Boxing News of Friday, 26 August 2011

Source: STORY BY BONNA SAMPSON

Agbeko vs. Mares II rematch possible for Dec. 3rd

The rematch between IBF bantamweight champion Abner Mares and former IBF belt holder Joseph Agbeko looks as it’s going to be taking place on December 3rd on Showtime. Richard Schaefer, the CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, is on board with his fighter Mares fighting Agbeko in a rematch on that date.

The one problem with that date, however, is it will compete with the Miguel Cotto vs. Antonio Margarito rematch. That fight is expected to be on HBO on pay per view. Obviously, Mares-Agbeko won’t fare will competing with that fight even though neither Cotto or Margarito are what they used to be.

Cotto and Margarito are still more popular fighters than Agbeko and Mares at this point. Ideally it would be better to have the rematch take place at a later date so as not to be crowded out by the Cotto-Margarito bout.

If the Agebko vs. Mares fight does take place on December 3rd, the venue could be either California or Mexico, says Schaefer. Mexico seems like a location that would favor Mares, who already won a questionable decision because of the high number of low blows he landed in the Agbeko fight. Referee Russell Mora never called one foul during the fight and Mares never stopped throwing low blows. Had Mora penalized Mares early in the fight he may have gotten control over his fouling and it might have been a much different fight altogether. But to have the rematch take place in Mexico, that just seems wrong. I’m sure Agbeko will take anything he can get but it doesn’t seem right.