Abner Mares has had an eventful past year or so.
The former three-division titleholder, now 34, has recovered from a detached retina that cost him a fight with Gervonta Davis in February of last year. He has a new trainer, Manny Robles. And, oh yeah, he’s an American now.
Mares, who was born in Mexico but has lived in the U.S. for many years, recently received his U.S. citizenship.
“It means a lot,” he said on The PBC Podcast. “I take a lot of pride becoming a United States citizen because this country has given me everything, everything, despite me being born in Mexico.
“And, yes, I’m 100 percent Mexicano, Raza (race) and, you know, I am. But you gotta give respect where respect is due. Now my country, the United States, has given me everything. My kids were born here, it gave me a better life for my wife and I.
“So I take pride in that. I want to say I’m proud to be an American citizen now. I want to say it because there are a lot of people out there [saying] I’m still raza. That never changes. You gotta be thankful for a country that has given you a lot. I’m that. I’m thankful for this country, I’m blessed.
“I just became a United States citizen not too long ago and I’m really happy for that.”
The newly minted American will be working with Robles for his next fight, whenever the coronavirus pandemic allows it to happen.
Mares (31-3-1, 15 KOs) was asked on the podcast why he made the move from Robert Garcia to Robles and he said it had nothing to do with the job Garcia was doing. It was primarily about geography.
“It’s really simple, it’s nothing personal, nothing that had to do with me needing an adjustment in my craft. It was more, basically, a comfort move,” he said. “I was making a drive of about an hour, hour and a half, two hours from where I live [to Garcia’s training compound].
“I keep telling people that I’m on my last one or two fights. I want to make as much use of my time as I can. You know, I would train at noon with Robert … and come back at 2, 3 in the afternoon. A whole day would go by. I feel like I could’ve used that time to be with my kids, do something else.
“… I’m not saying that Robles isn’t a good coach to consider him for training and to learn. It’s a combination of both. I think Manny Robles is a great coach. And I’m happy to be working with Manny Robles.”
The question is: Working toward what?
Mares would still like to fight Davis, although he’s no longer first in line. And he mentioned Gary Russell Jr. and Oscar Valdez as possible opponents.
He didn’t mention a tune-up fight even though it will be two years in June since he last fought. As he said, he plans to fight only once to twice more and he wants to make the most of those opportunities.
“Honestly, accomplishments are not what I’m looking for,” he said. “… I’m not worried about titles, like becoming a four-time, five-time, six-time [titleholder]. Honestly, it’s on the personal side, being able to come back, being able to say I did it. I beat adversity, I beat doubters.
“You know, I came back and I fought and I won and that’s it. Even if I do one last fight. I’ll be comfortable with that.”