By Miguel Rivera

According to promotional firm Promociones del Pueblo, former world champion Jhonny Gonzalez (57-9, 48KOs) is very interested in facing the winner of the upcoming clash between Southern California rivals Abner Mares (29-1-1, 15 KOs) and Leo Santa Cruz (30-0-1, 17 KOs).

The Mares-Santa Cruz fight is scheduled for August 29th at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California as part of a Premier Boxing Champions card. Gonzalez makes his super featherweight debut on August 1 in Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico, where he will meet with Japan's Kazuki Hashimoto for the international title of the World Boxing Council (WBC). The bout will be carried by Televisa Deportes.

Gonzalez stopped Mares in the first round of their 2013 encounter. It was a big upset at the time and threw a wrench in the plans of a tentative fight between Santa Cruz and Mares. A rematch with Mares was due to take place in early 2014, but never happened after Mares withdrew with a rib injury.

To face the winner, Gonzalez would have to come down in weight as it's unlikely that either fighter would go up to 130-pounds. Gonzalez returns from a fourth round TKO defeat at the hands of Gary Russell Jr.