Abner Mares receives medical clearance to resume his career
Former featherweight champion Abner Mares expects to get back into training in November amid hopes of resuming his career next year.
Mares told ESPN Deportes that he has received medical clearance after months of treatment following surgery to repair a detached retina in his right eye in February.
“They already gave me the green light,’’ said Mares (31-3-1,15 knockouts), who sustained the injury while in training for a bout scheduled for last February 9 against Gervonta Davis.
The injury forced Mares to withdraw from the Davis fight. Mares, who will be 34 on November 28, hasn’t fought since a rematch loss to Leo Santa Cruz on June 9 of last year in Los Angeles.
This was the last time we saw Abner Mares in the ring, moments after hearing that he lost to Leo Santa Cruz in June of last year. Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Getty Images
Mares, also a former junior featherweight and bantamweight champion, said he met with promoter Al Haymon and his physician.
“We wanted to be sure that I would be able to continue, and the doctor told us it would be safe,’’ he said. “So expect news from me in the ring for the first quarter in 2020. I am happy because they gave me the news I expected. Obviously, there was anxiety, but I was not going to do something that the doctors wouldn’t let me do.
“And now that they told me that I can come back, let’s see what is best for me. Obviously, I want strong challenges.’’