"I don't know who Oquendo prepared for, if they prepared for the Abner that they've seen, which is all they really can prepare for, but the Abner that I have been seeing and his ability to adapt and pick up, has really, really, been...man, this has been a great camp for me. I'm really excited about his boxing ability and his dedication. He's just my kind of guy; athletic, dedicated, he has a boxing IQ where he can adapt, very easy to train, and I'm excited for him. Of course this is the first fight together, which is very important. We're not fighting a slouch either. We're fighting a pretty reputable guy, but I expect him to shine and I really look for him to get Oquendo out of there in between 6 and 9 [rounds]," stated Virgil Hunter, world-class trainer of three-division world champion Abner Mares, who talked about their upcoming clash this Saturday with Jonathan Oquendo on the undercard of Canelo vs. Lara. Check out what else he had to say!
BT: You're newest student, Abner Mares has an important fight coming up this weekend. It's his first fight back after suffering the first and only defeat in his career. It's also the first fight that the two of you will be working together. Before we actually get to the fight, how exactly did the pairing of you two come about?
VH: Well, you know what? He gave me a phone call. This was actually maybe shortly after he fought Gonzalez. I don't know if he had spoken to anyone or anything like that, but he gave me a phone call and we chatted and we kind of left it at that because he, at the time, they were talking about a rematch or whatever and then he got sick I believe it was, so he didn't do the rematch and we kind of lost contact. And then shortly after Amir's fight, we started talking again. He indicated what he wanted and I told him how I felt about him and the rest of his career, so we just clicked from there.
BT: So how did training camp go for this fight? Did you guys gel right away or did it take some time to work on the chemistry?
VH: I had a great time with Abner Mares and I rate very, very high with his ability. You know, I told boxingnews in England, "If you give me my kind of fighter, that athletic boxer that's dedicated to his craft, we're going to win, plain and simple. We're going to win." Abner definitely fits that mode. I always knew contrary to the fights that the public has seen; I saw Abner in 2004 when he was an amateur and one of the best boxers I ever saw. That's kind of how we clicked because he wanted to get back to that. You know, they play these kids so much, Ben, and tell them what kind of fights they should fight in front of these fans, and Abner was fighting these toe-to-toe, rough and rugged fights because that's what he was told was going to make him exciting. It cost him. It cost him in a situation where it didn't have to cost him. I think he realized that and he wanted to get back to his boxing roots and his defense, and that's what we've done. I'm here to tell you, man, the kid is a beautiful boxer and he has some attributes that the public has simply not seen yet because he was going about his business in a different way. I let him know, "Look, if it gets to that and we have to fight this way to pull a fight out, we already know we can do that. We can chuck 'em with the best if it gets to that. But if it doesn't get to that, you have the ability and the athleticism to make it much easier."
BT: Are you concerned that Abner might be one of those fighters who has the ability to box, but can't help himself from brawling, kind of like Mike Alvarado, or are you confident that he'll be able to stick to the game plan?
VH: Well, all camp I've seen his boxing ability, so it's not like I don't know he can do it. I know he can do it. So in a situation if he chooses to brawl when he doesn't have to, then he's open for me to bark at him because I already know that he can box. He can box at a high technical level, but he's also allowed to mix in the fighting with the boxing but to fight when you know you have the advantage at any given situation. So to use his brain and let him know it's okay to fight, but you gotta know when to pull out your double barrel shotgun and let it go so to speak; and not just to be doing it. But he's displayed an intellect and a boxing IQ that I'm confident he realizes this is what he should be doing and it's not going to affect his knockouts and it's not going to affect him getting somebody out of there because he's a good puncher. You know, when you have these attributes, man, use them. And he's doing that. I mean, I'm really, really pleased with this first camp that he and I had. It's like we just really, really clicked, and again, he's my type of guy. He's athletic, like Amir. Watch Andre Berto as he slowly comes back. He's using that athleticism in the way he should use it, and he is an athlete; people don't realize that. The dedication along with the athleticism, we're going to win, simple as that.
BT: So what can the fans expect to see from Abner Mares when he makes his return to the ring against Jonathan Oquendo this Saturday?
VH: Well, you know what? I think that the fans are going to see a part of Abner that they really didn't realize existed. I mean, Abner can do some great things in the ring. I look for him even next year to really emerge in the featherweight discussion. You know, they talk about other people and they seem to be leaving his name out a little bit now, but I think that's going to change. As far as Saturday is concerned, without giving up too much, I don't know who Oquendo prepared for, if they prepared for the Abner that they've seen, which is all they really can prepare for, but the Abner that I have been seeing and his ability to adapt and pick up, has really, really, been...man, this has been a great camp for me. I'm really excited about his boxing ability and his dedication. He's just my kind of guy; athletic, dedicated, he has a boxing IQ where he can adapt, very easy to train, and I'm excited for him. Of course this is the first fight together, which is very important. We're not fighting a slouch either. We're fighting a pretty reputable guy, but I expect him to shine and I really look for him to get Oquendo out of there in between 6 and 9 [rounds].
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