By Ben Jacobs

Jesús Cuellar versus Abner Mares is an attractive fight in its own right.  A fine support act to the main event of Keith Thurman versus Shawn Porter on June 25 at New York’s Barclays Center, but there is added spice with the fact that Mares is now working with Robert García, former trainer of Cuellar.  Nevertheless, the Argentine played down the significance of that fact when discussing the bout with BoxingScene.com after lunch this week.

“I’m fighting Mares not Robert García,” he said, matter-of-factly.  “I train and do my job, we’re working great here and we’re happy.  I’m quite laid back about it.

“I respect Mares, he’s one of the best in the division, he’s a boxer that I wanted to fight and we’re both going to take advantage of this opportunity.”

Cuellar took the decision to leave García before training for his last bout, a decision win over Jonathan Oquendo.  This time he has decided to take another step, basing himself at Abel Sánchez’s gym at altitude in Big Bear, California.

“It’s the first time I’ve been training here in Big Bear.  I’m very happy here with my people, my friends, the sparring, my cook and my strength and conditioning coach, Raúl Robles. Juan Ledesma is my boxing trainer.  I’m 100% for this fight and I hope to be at my maximum level in the ring.  I’m alone here with my team, we’re content.

“The most important thing is to win and arrive to the fight in top shape.  I want to show that I’m a good boxer and one of the top fighters in the division.  This is going to be a great fight and we’re working hard so that everything goes well.”

Mares dropped a decision to Leo Santa Cruz in his last fight and while highly competitive, has opted to change trainers again.  ‘El Forastero’ gave his thoughts.

“He did a good job (against Santa Cruz) and was well prepared.  He is working well now with Robert García.  Fighters change trainers for different reasons, sometimes the previous trainer wasn’t quite what you wanted.  Maybe he looks to Robert García to find what was missing and I’m sure Robert will have a good strategy for him.

“I want to have two more fights this year and then step up to super featherweight next year.”

In his last ring outing this past December, Cuellar defeated Oquendo, again at the Barclays Center in a fight that some predicted he would win by stoppage.  Reflecting on the encounter, the southpaw is honest in his assessment.

“I am looking at that fight again and trying to modify a few things to make sure I don’t commit the same mistakes next time out.  But each time I see it, I like it, but I am a self-critic and I recognise mistakes that I make.”

Cuellar, the WBA regular champion offered his opinion on the mega clash between WBA super champion Santa Cruz and Carl Frampton.

“I think Leo Santa Cruz is in a great moment but so is Frampton.  I think Santa Cruz will take the win.  He works very well from distance, he’s a very good boxer.”