MASAM SPORTS 73: ABNER MARES RETURNS TO THE RING AFTER FOUR YEARS
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 04 Sep 2022
The 36-year-old Abner Mares, the former three-division world champion, is back to face Miguel Flores on the pay-per-view undercard of the high-profile heavyweight showdown between Andy Ruiz Jr. and Luis Ortiz on Sunday night in downtown Los Angeles.
“I’m just coming back for the love,” Mares (31-3-1, 15 KOs) was quoted by The Associated Press. “If I don’t do it now, I’m going to regret it for the rest of my life. I’m 36. I’m so capable. If I were to wait another year, two more years and be like, ‘Man, you should have taken that fight,’ I would never forgive myself for that.”
Mares from Guadalajara, Mexico lost an entertaining rematch with Léo Santa Cruz in June 2018. He was supposed to face Gervonta “Tank” Davis in February 2019, but had to withdraw from the fight due to a detached retina inflected during a sparring session.
Mares had successful surgery and was cleared by the doctor to return to boxing after a year and the doctor who have done his surgery will attend the fight on Sunday.
Mares has held world titles in three weight classes, including the IBF bantamweight title, the WBC super bantamweight title, the WBC featherweight title, and the WBA (Regular) featherweight title.
Flores (25-4, 12 KOs), age 30, is from Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico. He lost to Leo Santa Cruzby unanimous decision on November 2019 for the vacant WBA (Super) super featherweight title.
* * *
New Philippine Sports Commission chairman Noli Eala set three major targets in his administration as the country's sports czar. These are to sustain the success of the glorious achievements of the past leadership, develop grassroots sports and tap the private sectors similar to the old Gintong Alay days.
“We have made great strides in the last few years in sports,” said Eala, who became the PSC’s 11th chairman, as quoted by PhilStar Sports. "My new administration will seek to ensure sustainability of the success of our programs for the long term,” he added.
“We will reach out to the private sector, similar to the golden years of the Gintong Alay program, to harness their support for all stakeholders of sports,” Eala added.
Curiously, it was Gintong Alay former head and now Laoag City Mayor Michael Keon, who was purportedly one of those who recommended Eala’s appointment.
The former PBA commissioner and Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director promised to push for the realization of his goals. "The PSC will have a new face and new energy. The PSC, under my watch, will care for sports like no other,” he said.
* * *
Stephen Curry said several times that he wants to retire with the only team he's ever played for, the Golden State Warriors. After winning his fourth championship and first Finals MVP, Curry said, "I don't want to leave ever. I want this to be my one and only home."
But while receiving the key to the city of Charlotte on Thursday, the crowd applauded the idea of Curry playing for Charlotte, his home city.
"I've always said I wanted to finish my career out in Golden State because of how much it means to me, and the experiences and teammates and the journey that we've been on," Curry was quoted by CBS Sports. "Everybody asks me, 'Wouldn't you want to play one year for the Hornets and come back and see what ...'" The crowd cheered before he could finish his talk.
"Oh no, don't do that, don't do that," Curry said. "I'm not breaking any news right now, I'm not making any promises. All I would say though is if there was a team that I did want to play for that was not named the Warriors, that would be it. That's all I can say about that."
Curry's father Dell played for 10 seasons for the Hornets in the late '80s through the '90s. He retired as the Charlotte Hornets' all-time leader in points (9,839) and three-point field goals made (929).
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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