By Rick Reeno

MGM Grand, Las Vegas - Former three division world champion Abner Mares (27-1-1, 14KOs) returned to the ring after nearly a year off, and won a ten round unanimous decision over Jonathan Oquendo (24-4, 16KOs). The scores were 96-94, 98-92, 98-92. The fight was Mares' first since the knockout loss to Jhonny Gonzalez from last August, and his first under new trainer Virgil Hunter.

Mares had the edge in the early going. Oquendo opened up in the fourth round, landing good shots to the head of Mares and bad cut opened up around the left eye of Mares after an accidental clash of heads. The fight was grueling and mostly fought on the inside with neither guy gaining a significant advantage.

The fight wasn't pretty to watch, with plenty of holding on the inside and Mares choosing to use his legs more often than his usual style of slugging away.