By Keith Idec
Abner Mares and promoter Richard Schaefer are confident that Mares’ surgically repaired left eye isn’t more at risk for permanent damage than that of any other boxer.
Mares’ fight against featherweight champion Jesus Cuellar was postponed in June because the New York State Athletic Commission wouldn’t license Mares. The embattled NYSAC rejected Mares’ license application due to concern over Mares’ left eye.
Mares underwent surgery late in 2008 to correct a torn retina, but reiterated during a conference call Monday that his left eye hasn’t troubled him in the eight years since he had the procedure. The 30-year-old Mares (29-2-1, 15 KOs), of Downey, California, will challenge Argentina’s Cuellar (28-1, 21 KOs) for Cuellar’s WBA world featherweight title December 10 at USC’s Galen Center in Los Angeles (Showtime).
Mares and Cuellar were supposed to meet June 25 in the co-featured fight of a CBS broadcast from Barclays Center, but it was removed from the card eight days earlier. Unbeaten WBA world welterweight champion Keith Thurman (27-0, 22 KOs) defeated Shawn Porter (26-2-1, 21 KOs) by unanimous decision in an action-packed main event that night.
“They’re more strict [in New York] and then obviously their issues that they’re having,” Mares said Monday. “And it’s nothing bad. It’s something that happened in 2008. I want to remind everyone that this happened in 2008. I’ve been fighting since and I’ve been cleared in every state I’ve fought in, other than New York. I’ve fought here in California, I’ve fought in Texas, I’ve fought in Vegas, I fought in Philly I think since, too.
“I think the reason [for the cancelation] is it was just a red flag for them. I think it was because I had surgery done in 2008 and, again, they just didn’t want to take the risk. But again, I think just like Richard said and myself, and you could ask my doctor, he checked me, we’re good. We’re good to go and we have been. I have the same risk. I don’t have it higher or lower than any fighter out there. My surgery’s done. I’m good. And like any other fighter, have the same risk as [they] would getting up in the ring. So there’s no greater risk of me getting [an eye injury].”
Schaefer – whose new company, Ringstar Sports, will promote the December 10 card – made sure to confirm Mares’ fitness to fight before moving the Cuellar-Mares match to this card. The former Golden Boy Promotions chief executive officer has worked with Mares since he turned pro after representing Mexico at the 2004 Summer Olympics and did his due diligence.
“I think, first of all, New York has other issues related to boxing as well,” Schaefer said on the conference call. “Insurance requirements, and they’ve had a very difficult year in New York, as it relates to all the ins and outs of the commission. I think anybody in boxing would agree that it’s a bit of a mess out there. But then you look at California. I think California, with Andy Foster on top, is one of the best-run, frankly, the best-run state athletic commission. And so, when the fight was postponed or canceled or whatever in New York, then I not only talked to Abner Mares and his wife – they were both in my office and I talked to them.
“But I asked Abner for permission to talk directly with his doctor, Dr. Steven Steinschriber, who is one of the most recognized specialists and surgeons, as it relates to eye injuries, in the world. And when I talked to Dr. Steinschriber, I asked him straight out, ‘Is Abner OK?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ And I said, ‘Is Abner at any higher risk than any other fighter who enters the ring?’ And he said, ‘Absolutely not.’ That gave me the confidence to go forward and promote this fight. I had the same conversations with [CSAC executive director] Andy Foster. They, the California commission and their medical board, it satisfied their requirements and their whatever to make sure Abner is OK, because of course, for anyone, whether it’s the commission or anyone involved in this fight, first and foremost is fighter safety. And Al Haymon, Abner’s adviser, asked me numerous times, I mean, numerous times. And he said, ‘Look, if you’re gonna do this fight, make sure Abner is OK. And make absolutely sure Abner is OK.’ And I feel confident that I did that, and so we’re ready to go.”
The NYSAC has been heavily scrutinized since heavyweight Magomed Abdusalamov suffered brain injuries during a November 2013 loss to Mike Perez in The Theater at Madison Square Garden that left Abdusalamov in a coma. The aftermath of the Abdusalamov tragedy caused the NYSAC to require promoters to spend much more money for medical insurance, a change that has limited professional boxing activity in the state.
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.
