Mares vs. Moreno, a pivotal match up-Part I
By Nick Bellafatto
In an intriguing match up with lucrative implications in the offing, undefeated and streaking Abner Mares (24-0-1, 13 KO’s) of Hawaiian Gardens, California is set to take on Panamanian rising star Anselmo “Chemito” Moreno (33-1-1, 12 KO’s) this Saturday night on Showtime Championship Boxing from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. On the line will be Mares’s 122 pound WBC title as each man will be on a mission to prove his worth, with the winner’s stock to rise markedly.
As regards defending champion Mares, one fight removed from his campaign at bantamweight, he would recently be positioned for to then garner former champion Toshiaki Nishioka’s vacated WBC junior featherweight title, this by way of defeating the now retired Eric Morel. All told, Abner, who had not fought at 122 pounds previous to this, would love nothing more than to solidify himself amongst the ranks of junior featherweight with a convincing win over his upcoming foe.
And quite a statement it would be if he were to knock off in emphatic fashion the highly skilled Moreno, a fighter who not only sits at number 10 on Ring Magazine’s pound-for-pound list, but as well a defensive wizard who’s drawn comparisons to that of Hall of Fame fighter Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker, so that seemingly Mares has his work cut out for him.
To determine how each athlete has specifically arrived at this juncture, although quite interesting, would be somewhat exhaustive, so that the short term should serve the purpose as to what is likely to transpire this weekend. More specifically, the recent exploits of these two combatants are no doubt going to crossover into this contest, defined by a contrasting set of skills that when intertwined, should attract the utmost attention of those who care to witness.
And withMorenomost recently making the pound-for-pound list, I’m not so sure that his last few outings have rightfully merited him that position. To defeat an easy read in free swinging Vic Darchinyan, a fighter who’s punches you can see coming from the next county, as well as gaining the stoppage victory over the smaller one punch at a time throwing David De La Mora are perhaps not the most compelling of cases.
Quite possibly I’m underestimatingMorenoin that he made things look quite easy in achieving these feats, but I believe that the gun has been jumped a bit as regards his current status. However, “Chemito,” in venturing up from bantamweight for this fight will be in the spotlight in a significant way this weekend, no less afforded a grand opportunity to earn his stripes.
On the other hand we have Abner Mares, a man who although coming upon his recent title in a questionable way, has nevertheless in my opinion fought fighters as of late who’ve posed more of a challenge as compared to that ofMoreno’s latest opposition.
Not only would Abner vindicate himself as the Showtime Bantamweight Tournament champion by virtue of dusting off the formidable Joseph Agbeko in a return match, this after Abner’s initial and controversial foul filled performance against the Ghanaian fighter, but he would then go on to handily defeat a consummate pro in veteran and former world champion Eric Morel.
In essence, these exploits have made Abner a more polished fighter whereas this doesn’t necessarily appear to be the case concerningMoreno’s most recent adversarial match ups.
Nevertheless there is something to be said of “Chemito,” a slick well rounded southpaw who’s managed to remain on top since May of 2008 as the reigning WBA bantamweight champion.
And while Moreno has no less been able to accomplish this feat while getting the monetary shaft over the years, reportedly paid as much as a few hundred dollars for one or another of his past title defenses, he’s now under the even handed management of Sampson Lewcowicz, so that the Panamanian in finally receiving his just due, is hungry as ever to excel come fight night.
Of course, this weekends outcome will be determined by what goes down in the ring between these battle tested warriors of which technical aspects I will delve into in part II of Mares vs.Moreno, a pivotal match up.
Mares vs. Moreno, a pivotal match up-Part II
What’s instructive to note in discussing the upcoming bantamweight championship taking place this Saturday night at the Staples Center in Los Angeles between WBC titlist Abner Mares (24-0-1, 13 KO’s) and pound-for-pound prizefighter Anselmo Moreno (33-1-1, 12 KO’s), is not necessarily Abner’s two most recent victories per se, but rather the way they came about and how that might translate into action once the first bell sounds.
Mares in facing both Joseph Agbeko and then Eric Morel, two solid professionals, would throw punches in bunches, something he’s prone to do and rather proficiently, attacking the head and body in unrelenting fashion with plenty of speed and controlled aggression. This not only bodes well for Abner this weekend, but will be key in defeatingMoreno, who although a stellar tactician, is by no stretch a knockout puncher so that the Mexican fighter has an opportunity to outwork his counterpart in a bout likely to go the distance.
Mares after warming a bit should be able to get in range of the cagey southpaw behind his jab, with a little side to side head movement being ideal so as to preventMorenofrom getting a beat on him with his straight left hand. And as is usual Abner must simply throw in combination, specifically beginning or ending at the body irregardless of whether he lands to the head or not of the slick, elusive Panamanian.
This will prove especially valuable considering that “Chemito” has a tendency to consistently duck head shots or go into a crouch when advanced upon. Stated Mares, “withMoreno’s style, if you miss, you cannot become frustrated. You have to keep working and that is one of the biggest keys for me.”
Of course another obvious reason for Mares to go to the body is to slow down the challenger who makes extensive use of his legs, constantly employing lateral movement as well as turning preferably to his right. This will necessitate that Abner use a long left hook as he did somewhat successfully against southpaw Vic Darchinyan, so as to keep Anselmo in front of him, as well as negateMoreno’s steering right hook.
Abner getting off first both up and down would be essential, as this is sure to upset the visiting fighter’s rhythm, timing, and perhaps mobility, as well as serve to thwart Moreno’s own body attack which can’t be dismissed as a fight changer. By pressing the attack the defending champion may also in the latter stages wear down his opponent, as “Chemito” had previously wilted to an extent under constant pressure as evidenced in his fight with Volodymyr Sydorenko.
Another tidbit is that Anselmo’s most recent adversary, although thoroughly dominated, gave “Chemito” a taste of his own medicine in that David De La Mora would momentarily and successfully box a bit, moving in, out, and laterally with scoring blows which seemed to frustrate the Panamanian who in reaching with his punches found it difficult to counter.
To further that point, Nehomar Cermeno on two separate occasions would nearly upsetMorenodoing the identical, twice resulting in close split decision verdicts. Not sure if sticking and moving is up for consideration on the part of Mares but perhaps it should be.
There’s no question that Abner has to cut off the ring, that’s a given. The question then becomes what happens when he does? WillMorenobox his way out of traps to successfully maneuver away? Will Anselmo be drawn into more of a fire fight which may tend to favor the slightly shorter and reach disadvantaged Mares?
Nothing is set in stone, but opposed to what Abner Mares should do, Anselmo must do the counter. “Chemito” in appearing to be the slower and at times wider puncher needs to be accurate with a well timed jab, not only a punch that will help keep his opponent at bay, but a blow that would serve to negate Mares’s combinations. This along with a right hook will allow the lengthier challenger to punch his way out of Abner’s path and use the ring to his advantage.
Morenosimply doesn’t want to get into a constant fire fight with the quicker fisted Mares, while simultaneously the challenger needs to give the impression he’s outscoring his opponent. A difficult task for the typically economical Moreno who will in pockets no doubt have to pick up the pace or face the possibility of becoming outworked, inevitably falling behind on the scorecards which would be a concern considering the Panamanian’s no kayo artist.
However, what is sure to pay dividends for Anselmo besides a mixed attack and consistent jab, is a straight left if not double straight left hand, as Mares, who uses head movement to avoid blows, rarely uses head movement on the way in which will leave him vulnerable to that punch, especially in the absence of Abner’s own jab.
This is the very blow from which the Mexican pugilist would suffer a flash knockdown at the hands of Vic Darchinyan. Other than that Moreno as the boxer must avoid the ropes where Abner does his best work, as well as be in top condition so as not fade late or he will become victimized by an opponent who can bring it all night long.
Lastly,Morenowhen not getting the better of it must tie up, something that if he ends up doing repeatedly to thwart what looks to be the inevitable, could call into question who the referee is or how he handles matters. Hopefully that will not be the case but Anselmo’s tendency to push off or skillfully but questionably steer his opponents around the ring may be at issue. We shall see.
In the end, with a future potential match up on the line with WBO champion and pound-for-pound prizefighter Nonito Donaire, or even with WBA titlist Guillermo Rigondeaux, I believe Moreno’s body punching, straight left hand, and most everything else will for the most part be cancelled out by the work rate of Mares who’s best defense in this and other fights has been and will perhaps continue to be his offense.
And even though I expect it to be a competitive scrap with “Chemito” stating “I will come in hungry” and “do what I have to do and be ready to win on fight night,” I’m willing to bet that Mares will solve the puzzle that is Anselmo Moreno. Abner by way of setting a torrent pace should over time be able to outwork, out-point, and in finality inflict upon the challenger his first defeat in slightly over ten years.
Concluded Mares, “I’ve got to be up close and I’ve just got to make it my fight. If I have to make it an ugly fight, so be it, but as long as it’s my fight and he gets uncomfortable in it. You can expect a more mature, focused, and ready Abner than you ever have seen before. I can’t wait to get in the ring.”
Mares vs.Moreno, a 12-round battle for Mares’s WBC junior featherweight world title, promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored byCoronaand AT&T. The Showtime Championship Boxing telecast begins live at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).
In co-featured attractions, Los Angeles’s own Leo “Terremoto” Santa Cruz (21-0-1, 12 KO’s) puts his IBF bantamweight world title up for grabs against Victor “Nene” Zaleta (20-2-1, 10 KO’s), while hard-hitting junior middleweight Alfredo “El Perro” Angulo (20-2, 17 KO’s) of Los Angeles by way of Mexicali, Mexico makes his highly anticipated return after a lengthy eleven month detention at the hands of Immigration Services, to square off with Raul Casarez (19-2, 9 KO’s) in a 12-round contest.
In preliminary bouts to air live on Showtime Extreme (8 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast), Nathan Cleverly (24-0, 11 KO’s) of Cefn Fforest, Wales, United Kingdom will be putting his unblemished record as well as WBO light heavyweight title on the line against Shawn Hawk (22-2-1, 16 KO’s) of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, while in a junior welterweight scrap, promising unbeaten Antonio Orozco (15-0, 11 KO’s) of San Diego, California will take on Danny Escobar (8-1, 5 KO’s) of nearby Riverside.
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