. If you look at my past two fights people will tell you I look rejuvenated, more movement. People come up to me and tell me I look different and that is from the training I am getting from Robert," Mares told BoxingScene.com.
Mares and Garcia next hooked up in October when Mares soundly defeated the then once beaten Andres Guitierrez (35-2-1).
"I dropped Cuellar, dominated him. Thank God I made easy work of him The last fight (against Gutierrez) was a tough kid who wasn't known but he was 24-years-old and carried a decent punch and we did really well against him also," Mares explained.
A rematch between Mares and Santa Cruz was recently ordered by the WBA and there is talk of the fight happening on a spring date at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.
Send questions or comments to ringsidewriter@gmail.com You can follow Ryan on Twitter @ringsidewriter
