Denzil Stone - Atlantic City
The Showtime-organised Winner Takes All: Bantamweight Tournament is set to conclude on Saturday, August 13, with both participants, Joseph Agbeko and Abner Mares, determined to take the competition crown, the IBF title at 118lbs and the accolade of the division's finest. Mares pledged to put on a clinic and claimned that boxing's "little guys put on the best fights".
"I feel great," King Kong Agbeko, who withdrew from the original bout scheduled earlier in the year due to suffering a sciatic nerve attack, explained to the media recently. "I was never afraid that I would not fight again. I was surprised a thing like this could happen to me, but I knew in my heart that my career was not going to end this way. I mostly felt very bad that our first fight could not come off as scheduled.
"I have trained for nine weeks and my camp was excellent. At no point did I feel weak and now it is all behind my and I am focusing on Mares," said the Ghanian prizefighter.
"There is no way I am going to lose this fight," added Agbeko (28-2-0, 22ko), the current incumbent of the IBF championship title due to a decision win over Yonnhy Perez in the semi-final last year. "I don’t watch a lot of tape on my future opponents and I have only seen a few rounds of Mares’ fight against Yhonny Perez, but I know he is a very good, fast, aggressive fighter with a big future in this sport.
"I have prepared for everything he brings. He may be the one running in this fight."
The 31-year-old continued: "I am the only champion in boxing now from Ghana and I plan to continue to carry the torch from Azumah Nelson [former three-time world champion]. The winner deserves to be recognized as the number one bantamweight in the world."
Mares (21-0-1, 13ko), known for his swift fists and undefeated record, said: "It was difficult for me when our fight was cancelled, but eventually I got over it. I took a few weeks off and then was back in the gym. My camp was different this time around. We changed it up, first when I was in Mexico and then when I was in Santa Fe Springs [California], just so I wouldn’t get stale.
"This camp went by fast and now my training’s done," added the Mexican, a 25-year-old who defeated Vic Darchinyan in the semi-final stage in order to set up the finale with Agbeko. "I’m in great shape and very excited about fighting on Saturday. I’m totally focused and ready to explode. I believe the winner of this tournament should be called the top bantamweight in the world.
"A chance to become the first homegrown Golden Boy world champion is very exciting to me. I definitely would like to be the first, but I don’t feel any nervous pressure.
"I’m really grateful for everyone involved in making this fight happen and for this tournament. Everyone knows that boxing’s little guys make the best fights. Fans are in for a real treat on Saturday."
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