By Miguel Angel Cebreros, notifight.com

 

The featherweight champion of the World Boxing Council (WBC), unbeaten Mexican Abner Mares (26-0-1, 14 KOs), returned to the gym on Tuesday as he eyes the first defense of his third divisional crown. Mares won the title from his compatriot Daniel Ponce De Leon on May 4 in Las Vegas with a ninth round TKO. Mares is only doing light training at the moment, under the supervision of his coach Clemente Medina in Santa Fe Springs, California.

Mares said he wants to do his first defense in Mexico, either in Mexico City or in his native Guadalajara, because he feels that he owes it to his Mexican fans. The biggest problem is related to getting Showtime to come out to Mexico to televise the fight.

About his potential rivals, Mares said it could be Jayson Velez of Puerto Rico or Mexico's Robinson Castellanos, and said his next fight could be in August or September if it takes place in Mexico, or else he could return on the 14th of September in Las Vegas as part of the Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Saul "Canelo" Alvarez undercard - if that fight is finalized in the coming weeks.