Mares Plans July Return, Against Russell or Santa Cruz

By Miguel Rivera

Three division world champion Abner Mares (29-1-1, 15KOs) is looking to return to action by mid-July and says it's very possible that he could face either Leo Santa Cruz, who just moved up 126-pounds, or WBC featherweight champion Gary Russell Jr.

Mars has fought three times in the last ten months, including a ten round decision win over Arturo Reyes in March. Mares entered the Premier Boxing Champions fight with an illness.

Russell (26-1) captured the WBC title in March with a fourth round destruction of Jhonny Gonzalez, who stopped Mares in one round back in August of 2013.

Mares, Russell and Santa Cruz are all under contract with manager/adviser Al Haymon.

"We're trying to secure a good fight, whether it's with Gary Russell and Leo Santa Cruz. Both of them are very likely, they're both in the same company with me and my future is leaning towards one of the two. I hope one of them accepts the fight, but so far we do not any have confirmation," Mares told ESPN Deportes. "I don't want to disrespect anyone, [ but I don't want] second-tier opponents. I'm back and I'm ready for those big names that people have asked of me."