By Miguel Rivera
Former world champion Jhonny Gonzalez (59-10, 49KOs) has accessed Abner Mares (29-2, 15KOs) of running away from their rematch negotiations.
The two sides were in talks for an March fight, but then Mares went in another direction and made a deal to face Fernando Montiel on March 12th as part of the Keith Thurman vs. Shawn Porter undercard.
In what was a major upset at the time, Gonzalez stopped Mares in the first round in August of 2013.
Mares then exercised an immediate rematch clause and a second fight was set for the following February. Mares withdrew from the rematch with a rib injury and several proposed dates never happened.
In their recent discussions, there was a dispute over the weight limit. Mares wanted Gonzalez, who now fights at super featherweight, to meet him at the featherweight limit of 126-pounds.
After a few weeks of holding his line, Gonzalez finally agreed to Mares' demand for the rematch to take place at featherweight. Gonzalez expected the fight to happen at that point but he wasn't surprised. During the entire negotiations, Gonzalez and his promoter Oswaldo Kuchle were having their doubts that Mares would accept the fight.
"Mares does not want to do anything. He did not want the rematch. He was demanding that I come down to 126-pounds. So I said 'yes.' It was no problem for me to make a fight that people really expect, but he wouldn't agree to the fight," Gonzalez.
Gonzalez is willing to take any big fight at 126 or at 130.
"My dream is to become champion at super featherweight and I have that goal for this year," he said.
"At 126 and 130 pounds, that is no problem for me, I can easily make the weight and if I get a good opportunity I will be ready. If something interesting is proposed at 126, I will lose the weight."
