Abner Mares Bio
Abner Mares Martínez (born November 28, 1985) is a Mexican-American professional boxer and boxing analyst who has held multiple world championships across three weight classes. He captured the IBF bantamweight title, the WBC super bantamweight and featherweight titles, and the WBA (Regular) featherweight title during a career that began in 2005. Born in Guadalajara, Mexico, Mares grew up in Hawaiian Gardens, California, and holds dual citizenship with Mexico and the United States. In addition to his work inside the ring, he has served as an analyst and commentator for Showtime.
Early Life and Background
Abner Mares Martínez was born on November 28, 1985, in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. When he was seven years old, his family relocated to Hawaiian Gardens, California, where he spent the remainder of his childhood and adolescent years. Growing up in Southern California placed him in one of the most active amateur boxing regions in the United States, and he was drawn to the sport at a young age.
At age fifteen, Mares was sent back to Mexico by his father, a decision that shaped his early boxing development and reconnected him with his Mexican roots. The move allowed him to train in a more traditional setting and sharpened the skills that would later define his professional career. Standing 5 ft 4½ in (164 cm) with a 66 in (168 cm) reach, Mares developed into a compact and powerful fighter who carried his early life experiences into every ring appearance.
Path to Boxing
Mares built an impressive amateur résumé that included a 112–8 record with 84 knockouts. He won the U17 World Championships and captured the bantamweight gold medal at the 2002 Central American Games in San Salvador, where he defeated Juan Manuel López. The following year, he earned a silver medal at the 2003 Pan American Games in Santo Domingo. In 2004, he finished second at the Junior World Championships, losing to Aibek Abdimomunov.
That same year, Mares represented Mexico at the 2004 Summer Olympics in the bantamweight (54 kg) division, where he was eliminated in the first round by Hungary’s Zsolt Bedák in a highly controversial decision. The Olympic experience cemented his desire to turn professional, and in January 2005, he made his professional debut with a victory over Puerto Rican Luis Malave. He began his professional career under the guidance of Hall of Fame trainer Ignacio Beristáin.
Abner Mares Career
Early Career (2005–2009)
Mares opened his professional career in 2005 and quickly accumulated wins while establishing himself in the bantamweight division. On September 7, 2007, he captured the WBO NABA Bantamweight Championship by defeating former WBO Champion Isidro García. He won his next three bouts before suffering an eye injury that required surgery and kept him out of the ring for ten months. He returned by stopping Jonathan Perez, demonstrating his trademark resilience.
During this stretch, Mares was trained as a professional by Hall of Famer Ignacio Beristáín, though the two later split when Mares changed promotional companies. The change opened the door to a partnership with world-famous trainer Clemente Medina, which launched his climb to world-title contention.
Bantamweight Breakthrough (2010–2011)
On May 22, 2010, Mares challenged undefeated IBF Bantamweight Champion Yonnhy Perez (20-0) in a high-profile bout that ended in a 12-round majority draw, with one judge scoring it 115–113 in favor of Mares. Golden Boy Promotions later announced that Mares would take part in Showtime’s four-man single-elimination bantamweight tournament, which also included Vic Darchinyan, Joseph Agbeko, and Yonnhy Perez. In the first round, Mares defeated IBO Bantamweight Champion Vic Darchinyan by a highly controversial 12-round split decision to claim the IBO Championship title and WBC Silver title.
On August 13, 2011, Mares faced IBF Champion Joseph Agbeko in the tournament final and won by majority decision, though the bout was marred by repeated low blows that went largely unpenalized by referee Russell Mora. A rematch followed on December 3, 2011, in which Mares dominated Agbeko and earned a clean unanimous decision win, 118–110 on all three scorecards, to cement his hold on the IBF bantamweight title.
Super Bantamweight Title Run (2012–2013)
Moving up to the super bantamweight division, Mares faced former world champion Eric Morel on April 21, 2012, for the vacant WBC Super Bantamweight title at a 120 lb catchweight. Mares outworked and out-landed the older Morel, winning a unanimous decision by scores of 120–107, 119–109, and 119–109 to claim his first super bantamweight title.
On November 10, 2012, Mares took on Anselmo Moreno, then the world No. 1 ranked bantamweight and No. 10 pound-for-pound fighter. After a brutal back-and-forth contest in which Mares trapped Moreno on the ropes and scored a knockdown with a straight right hand in the fifth round, he was awarded a unanimous decision by scores of 116–110, 116–110, and 120–106. The victory solidified his standing as a world champion in a second weight class.
Featherweight Era (2013–2018)
On May 4, 2013, Mares moved up to 126 lbs to face WBC Featherweight champion Daniel Ponce de León on the Mayweather-Guerrero undercard. He knocked Ponce de León down in the second and ninth rounds before earning a TKO victory at 2:20 of the ninth round to capture the WBC featherweight title. He later defended the title against former world champion Jhonny González on August 24, 2013, at the StubHub Center in Carson, California, but lost via first-round TKO after being knocked down twice.
After parting ways with Clemente Medina and briefly working with Virgil Hunter, Mares returned to Medina and, on December 10, 2016, defeated Jesus Cuellar by split decision to win the WBA (Regular) featherweight title. He retained the belt in his next bout with a tenth-round technical decision over Andres Gutierrez. His featherweight run concluded on June 9, 2018, when he dropped a unanimous decision to WBA super featherweight champion Leo Santa Cruz in a long-anticipated rematch that featured relentless action from both fighters.
Driving Style and Strengths
Standing just 5 ft 4½ in with a 66 in reach, Mares built his style around relentless pressure, high work rate, and an effective overhand right. He thrived at cutting off the ring and forcing bigger opponents to the ropes, where he could land punishing body shots. His partnership with trainer Clemente Medina, in particular, sharpened his craft as a pressure fighter, while his orthodox stance and durable chin allowed him to dictate the pace of championship-caliber bouts.
Notable Events and Milestones
Highlights of Mares’ career include his Olympic appearance at the 2004 Summer Olympics, his four world titles across three weight classes, and his role as a marquee fighter on Showtime’s four-man bantamweight tournament. He also gained recognition as a respected boxing analyst and commentator for Showtime following his run as an active champion.
Abner Mares Career Wins
Across his professional career, Abner Mares Martínez compiled a record of 31 wins, 2 draws, and 3 losses in 36 total fights, with 15 of his victories coming by knockout. He captured world titles at bantamweight, super bantamweight, and featherweight, in addition to holding several regional and secondary belts.
World Title Highlights
Mares won the IBF bantamweight title in 2011 and held it through 2012, then added the WBC super bantamweight title later that same year. In 2013, he moved up to featherweight and captured the WBC title with a stoppage of Daniel Ponce de León. After a series of setbacks, he returned to win the WBA (Regular) featherweight title in 2016 and held it until 2018.
Other Wins and Performances
In addition to his major titles, Mares captured the WBO NABA Bantamweight Championship, the IBO Bantamweight Championship, and the WBC Silver Bantamweight title. His amateur accolades, including a U17 World Championship and a Central American Games gold medal, rounded out one of the most decorated developmental résumés of any Mexican-American fighter of his era.
| Series | Wins | Draws | Losses | Kos | Total Fights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professional career | 31 | 2 | 3 | 15 | 36 |
Abner Mares Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Abner Mares Martínez was born into a Mexican family that later relocated to the United States, with his father playing a central role in his upbringing. At age fifteen, his father made the decision to send him back to Mexico, a turning point that helped shape his boxing career and deepened his connection to his Mexican heritage.
Personal Life
Mares has long resided in Hawaiian Gardens, California, and holds dual citizenship with Mexico and the United States. Beyond his residence and his work as a boxing analyst for Showtime, additional verified details about his marital status, spouse, or children are not publicly confirmed in available sources.
2025 Season Performance
As of 2025, Abner Mares Martínez is widely recognized for his work as a boxing analyst and commentator for Showtime rather than for active competition in the ring. His competitive résumé, including world titles at bantamweight, super bantamweight, and featherweight, continues to anchor his perspective as an analyst, and his insights remain a regular feature of major boxing broadcasts.
Mares’ standing in the sport is bolstered by his 31–3–2 professional record, 15 knockouts, and four major world titles, achievements that lend credibility to his commentary. His 2018 loss to Leo Santa Cruz marked the end of his most recent championship campaign, and no verified return to active competition has been announced.
Looking ahead, Mares is expected to continue contributing to boxing coverage as a broadcaster while occasionally being discussed as a potential opponent for high-profile comeback bouts. Any concrete updates regarding a ring return in 2025 would need to be verified through official promoters or sanctioning bodies before being reported.