FASCINATING FIGHT

I had it a draw with whack-whack-whack Mares having the better argument. But how it unfolded was just wonderful to watch.

The first two rounds Mares is Mares, just too fast for the bigger Champion and does some otherworldy bodywork with the left hand. But Perez is getting shots home that are shaking Mares and Mares ceases sitting down on his punches after about the third round. Almost everything Mares throws is with one foot out the back door. Mares increasingly moves, darts in and out, gets some bodywork done but the initiative is with the stronger and seemingly more durable champion. After eight rounds I had it 6-2 Perez, with two VERY close rounds in there, and it looked to me like Mares would be fortunate to make it all the way.

Ten seconds into the ninth round it became blindingly clear that Perez had hit a wall. The bodywork Mares had done early had shown up and Perez immediately lost the initiative. He couldn't move as well, he couldn't throw as often and Mares recognized it almost right away. What did he do? What a smart fighter does. He moved off his back foot onto his front foot and went on the offense.

There was a shadow of the great Chavez in this fight. Chavez fight after fight would be close for four rounds and then his opponent just wasn't the same anymore. The remorseless Chavez bodywork had done its job. It took eight rounds for Mares tonight but it had almost the same result.

Perez is a big, strong, VERY physical guy and Mares seemed almost frail by comparison sometimes. A wonderful tactical battle, contested at a very high level I thought.

Kudos to both men.

I had it 115-113 for Abner Mares.

What a great fight though, In my opinion three of rounds could easily be round of the year contenders.

Now I understand why you all gush over Mares, the kid is a star in the making.

both fighters were great IMO. i thought they both showed a lot. im almost glad it was a draw because although i thought that mares probably deserved the nod, both fighters had a case.

Great breakdown Marble. I had it a draw as well with Gonzalez up big after those middle rounds

Ali_1748 wrote:

I had it 115-113 for Abner Mares.

What a great fight though, In my opinion three of rounds could easily be round of the year contenders.

Now I understand why you all gush over Mares, the kid is a star in the making.

I really wonder if he belongs at 115 though.

It was a great fight.

What's the world coming to when a preliminary fight outclasses the main event? I was just happy to watch the action....on Sopcast. lol

4445Frank wrote:

What's the world coming to when a preliminary fight outclasses the main event? I was just happy to watch the action....on Sopcast. lol

Come on Frank you know that the undercards are usually better than the main event.

soonermark890 wrote:

4445Frank wrote:

What's the world coming to when a preliminary fight outclasses the main event? I was just happy to watch the action....on Sopcast. lol

Come on Frank you know that the undercards are usually better than the main event.

Are you joking Soonermark? Have you seen the last HBO cards? Maybe I've missed something.

4445Frank wrote:

soonermark890 wrote:

4445Frank wrote:

What's the world coming to when a preliminary fight outclasses the main event? I was just happy to watch the action....on Sopcast. lol

Come on Frank you know that the undercards are usually better than the main event.

Are you joking Soonermark? Have you seen the last HBO cards? Maybe I've missed something.

I am just talking in general. You usually have one fight on the undercard that is better than the main event. Heck there were 3 better than the Clottey vs Pac main event.

You probably have a point. By the time I was able to stream clottey Pacquiao, the main event was just beginning. By the way, do you have sopcast?

4445Frank wrote:

You probably have a point. By the time I was able to stream clottey Pacquiao, the main event was just beginning. By the way, do you have sopcast?

Yeah I have it but I have HBO and Showtime.

Just wondering. I have HBO and Showtime but I downloaded sopcast last night as a rehearsal for PPV events. Are you able to watch first run movies on yours?

Holy shit Marble you post here, now that is fucking awesome.

it is isnt it combat

I had Perez (Colombian bias). Thought he landed harder shots and took Mares' shots better. He found a home for his left hook throughout the night. I was really glad Tarver was on the broadcast to balance Gus Johnson's uniquely objective commentating.

Do they rematch? If not what's next for each guy?

Gumby wrote:

I had Perez (Colombian bias). Thought he landed harder shots and took Mares' shots better. He found a home for his left hook throughout the night. I was really glad Tarver was on the broadcast to balance Gus Johnson's uniquely objective commentating.

Do they rematch? If not what's next for each guy?

If I NEVER see Gus Johnson again it will be too soon. He doesn't have the vaguest understanding of what he is watching. Just none. Tarver and bernstein were VERY gentle with him I thought.

118 is in very good shape. Montiel, Hawsegawa, Vic, Agbeko, this kid Moreno out of Panama. Cermeno who beat Christian Mijares twice.

Lots of possibles.

marble i know Tarver aint your favorite fighter but ya gotta admit he is a good commentator especialy for how wet behind the ears he is

Mares fought a great fight and I had him ahead on my scorecard. I hold Mares to a high regaurd and I expected him to win last saturday night, but Perez is just that good and was able to keep up. I dont see many fighters beating Perez with his high pace style and he will make wars with any other good fighter out there. The man counters everytime after he gets hit, so I'd love to see him more often on these big networks because he would certainly make the casual fan watch. Marez swept the last 4 rounds on my score card and thought he won by 2 rounds. That was some mean body work he put in those early rounds and didnt let up late in the fight. He hurt Perez in the closing minute in the fight with a left to the liver and made that 12th round one of the best this year. I think Mares went from a prospect to contender quickly in his career, he got hurt, lost that momentum, and that then held a lot of question marks like if he would be able to make a succesful comeback. The way he fought looked like he never had a year long lay off and showed hes just as good as any top fighter in the division (Perez, Agbeko, Montiel, Hasegawa, Moreno and Cermeno). A rematch is needed and its deserved for both guys because Im sure they both have something to prove. I wouldnt even mind possibly even watching a third fight lol. Hopefully these guys dont kill each others careers like Izzy and rafa did to each other, but it happens when you constantly fight another top level guy again and again.

Birdofthad wrote:

marble i know Tarver aint your favorite fighter but ya gotta admit he is a good commentator especialy for how wet behind the ears he is

I gotta say he really has become quite good. Good looking, engaging way of talking, knwos his stuff, not afraid to express an opinion. Long as he sticks to broadcasting I'm good!

marbleheadmaui wrote:

Ali_1748 wrote:

I had it 115-113 for Abner Mares.

What a great fight though, In my opinion three of rounds could easily be round of the year contenders.

Now I understand why you all gush over Mares, the kid is a star in the making.

I really wonder if he belongs at 115 though.

Abner held his own against a big bantamweight, I don't see why the kid should move down.

If a rematch doesn't happen right away, I would love to see Mares vs Agbeko.