Mares vs. Agbeko II: why they want the belts (VIDEO)

The December 3 rematch between Abner Mares and Joseph Agbeko for two bantamweight belts features a man looking for redemption and another who seeks a cleaner image.

Joseph Agbeko (28-3, 22 KO’s) the man from Ghana by way of New York City believes that he fought two men in the ring in August. One was his opponent Abner Mares (22-0-1, 13 KO’s) and the other was ring referee Russell Mora.

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When Mora refused to deduct even one point from Mares for more than a few low blows, it was confusing to Team Agbeko. Then Mora gave Mares credit for a knockdown in the 11th round, when it was clear that Agbeko crumpled to the canvas from the most direct low blow unleashed in the fight.

t sent Agbeko's corner into a frenzy of complaints while the Showtime boxing broadcasters struggled to keep from saying that ref Mora was throwing the fight in favor of Abner Mares. The judges had it close and Mares took it all on a majority decision.

On the other side of the ring was Abner Mares who came into the bout with a known penchant for heavy use of body shots that landed south of the border more often than they should.

It was his first shot at a championship and he had waited four extra months to get into the ring. The bout was scheduled for April as the card topping match during the finals of the Showtime Bantamweight Tournament. The show went on despite of an injury to Agbeko that occured days prior to the fight and incapacitated him. The Darchinyan vs. Yohnny Perez match took top billing that night.

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There had been some talk of substituting another fighter but that was dismissed almost immediately. After that the two promoters, Golden Boy and Don King decided that Mares would wait to fight his injured opponent. It certainly had a lot to do with the fact that Agbeko had emerged from his side of the draw during the one-and-done Showtime tournament with a clear victory over semi-finalist Yohnny Perez.

Mares waited his turn, went through a second training period and was raring to go on August 13, 2011. Then came the low blows and the blind man act of Russell Mora. Abner Mares wants to demonstrate to the world that he can win "clean". Even his promoter, Oscar De La Hoya stressed that at the final press conference this week.

"He could have fought another guy, but he wanted to clear up any controversy that may have surrounded their first fight and he wanted to fight Agbeko again."

Listen to the two men speak about why this fight is critical to them and the rest of their boxing careers.