Agbeko vs. Mares

Referee Russell Mora's poor officiating spoiled a good fight between Abner Mares and Joseph Agbeko and what should have been a proud moment for Mares, who won a controversial majority decision Saturday.

Both IBF titleholder Joseph Agbeko and Abner Mares made weight on Friday for their Showtime bantamweight tournament finals match on Saturday. Agbeko was a little bit over 118 pounds at first but made weight shortly after.

SHOWTIME commentator Al Bernstein interviews Abner Mares and Joseph Agbeko at the final news conference before they fight in the final of the bantamweight tournament Saturday in Las Vegas.

By Doug Fischer  Bantamweight titleholder Jospeh Agbeko is focused on the task at hand -- beating Abner Mares on Saturday on SHOWTIME -- but also dreams of being the pound-for-pound best.

Unbeaten lightweight prospect Luis Ramos Jr. had to pull out of Saturday night's fight against David Rodela after he was attacked by three men on Tuesday.

By Doug Fischer  RingTV.com co-editor Doug Fischer has compiled a list of Mexico’s best bantamweight titleholders with the help of boxing insiders who worked closely with many of the 118-pound legends.

Joseph Agbeko and Abner Mares discuss their fight for the championship of Showtime's bantamweight tournament on Saturday night in Las Vegas.

RingTV.com's comprehensive preview of the Joseph Agbeko-Abner Mares fight for the championship of SHOWTIME'S bantamweight tournament Saturday in Las Vegas.

Abner Mares took part in a media workout at the Mixed Martial Arts Academy in Santa Fe Springs, Calif., on Thursday. Mares challenges bantamweight titleholder Joseph Agbeko on Aug. 13 in Las Vegas.

Lightweight prospects Luis Ramos Jr. and Carlos Molina will be in action on the undercard of the Aug. 13 Joseph Agbeko-Abner Mares fight. Ramos fights David Rodela. Molina returns after an eight-month hiatus.

By Doug Fischer    Bantamweight contender Abner Mares is getting excellent sparring from Efrain Esquivias in preparation for his showdown with Joseph Agbeko on Aug. 13 in Las Vegas.

Joseph Agbeko and Abner Mares took part in a news conference Thursday in Las Vegas to promoter their Aug. 13 bantamweight fight at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino on Showtime.

Joseph Agbeko said he has recovered from a bout with sciatica and is training normally for his fight against Abner Mares – for the championship of Showtime’s bantamweight tournament -- on Aug. 13 in Las Vegas.

The championship match in Showtime’s bantamweight tournament between Joseph Agbeko and Abner Mares has been rescheduled for Aug. 13. The site has yet to be determined.

BY MICHAEL ROSENTHAL  The Joseph Agbeko-Abner Mares title fight that was canceled when Agbeko was injured will be rescheduled for late July or early August, Richard Schaefer said.

Bantamweight titleholder Joseph Agbeko said his injured back feels much better and that he expects to face Abner Mares in his next fight.

Injured Joseph Agbeko and Abner Mares addresses the media at the final press conference that was supposed to be for their anticipated bantamweight tournament finals. Mares also spoke to RingTV.

The promoters were unable to find a suitable replacement for Abner Mares in Showtime's bantamweight tournament. The Vic Darchinyan-Yonnhy Perez fight is the main event Saturday in L.A.

Richard Schaefer is not sure who will replace the injured Joseph Agbeko against Abner Mares on Saturday, if anyone, but he says it will not be Tomoki Kameda as originally suggested.

Golden Boy is enjoying a recent string of success but a title victory for Abner Mares on Saturday would be especially satisfying because the bantamweight contender started with the company.

Joseph Agbeko and Abner Mares believe they owe their appearance in Showtime's bantamweight tournament final to the setbacks they suffered to Yonnhy Perez in previous bouts.

Yonnhy Perez vows to KO Vic Darchinyan in Showtime’s bantamweight tournament consolation match on April 23, then go after the finals winner. (Video of Perez media workout included in story.)

Joseph Agbeko has anointed the winner of his fight against Abner Mareson April 23 as "the best bantamweight in the world," and he believes he'll be king when it's all over.

Abner Mares knows he's got a tough fight against Joseph Agbeko in Showtime's bantamweight tournament final on April 23, but promoter Oscar De La Hoya believes he's ready for the challenge.

Abner Mares believes that the winner of his bantamweight tournament final bout with Jospeh Agbeko will be the world's top 118-pound fighter, not the winner of Fernando Montiel-Nonito Donaire.