Is Johnny Gonzalez the right opponent for Mares right now?

Nice scrap. Im glad he's taking this match since he can further test his chin at 126 vs one of the hardest hitting fw out. Plus, Johnny is no slack, he can box well and having nacho in your corner doesn't hurt. Also, I think Mikey vs Mares would be sick. Although Mikey is very gifted... he seems to be missing the most important factor in a great boxer, HEART. When he pretty much quit vs Salido it was a major let down. Sure Mikey has tons of power and technique, but if salido was beginning to make openings for himself, im sure Mares can do much better. Unless Mikey grows a pair, I can see him getting touched and quitting vs a boxer/puncher, not just getting ko's vs walking potato sacks.

One thing I will say. mares was getting tired against ponce de Leon. I believe that the new division has added muscle and has lost some speed. also gonzales throws in combinations and has decent power. I'm going with mares my mom is from guadalajara but its a close fight. I'm going to say 60 40 mares

I happen to think Mares matches up well with Garcia. Very well. stylewise, nope ...mikey is all wrong for mares no matter how he approaches the fight ... if he swarms mikey(ala moreno) he'd get stopped ..if he boxes, he'd get picked apart ...mikey is way out of his league in any department imo...

sure is ...im not too sure he'll win but then again he always finds a way to ...mares is a warrior but he needs to stay away , far far away from mikey .... I happen to think Mares matches up well with Garcia. Very well.

sure is ...im not too sure he'll win but then again he always finds a way to ...mares is a warrior but he needs to stay away , far far away from mikey ....

The fact that some consider Gonzalez a soft touch speaks volumes as to how far Mares has actually come. In an interview with I believe Elie Sechbach, he said he wasn't looking ahead, but if he was fortunate enough to get past a guy like Johnny Gonzalez, he like the opportunity to fight Chris John and if luck is kind to him possibly a superfight with Gamboa or Garcia. A big if, a lot has to happen, but if those do manage to be his next 3 fights, combined with his last 7 fights, you'd be looking at an opponent record along the lines of: 368 wins -18 losses over 10 fights at the championship level. PRETTY AMAZING!!! I wonder how that ranks historically.

No arguments here, just trying to make sense of this. I'd rather see him fight a bigger name, but I think everyone has made solid points here. I'm a big fan of Mares, so maybe he's just spoiled me with his usual selection of a top level opponent. Gonzalez is very good, and I do think the fight could be very entertaining. Hope this doesn't prove to be a mistake by Mares. it wont johnny gonzalez is decent he is not the same any more no more snap on his punches he is old 32 year old he has been looking slow and mechanical he struggle horrible with osejo who was 21-12 in close fight and was hurt and dropped by him and i remember him dropping his mouth piece right in front of the ref it was so blatant it was funny lol ... i be surprise if mares doesnt dominate him and wear him out for a 8th or 9th rd ko its going to be easy after the 3rd

It's not a bad fight, i really don't know of anyone else who would be a better opponent.

I think they are pushing Santa Cruz v. Mares a lot. They've fought on the same card a few times the past 2 years. I just don't think it's a great fight at this point. Mares is taking on beasts (and moving up in weight), while Santa Cruz just moved up to 122 and is still proving himself. I don't think this fight should happen until Santa Cruz takes down a few big names. I don't think he's ready for Mares. Who knows, by the time Santa Cruz is ready, Mares will be at 130. Realistically, this fight should happen soon, since I think Mares will move up to 130 soon and Santa Cruz will likely stay at 122 for a while. Maybe a 124 catchweight could work. I think Mares kills Santa Cruz right now for the record. i agree with mares killing santa cruz in a fun early rounds ... santa cruz is a big 122 pounder i cant believe he ever made 118 but honestly he is entertaining but i don't see him that great and he doesnt have amazing power ....but i guess it is to early to tell but his workrate is amazing against small ok fighters but his feet movement is sometimes lost in there and only throws combinations when boxers stuck to the hip .. mares on the other hand does everything good also pretty solid punch resistance and great variation on his punches i dont see him loosing ..

mares is the type of fighter that Nacho fighters feed off of. This won't be easy for mares.

Gonzales has true one punch power along with great technique. This is another solid name to add to mares incredible resume

man mares the few fighters that can do whatever he wants and we shouldn't say nothing gonzales is solid comp .... mares resume has been tough and honestly i think they are setting up a big fight with santa cruz if he gets thru terraza .. No arguments here, just trying to make sense of this. I'd rather see him fight a bigger name, but I think everyone has made solid points here. I'm a big fan of Mares, so maybe he's just spoiled me with his usual selection of a top level opponent. Gonzalez is very good, and I do think the fight could be very entertaining. Hope this doesn't prove to be a mistake by Mares.

I am really looking forward to this fight man Johnny Gonzalez is no joke good clash of styles.

I'm geniunely asking the question. It seems to me that Gonzalez, who I think is a very good fighter, is a bit of step in the wrong direction at this point for Mares. Gonzalez is the type of fighter that Mares should beat, and will be expected to beat, so there isn't much upside to beating him. However, he's also the type of fighter who presents some potential match-up problems, which presents the very real possibility that Gonzalez could pull off an upset or be more difficult than expected. Anyway, like I said, I'm asking. Maybe some of you guys can make more sense of this choice of fighter for Mares for me. Was the guy without other more appealing options? man mares the few fighters that can do whatever he wants and we shouldn't say nothing gonzales is solid comp .... mares resume has been tough and honestly i think they are setting up a big fight with santa cruz if he gets thru terraza ..

I agree with everyone on here he fights the best and gives the fans what they want.

He's taking the biggest challenge available to him. All respect to the kid

Mares has fought a lot of tough fights in a row and has been moving up in weight. He deserves a softer opponent. I also didn't like the way Gonzalez lost his title on a TD so he deserves a shot as well. The problem is I have a sneak suspicion that this will be a tougher than expected fight for Mares. I think this turn out to be an excellent fight.

Yeah it will be a good action fight,,,,,, i would rather see mares vs donaire or gary russel jr but that aint happening,,, they could do alot worse than johhnny and besides mares has done murderers row over the past few years,, he needs a soft touch...