Abner Mares’ comeback has been delayed by injury and now a pandemic, but he’s still hoping and planning for the day when he can resume his career.
He’ll start over with a new trainer.
Mares’ comeback will begin with Manny Robles in his corner instead of Robert Garcia.
“I told Robert that I was not going to continue training with him,’’ Mares told ESPN Deportes. “We were on good terms. My new coach will be Manny Robles, who is a great coach, has a good style and has worked with great fighters, world champions, such as Andy Ruiz, Oscar Valdez.”
Mares (31-3-1, 15 KOs), a former three-division champion, hasn’t fought since losing a unanimous decision to Leo Santa Cruz in a featherweight rematch on June 9, 2018 at Los Angeles’ Staples Center.’’
Mares, 34, was forced to withdraw from a fight with Gervonta Davis, scheduled for Jan. 30, 2019, because of an eye injury. He was cleared a few months later. He had hoped to make a comeback this May. But that was shelved by the coronavirus outbreak.
“We had planned to return in 2020, we had more or less the agenda planned to return in May, two fights in the year,’’ he said. “But now I think I will only fight once. We will see when.
“It’s a bit awkward, but at the same time, I start thinking about what everyone is going through, fighters who had dates and then they were canceled, David Benavidez being one of them. Many fighters have been affected, and I am more sorry for the fighters, because it is a very difficult time.’’