Photos: Jesus Cuellar, Abner Mares - Face To Face at Workouts

LOS ANGELES - Featherweight world champion Jesus Cuellar and former three-division world champion Abner Mares participated in a media workout in Los Angeles Tuesday in advance of their long awaited showdown taking place Saturday, December 10 from Galen Center in USC in Los Angeles and live on SHOWTIME.

Also in attendance Tuesday at City of Angels Boxing was former title challenger and local fan favorite Josesito Lopez, who competes in a welterweight bout on the undercard. The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT and features junior middleweight world champion Jermall Charlo taking on top-rated challenger Julian Williams in a battle of undefeated rising stars in their prime.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Ringstar Sports and TGB Promotions, are on sale now and are priced at $35, $50, $75, $150 and $200. To purchase tickets go to www.galentix.com.

Here is what the participants had to say Tuesday:

MARVIN SOMODIO, Cuellar's Assistant Trainer

"Cuellar is in great shape. We've been training Jesus at Wild Card since June. I think that this time is going to the perfect time for us. I've always thought that you need some time to improve the fighters and now we've gotten that.

"I think the postponement helped us more than Mares. I feel like I know Cuellar 100 percent and we've studied up on Mares and his strengths and weaknesses.

"I expect the early rounds the fighters will be smarter, but as the rounds go on, these fighters are warriors, and I expect them to fight inside.

"Jesus loves to fight. Especially in the early rounds, he loves to throw hard punches. We tried to change everything so that he's setting his opponent up.

"Mares is going to try to box. But in the middle of the fight Mares will do what he does. He's going to come forward and exchange. We're ready for anything and we expect everything from Mares.

"I don't think Cuellar's layoff will be a factor. We've almost had no time off. He's been in the gym and sparring with world champions. He's a great guy to train. You will never hear him complain. He loves to work hard and train. If anything we have to make sure we don't over train him. Freddie and Jesus get along very well."

ROBERT GARCIA, Mares' Trainer

"I think basically what Abner needed was just a new voice. He had been working hard and training in a nice gym that he liked. But he was calling his own shots. I think he was getting a little too comfortable. I just think he needed a new voice.

"He's never questioned one thing I've asked of him. He's done everything I've asked. I said that he can stay in Riverside or he could make the drive. Eventually he decided to stay in Riverside.

"Abner is hungry now. When he introduced himself to me, he might have lost some of that. He wasn't listening to trainers' instructions. But the moment he came to me, he's been doing everything he's supposed to. He's old enough to know that he's not a kid anymore.

"Cuellar is a very strong fighter both physically and mentally. He's the hardest hitter in the featherweight division. He's dangerous and dedicated.

"I know that Freddie Roach is a great trainer. One day I want to say that I've accomplished as much as he has. He is very good when it comes to strategy and adjustments during the fight. This is a more challenging fight with Freddie but I love challenges.

"Training has been great and everything we got out of it was positive. He transitioned to me easily and I can't wait for December 10."