Abner Mares Wants Leo Santa Cruz, Frampton or Selby Next

By Miguel Rivera

WBA "regular" featherweight champion Abner Mares (30-2-1, 15 KOs) is looking for a major fight in his next ring appearance.

Last December at the USC Galen Center in Los Angeles, Mares dropped and dominated the betting favorite, Jesus Cuellar, to capture the WBA world title.

"We are working, trying to finalize my next fight, which should be very attractive, against a major opponent. I am interested in a rematch with Leo Santa Cruz. We also have Lee Selby in sight, as well as the Irishman Carl Frampton and some others fighters of that level," Mares told ESPN Deportes.

Santa Cruz won a tough twelve round majority decision over Mares in August of 2015. The following year Santa Cruz suffered his first career defeat at the hands of Frampton. The Mexican fighter got his revenge in January, with a twelve round majority decision over Frampton to recapture the WBA's "super" title at 126-pounds.

Mares has Santa Cruz at the top of his list, followed by the other top fighters at the weight.

"Fortunately, I have the world title in my power, within a division that is very good where I can find great opponents," Mares said. "My first option is to try to unify titles, with any of those champions that I just mentioned. My plan is to try to do the best I can, as a boxer, for the next three years."

Mares is already expending his horizons, by becoming a manager to several up and coming boxers.

"That's the idea, no doubt. I do not want to wait until my retirement to open the doors for them. For now, I'm in charge of driving the career of Misael Rodriguez, something that fills me with joy, because it reminds me of the way I started in professional boxing. I knew him, even before he went to compete in the Olympic Games. I saw him in the amateur boxing world and he convinced me with his heart, his good attitude, because he is a fighter who always comes out determined to win, who is hungry for glory," said Mares.