WBA bantamweight champion Abner Mares (23-0-1, 13KO’s) will feel a sense of redemption after defeating Joseph ‘King Kong’ Agbeko (28-4, 22KO’s) convincingly over twelve rounds last night in their rematch at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California in the final of Showtime’s bantamweight tournament. Mares controlled the action throughout with a good jab and fast combinations that Agbeko had no answer to. Unlike the first fight there was no controversy over low blows or knockdowns this time, and Mares was a clear winner on all three cards.

“I’m just happy people can see my true boxing. Without controversy. They saw the real Abner. They did last time too but there was a lot of bad stuff that happened. Now, this is the real Abner and I proved it. I beat him once, now I beat him again, and I’m just happy.”

Fighting for almost the entire fight with a nasty gash over his right eye caused by an Agbeko jab in the second round, Mares showed an improvement from the first fight. Boxing sensibly, he kept Agbeko from setting himself with good movement and a fast jab, occasionally letting the odd combination go before stepping out of range again. Agbeko just wasn’t cultured or mobile enough to deal with it quite.

Agbeko’s best moments were early on in the fight though, and for the first few rounds looked like he was going to be there with Mares all the way, throwing caution to the wind and letting his hands go, but Mares always had an element of control and never really got troubled by Agbeko’s assaults. Mares was doing what he should have done in the first fight.

The rounds started to take a familiar pattern. Mares would get on his toes and use his jab whilst taking part in brief exchanges that he almost always had the better of. It was an intelligent strategy and very effective against Agbeko, who needs his opponents to stand in front of him if he is to be at his best. Mares was able to keep him off-balance the whole time and as a result made it a lot easier for himself this time around.

The thing that bothered Mares most throughout the fight was the cut. With a constant stream of blood pouring down his face, Mares did well to maintain his composure and stay focused, but like a true warrior he didn’t even seem to notice. Although he did seem to tire slightly towards the end, Agbeko didn’t push the fight hard enough and as a result let Mares off the hook. Apart from a few grandstand flurries to end the last couple of rounds there was an inevitably about the fight by now and as the final bell rang both men knew who had won the fight. It was confirmed moments later, with all three judges scoring the fight 118-110 to Mares.

“I told you guys after the first fight, I thought I was boxing him easy, but the low blows happened,” said Mares afterwards. “I felt really comfortable the whole fight this time. I felt like I was closing the rounds like I should have.”

There’s now talk that Mares will move up to 122lbs to face super-bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire in what should be a great fight for fans. Mares confirmed he is ready to take on all comers.

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