Mares finally gets his shot at Agbeko

Abner Mares was ready to fight Joseph Agbeko on April 23. Then Agbeko's back gave out on him at Los Angeles International Airport a few days before the fight, which had to be called off.

Tonight, Mares gets his long-awaited chance to lift Agbeko's IBF bantamweight belt from him when they meet at the Hard Rock Hotel in the finals of Showtime's Bantamweight Tournament.

"When I first heard what happened, I felt bad," Mares said. "He looked like an old guy limping with a cane. I thought to myself, 'Man, this could be the end of his career.' "

Mares (21-0-1, 13 knockouts), trained hard for the April 23 date. He went to Guadalajara, Mexico, where he was born, took a three-week vacation, then returned to the gym while in Mexico for another three weeks. Upon his return to California, Mares moved his training from Ventura to a gym in Santa Fe Springs.

"I wanted to change everything," Mares said. "I wanted a whole new environment ... and that helped a lot."

Mares said it was like the first camp never happened.

"It was totally different," he said. "This camp went by really fast, and I had a lot of fun. I actually had fans watch me train and talk to me. I've never had that before, and I really enjoyed that."

Agbeko (28-2, 22 KOs), said his back isn't an issue, he's fine and, like Mares, used the time off to regroup and prepare in the Bronx, N.Y.

"My main concern was I had disappointed everyone because I knew I couldn't fight," Agbeko said. "I knew everyone was counting on me. All my fans and my family in Ghana were depending on me. I didn't want to let anyone down.

"I had to start all over again. But I have been able to train, and I've been working on my speed."

Both fighters said they believe tonight's winner can lay claim to being the best bantamweight in the world, even though Nonito Donaire is considered by many to be the top 118-pound fighter at the moment.

"A lot of fighters had the opportunity to get in it, and some chose not to for whatever reasons," Mares said. "We definitely deserve to be called the best bantamweight out there. I think myself and Agbeko have proven that we are here and will fight anyone, so we should be recognized as the best."

The undercard features former world champion Eric Morel (44-2, 22 KOs) against Daniel Quevedo (13-11-2, 8 KOs) in a 10-round bantamweight bout; heavyweights Eric Molina (17-1, 13 KOs) and Warren Browning (14-1-1, 9 KOs) meeting in a 12-round contest; and undefeated lightweight Luis Ramos (19-0, 8 KOs) facing David Rodela (15-4-4, 6 KOs) in a 10-round bout. First bell for the card is 2:15 p.m.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter @stevecarprj.