All eyes looking at Abner Mares?

It’s been over two years since Abner Mares was last in action in the ring, but he hasn’t run out of challengers in that time frame.

The former three-division world champion has been the talk of fighters in recent times, and Dan Rafael for Boxingscene caught up with him. And, Mares is all about it.

“I like to talk, I like people calling me out, I like being brought up,” Mares said to Boxingscene. “I like it. I don’t believe in bad publicity. And they’re all good names. I’m really flattered to even be brought up,” Mares said.

“People call me out because they know I bring a good name, a good reputation and they feel they have an advantage, obviously, because I’ve been out for so long and my age, and they think I could be a good win for them for their career.”

Three-division world titlist @abnermares has a new trainer in anticipation of his return to the ring later this year. My story for @boxingscene: https://t.co/bmlkUl6glU #boxing

— Dan Rafael (@DanRafael1) May 28, 2020

For everyone in boxing, the last we saw Mares was at the presser for his contest against Gervonta Davis last February (2019), but he had to pull out because he suffered a detached retina in a sparring session. Davis went on instead to take on Hugo Ruiz in a bout where his entrance was longer than the actual first-round stoppage. Mares, whenever he gets back into action, still wants that fight.

“I wanted that fight with Tank, and I still want that fight,” Mares said. “I asked Mr. Al (Haymon), ‘Can we make that fight happen in the future?’ And he said, ‘That fight is there in the future if you want it.'”

While Davis is preparing to take on Leo Santa Cruz, Mares currently has sights on other fights. The names he would like to challenge are Joseph “Jojo” Diaz, Jamel Herring, and Ryan Garcia. The one he would like back first, however, is Diaz.

“I’m looking at Joseph Diaz as he is in his prime, a great fighter, and getting the opportunity and beating him will mark my legacy. It’s a plus that he holds a title,” Mares said. “Ryan Garcia doesn’t hold a title but he holds a name. Frampton would be a great name even though he doesn’t have a title. Herring wanted to fight but we all know that wasn’t going to happen and now he has a fight coming up with Jonathan Oquendo.

When I spoke to Herring about his current title reign, he mentioned that he would be interested in taking Mares as well, but that is going to have to wait, as he has Jonathan Oquendo leading into Independence Day Weekend in the United States.

Why are all these folks calling out a man who we last saw back in 2018 losing against Santa Cruz for a second time? Easy. He is a promotional free-agent.

That helps in the landscape of 130 lbs., as he is the biggest name out there to make the “business of boxing” easier to set up a fight. Noted, Mares is still advised by Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions (PBC), just not under a fight deal.

Mares picked up new trainer Manny Robles back in March when the pandemic broke out and had been training hard for his return. Will it be against any of the current names mentioned will have to wait, but he’s going to be in the conversation despite the layoff.