Abner Mares, the undefeated bantamweight contender from Montebello, Calif., will face Carlos Fulgencio of the Dominican Republic in the eight-round main event of Fight Night Club on Aug. 27 at Club Nokia in Los Angeles. Fulgencio (11-2-1, 7 knockouts) has won consistently but has never fought outside his country and is 2-2 in last four bouts. He has fought primarily at super bantamweight. If Mares (18-0, 11 KOs) wins, Golden Boy Promotions, his promotional firm, plans to have him fight on the Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Juan Manuel Marquez pay-per-view card on Sept. 19 in Las Vegas. Mares was out of action for a year because of a serious eye injury but won his first fight back, stopping Jonathan Perez in May. He is rated No. 7 by THE RING and ranked in the Top 10 in three of the four major sanctioning bodies. Meanwhile, David Rodela (13-1-2, 6 KOs) will face Las Vegas-based Puerto Rican Gamalier Rodriguez in a six-round junior lightweight bout. Rodriguez (8-1-2, 4 KOs) has lost only to then-unbeaten Juan Garcia, who lost a close decision to Rodela on the first Fight Night Club card. http://www.ringtv.com/blog/976/mares_rodela_have_fnc_opponents/
By Robert Morales Frank Espinoza on Monday night swung back at trainer/manager Nacho Beristain, who in a recent Sports Illustrated story accused Espinoza of hurting the career of Rafael Marquez. As was reported Monday on ***********.com, Beristain said Espinoza did not disclose the severity of Israel Vazquez's eye injury, thus causing Marquez to sit around and wait for a possible fourth fight between the two that would be tacked on to one of boxing's all-time terrific trilogies. Beristain said he and Marquez turned down several other fights because they were awaiting word on when Vazquez would be able to return. Vazquez had three surgeries to repair a detached retina in his right eye and has not fought since the third fight between the two in March 2008. Vazquez, who is 2-1 against Marquez, was recently clear to fight again. "Nacho's statements are ridiculous," said Espinoza, Vazquez's manager. "It's Nacho's job to watch out for Rafael's best interests, not mine. My concerns have to do with Israel Vazquez's health and career. Israel was hurt and couldn't fight. It's that simple. What is so hard to understand about that? "Why was Rafael waiting around for us if Nacho knew there was an injury to begin with? I didn't hurt Rafael's career, as Beristain says. If anyone hurt Rafael's career, it was Nacho for not being able to make the right decisions for his fighter when he was getting other offers." Interestingly, Beristain didn't start taking shots at Espinoza until undefeated bantamweight Abner Mares, whom Beristain was training, decided to sign a managerial contract with Espinoza. This is not lost on Espinoza. "Personally, I think it is sour grapes on Nacho's behalf," Espinoza said. "I don't think he liked the fact that Abner Mares signed with me. Of all people, he should know this is a business and that these kids have to make the best decision possible for themselves." When Beristain heard of Mares signing with Espinoza, he refused to continue to train Mares. "Right now Abner is very happy and doing well with his new trainer (Joel Diaz)," Espinoza said. Mares, who fights under the Golden Boy Promotions banner, is next scheduled to fight Aug. 27 at Club Nokia in Los Angeles. At the most recent card there July 30, Mares was interviewed by several reporters. They wanted to know how his current relationship was with Beristain. Mares, speaking in diplomatic tones, said he had recently spoken with Beristain and that the two were on good terms.
Sounds like sour grapes to me. It's your job to protect your fighter. That's what u did. Good for you. U guys did the right thing.
