Mares wants Aug. 25 to be a homecoming

WBC junior featherweight titleholder Abner Mares told RingTV.com on Saturday that he would like to return to the ring against an opponent to be determined on Aug. 25 in his native Guadalajara, Mexico.

A resident of Montebello, Calif., Mares (24-0-1, 13 knockouts) is coming off a unanimous decision over former beltholder Eric Morel (46-3, 23 KOs) in April.

"We haven't signed a contract for any fight yet, but there is a date, which is Aug. 25 in Guadalajara, Mexico," said Mares, 26, who vacated his IBF bantamweight title in order to face Morel.

"To be able to fight there, that means everything to me. That's where I was born, and I have never fought in any part of Mexico, so I'm looking forward to this."

Mares already has the resume of a battle-tested veteran.

Over more than a 20-month span through December of last year, the Mexican-born resident of Los Angeles faced elite oppponents in four 12-round title bouts, going 3-0-1 and overcoming intense moments of adversity in the ring.

During that time, Mares twice defeated ex-beltholder Joseph Agbeko, earned a decision over former titleholder Vic Darchinyan and battled to a draw with then-beltholder Yonnhy Perez.

Promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, Mares also has expressed the desire to face WBO counterpart Nonito Donaire (28-1, 18 KOs) should he get beyond a July 7 unification fight with IBF beltholder Jeffrey Mathebula (26-3-2, 14 KOs), although Donaire is promoted by rival Top Rank Inc. There is also WBA beltholder Guillermo Rigondeaux (10-0, 8 KOs).

"That's the difficulty about it, with the conflicting promoters," said Donaire during a recent interview with RingTV.com. "There's a possibility [of facing Mares]." 

"I know that these guys can make it happen, as long as they play nice and fair. Whoever is willing to negotiate the fight on easy terms, that's who I think I want to face."

Photo by Tom Casino, Showtime

Lem Satterfield can be reached at lemuel.satterfield@gmail.com