Next weekend, the super bantamweights take center stage as top-15 pound for pound stars Abner Mares and Anselmo Moreno square off in a huge showdown. Also on the card will be Alfredo Angulo and Leo Santa Cruz. All of these fighters held a conference call to discuss their respective fights and training. Take a look at what they had to say right here.
Alfredo Angulo
How are you, everybody? Thank you so much for the call. I appreciate it.
De La Hoya
And also I have the pleasure to introduce to you a fighter who is making a great name for himself. He is the IBF bantamweight world champion. He’s making the second title defense. He’s a young Mexican-American phenom who is one of boxing’s bright young stars and he’s knocked out ten of his last eleven opponents.
He’s coming off a career-defining win over former world champion Eric Morel on September 15th, which he handed Morel’s first ever knockout loss. Obviously he’s now looking to continue his momentum and close out 2012 with a big bang.
He’s facing Victor Zaleta. He has a record of 20-2 with 10 knockouts, hailing out of El Paso, Texas, and he’s coming off four consecutive victories and he’s getting ready for his first world title shot. So let me introduce to you the champion, the IBF world champion, Leo Santa Cruz.
Leo Santa Cruz
I want to tell everybody thank you and I’m real happy to be on this interview and I’m ready. I’m training really hard and I’m going to be ready to give all you guys a good show on November 10th.
Q
Alfredo, obviously you’ve been out of the ring for a long time. Can you talk about your hunger to get back in the ring after having that disappointing loss?
Angulo
I’m really, really hungry, more excited to get back to L.A. and fight at Staples Center. I’m more hungry and I am ready for November 10.
Q
Who are you training with and who is your trainer? And also how is it getting the rust off from having not been in the ring? How long have you been training and how is the rust coming off?
Angulo
Yes, everything is good. I’m working for Darryl Hudson, my conditioning coach and two weeks after we were working very hard. I’ve been training for two and a half months.
Q
My last question for you is what do you know about your opponent?
Angulo
I really don’t know too much about my opponent but I do know he’s good. I know he’s been on an 11-fight win streak and it doesn’t matter what he does, if he’s going to run or if he’s going to stand and fight, it doesn’t really matter to me. I’m focused and I can fight any way. I’m concentrating on making a good fight.
Q
I don’t know if you appreciate the magnitude of what you’ve accomplished. I know you’ve heard it’s the first time Morel has been stopped, but it wasn’t just the knockout, it was the way you did it. This is a guy who did not quit. You made him quit. Can you talk about since that fight have you really gained an appreciation for the magnitude of what you accomplished and how you accomplished it, snuffing him out like that?
Santa Cruz
Yeah, I appreciate it. I’ve been hearing a lot of people that they like that it was a great performance and everything that that. It gives me more motivation. It gives me more strength to train, to come to the gym and work harder. It feels good hearing that from people and for people to tell me that. It gives me more strength to train in the gym and I want to do even better so I can hear more of that and have the people tell me other stuff.
Q
What, in your mind, what was the difference between-were you a better fighter in just that one fight than the previous fight against Malinga, or was it just the function of styles and intensity that led to your performance against Morel?
Santa Cruz
I think it was a little of both because I did have more time to train for this fight, for Morel. For the Malinga fight, I didn’t really have that much time and for this one I did. With my strength and conditioning coach, we did, I think it was like two months of preparation and for the Malinga we only had like six weeks. So I think it was a little of both.
Q
How big a part of your arsenal is the body punches? Was that something we’re going to see continuously? I mean there was a guy named Mike McCallum who was known as the body puncher. Was that a function of what happened that night or is that something you’re going to make a regular part of your arsenal?
Santa Cruz
I keep working on that because it’s natural. It comes natural for me and if we practice it more it’s going to come even better. My dad has always been teaching me that body jab in the gym. He’s always been telling me, “Work that. Work that.” If he don’t see me … he’s always telling me, “Oh, you have to throw it. Don’t be lazy and throw it because with that punch once you hit them good, little by little they’ll be dropping. And no matter how strong they are you’re going to drop them anytime.”
Q
You know, you’ve gone through a difficult time, Alfredo Angulo, being detained and all that. Do you think that this a very tough opponent that you’re fighting?
Angulo
Yes, I did go through a very difficult period, but I’ve proven to myself and I’ve proven to everybody that I’m ready for anything. I know that Casarez is a very good fighter. I’ve never asked for easy opponents. So if anything, I’m going to be ready and I’m going to give the fans what they deserve.
Q
What does it mean to you that you’re becoming quickly the best action fighter in this sport, well the young action fighter I should say?
Santa Cruz
It’s an honor for me. I get excited to hear all that and all the people saying that. It shows all the hard work I have been doing and all the hard work and sacrifices. I’m dedicated to the gym. I’m always in the gym. I don’t go out. I don’t go partying. I’m always in the gym, go home, rest, eat and then back to the gym. Like that’s all I do.
Q
The list of names that you mentioned before of guys you want to fight in the future, is that an indication that you’re probably moving up to 122? Because I’m looking at the bantamweight and it seems like all the best names have left and they’re moving up. I just want to know if that’s in your future and if you’re even still able to make the weight comfortably?
Santa Cruz
My plans for the future and my trainer plan to move me up in weight, 122. I think I will feel a lot stronger at that weight, because all the good fighters are moving up to 122 and they’re right there right now, and for me to be a good champion and to be the best I want to beat the best. Mares and Moreno are the best right now. So I would like to fight them so I could try to beat ….
Q
Alfredo, while you were detained did you have any idea when you would be getting out or were you hopeless during that situation and then what were you going through while you were detained in the immigration situation?
Angulo
I had no idea. I had no idea when I was going to get out. I was told it was going to be a short time and obviously that didn’t happen. So I just kept focusing on staying strong, just to get out of there.
I kept thinking about my daughter, which is very important to me. And also I kept thinking about helping other detainees, that were in the same situation as I was, get out and making a difference in helping them out. And obviously the last thing was being able to get back in the ring and fighting in the United States again.
Q
Alfredo, were you able to stay in any kind of condition while you were there? Were you allowed to workout or was it just a matter of you couldn’t really do anything and so when you did finally come out you kind of had to start scratch to get yourself into boxing shape?
Angulo
No, the reality is they didn’t let me train in there. A simple thing like having tennis shoes, it took me two months. They didn’t allow me to use or have tennis shoes for two months. The rules stipulate that it’s a three-day process, but for some reason it took me two months to get tennis shoes. The only thing I ever did to stay physically fit and in shape was play handball and I did that every day for two hours a day.
Q
With other people or by yourself?
Angulo
Yeah, no, it was team play, two on two or four.
Q
Alfredo, how long were you actually in this detention center? How many months or how many weeks? How long was it from the time that you were put there ’til the time they let you out?
Angulo
Seven months.
Q
And is everything with your immigration situation now handled? You are able to legally be in America? You are able to fight in America? Are you able to go back and forth to Mexico and see your family and friends and it’s all taken care of or are there still other issues that are overshadowing this whole situation?
Angulo
I’m here legally. Everything is fine. The process is behind me. All I have to do now is just think about the future and move forward.
Q
Okay, very good, thank you, Alfredo, I wish you the best of luck next week.
Q
Alfredo, how’s training camp coming along so far?
Angulo
Honestly, it’s going very, very good, very good with the addition of Virgil Hunter. I’m working very, very good with him. He’s doing a great job, my fitness-conditioning trainer. I think that people are going to see the difference in me. They’re going to see that I have a great team behind me now and I’ve got so much more to give and that’s what was lacking before. So I’m very excited and it’s going to be very good.
Q
All right, with the addition of Virgil Hunter have you made any changes in your arsenal going into this fight?
Angulo
Basically, it’s the same style, the thing that Virgil has done is he’s added to my style. He’s enhanced it. He’s picked up on things that I already knew about but I forget through time, through different fights. So he’s picked up on some of the things that I wasn’t doing and he’s incorporated that through repetition and training.
So it’s the same style and nothing really has changed, but I’m ready for the fight. I’m ready. How am I ready? I’m sure everybody’s going to be able to tell because just alone with the weigh in you can a fighter’s ready or not and when you guys see me at the weigh in you’ll know that I’m ready.
Q
Okay. And not to look ahead, Alfredo, but do you see yourself fighting a rematch with James Kirkland in the future?
Angulo
Yes, no problem, no problem whatsoever. If the fight presents itself in the future, no problem, I’ll do it. I think that I owe it to my fans to come and see that fight and see the rematch. So I’ll do the rematch. I don’t have any problem fighting anybody, whoever it is.
Q
Leo, each one of your fights is more exciting than the previous one. How important is it to you not only to win but look impressive?
Santa Cruz
It is very important for me to win this fight because it’s what we’ve been training for. We’ve been getting ready here in the gym. We’ve been sparring hard. We’ve been training really hard with my conditioning coach and my dad. We have been working the body, and I think it’s very important. I always train hard and train my best to give the fans and all my people a good show.
Sears
Thank you very much, Leo and Alfredo. We’re done with questions on your side. If you’d like to jump off the call now we will look forward to seeing you guys next week. Then, Oscar, I’d like to turn the call back to you to introduce our main event for November 10th with Abner and Anselmo.
De La Hoya
Thank you very much, Leo, Alfredo. Great job.
So now I would like to introduce to you guys the main event. I believe this fight will be who the best super bantamweight is in the world. You have first Anselmo Moreno. He has a record of 33-1 with 12 knockouts. He’s been unstoppable since his lone loss in his eighth professional fight in, I believe, 2002. He captured the WBA world championship title in 2008.
He’s coming off an incredible winning streak of 27 fights. In his last fight in April he stopped David De La Mora in nine rounds and now he’s moving up in weight, moving up in weight and facing the best out there in Abner Mares. A very good fight, a very good match up, it could be a tremendous, tremendous, exciting fight. Anselmo Moreno.
Anselmo Moreno
The hour’s upon us. I can’t wait. I think that a lot of fans can’t wait for this fight. It’s a fight that has been talked about before. I think that I’m ready and it’s going to be a very, very good fight. I can’t wait.
De La Hoya
Thank you very much. I would also like to introduce to you the champion. He hails out of Guadalajara Jalisco, Mexico. Now fighting out of Hawaiian Gardens.
He is the former IBF bantamweight world champion, moved up in weight to capture the WBC super bantamweight world title. He’s Golden Boy’s first homegrown world champion. He won an exciting split decision over Vic Darchinyan.
Also, he went on to win Showtime’s bantamweight tournament and we all know the great fight he had against Joseph “King Kong” Agbeko, winning the IBF bantamweight title and defending his WBC bantamweight title. Then he went on to have a rematch with him once again in December 2011 where he won his second divisional world title, also against “Little Hands of Steel” Morel, which earned him the WBC world title. So he’s a two time, two-divisional world champion.
November 10th he will be facing another terrific and great champion in Anselmo Moreno. You have two of the best bantamweights out there in the world today, in the one squared circle. So this should be a terrific, terrific fight, so without any further ado, the champion, Abner Mares.
Abner Mares
Hi. Good afternoon to everyone. I just want to say I can’t wait. November 10th, it’s also my favorite month because it’s also the month of my birthday. And I can’t wait. I’m really excited to see fans excited for this fight. I can’t wait to give a show. I’m sure Anselmo trained really hard. I trained hard as well and I can’t wait for fight night.
Q
Abner, you and Anselmo Moreno, you fought on the same cards a couple of times already. You were in the main event and he was fighting on your under cards. This was when you were bantamweight champion and also since you won your title of junior featherweight. When that was going on did you sort of anticipate that at some point this would be the fight you would have?
Mares
To be honest, yes, I did actually. Obviously we’re in the same weight class, bantamweight. When he first started fighting in my under cards he was a current champion as well. So I definitely saw myself fighting him in the future. Like I say, here we are. It’s made. People were asking, then asking, for this fight and I can’t wait to give the people what they want.
Q
Were you paying attention to-I know you were fighting in the main event so you were warming up for fights when he was fighting in your cards, but were you trying at least a little bit in the dressing room to pay attention to what was going on with his fights?
Were you watching the monitor out of the corner of your eye and thinking in the future or were you just focused on your own fight that night and if this got made in the future then you’d go back and look at the videos and talk to your trainer about all that stuff? What was that like knowing that you might fight him?
Mares
Well definitely I was not looking at his fights while I was warming up. I was mainly concentrating on my fight. I was warming up, you know, and just thinking about my opponent that night. Like I’ve always said, I don’t like looking at opponents’ fights. I’ve seen him fight, yes. I’m not going to lie; I’ve seen him fight a couple of times, not many rounds. Like I say he’s a really technical, elusive fighter. I leave that for my trainer. But again, for some reason I always thought this fight would come, the day would come and we’re only ten days away.
Q
So he hasn’t lost a fight since 2002, and I think if I’m not mistaken that was a four-round fight. So it’s been a long time. It’s been almost a decade since he’s had a loss. He’s won a bantamweight title and fought a lot of good opponents. He’s long. He’s a southpaw. He’s a tricky fighter. Let’s be honest about that.
How do you deal with that with your style? You’re a good boxer, a good puncher, but he’s a real slick, kind of an annoying kind of guy to fight I would imagine, just watching the way he fights. How in the world do you go about trying to break that tough style down?
Mares
Well first of all, he hasn’t fought anyone like me. Yes, he has over 30 fights. His last two fights were against good fighters. Those are the only two fighters that have been in the U.S. The rest have been in Panama. I don’t know who he’s been fighting.
Q
Well he fought good guys. He fought guys like Sidorenko and Sermeno and Parra, you know, good opponents.
Mares
He hasn’t fought me. He hasn’t fought my style, I’m just going to go in there and figure him out really. I mean the training is done already. We got the proper sparring partners that really kind of imitated him in some way and we felt good in sparring.
I can’t wait to get in the ring. Again, I like to figure out the opponent once we get in the ring, but I think with Anselmo it’s just a matter of getting him out of his game plan and making it a really uncomfortable fight for him.
Q
Okay great, I’m curious to know when you first came to America and had signed with Golden Boy and then started to fight on Abner’s under cards, if, like I asked Abner, if you thought was that at some point, whether it was in a bantamweight title fight or even a junior featherweight, that this would be the fight that would happen? What were his thoughts about that?
Moreno
Yes, you know what, obviously yes. I mean I’ve always wanted to fight good fighters like Abner, and it crossed my mind, obviously yes, fighting him. He’s a very, very good fighter. It did cross my mind and I felt that someday it should happen or it will happen and I just thank God that it finally happened.
Q
How closely to Abner’s fights then did you pay attention when you would finish your fight with winning and then Abner was on next. Did you scout him out and pay close attention or not?
Moreno
The first couple of times I didn’t really pay too much attention. I didn’t really pay too much attention. But it wasn’t until the Eric Morel fight that I paid very, very close attention because I felt that there was a good chance that I would be fighting him. So I took a lot of notes and I paid attention to that fight from round one all the way to round 12.
Q
Mares, are you feeling comfortable with the superstar role that Golden Boys’ kind of grooming you towards or do you get nervous leading up to this fight? How do you feel with that superstar role that you’re heading towards?
Mares
Well, I don’t feel any different. I don’t feel like I’m a superstar yet. I just do my job really, fight the best and that’s pretty much it. I mean I am excited to be fighting here in L.A. in the Staples Center. I grew up here. I’ve got family here, friends, and the first time headlining Staples Center or the Lakers’ Place. That’s it for me. I’m taking that really in a positive way. I’m excited and just can’t wait.
Q
The Lakers haven’t had that much success this year, but hopefully we’ll see some success from you.
My next question is for Moreno. Now that Abner is kind of being groomed for the next superstar, if he’s not superstar yet, leading up to that are you looking to kind of steal the show at Staples Center, like you said, under the spotlight and kind of take his rhythm away from him going into that fight?
Moreno
Obviously we both want to steal the night and we both want to be in the limelight. This is going to be a very, very, very tough fight for me. It’s not going to be an easy fight. I understand this. He’s the world champion. So, all I can say is that I’m very, very well prepared for this fight. I’m sure we both are. It’s going to be a great night and I think I have what it takes.
Q
My next question would be, if Oscar De La Hoya’s still on the line, for the Showtime Extreme bouts, is there anything confirmed for those fights yet?
De La Hoya
Well that would be a question for Eric Gomez, the matchmaker.
E. Gomez
Yes, actually we’re working on finalizing Nathan Cleverly’s world title defense with the WBO light heavyweight world champion. So he will be on the Showtime Extreme. And we also have Antonio Orozco of San Diego, who’s a hot prospect, that we signed, undefeated, a very exciting fighter and he’ll be on the Showtime Extreme as well.
Q
Eric, what did you just say? Do you know who Cleverly and Orozco’s opponents are going to be?
Gomez
We do have an opponent currently for Orozco. His opponent is Danny Escobar out of Riverside, California. And for Nathan Cleverly, we’re close. I’ve been working very closely with Dean Powell, who’s the matchmaker for Frank Warren. We’ve zeroed in on a couple of guys. There’s an opponent that fell out. So it’ll come out shortly.
Q
Abner, you fought what 60 championship rounds against topnotch guys. You’ve had to grow up on television in front of your public. All of your mistakes were right there. This is a guy who has obviously watched you a little bit. For you personally, can you talk about the challenge of facing him? You’ve obviously proven yourself. How does he rank in terms of the challenges you’ve already faced in 60 rounds?
Mares
It’s a big challenge, believe me, and they keep getting bigger and bigger as I keep fighting. I want it to continue. Obviously I fought nothing but world champions, current world champions, ex-world champions in my last four or five fights.
Definitely everybody’s good in their own style and Anselmo Moreno brings in a different style. A unique style you could say, a great style that works for him. He’s obviously a really defensive fighter, smart fighter type of a fighter. But again, we train hard and this is what we train for.
You don’t pick your opponent now days. I don’t like to pick opponents. Whoever is there to fight, whoever is the best, I’ll fight them no matter what style he brings and I just have to get accustomed to it and figure him out.
And that’s what this beautiful sport is about. It’s about figuring out the opponent. It’s being like a chess game inside the ring. November 10th people are going to see a different Abner, as they always see every single fight, and I can’t wait to face this new style that I’ve never faced.
Q
You and him have one common opponent that you fought within a year of each other. You beat Darchinyan in 2010. He beat him a year later in December, this past December. Do you gain anything from comparing the way he fought him to the way you fought him?
Mares
Not really. I mean they’re totally different styles. He’s a southpaw. I mean both of them were southpaws. I was fighting a southpaw. There’s no way you can compare being that he’s a different fighter, different style. I’m a different style. I have no comparison. I can’t compare that fight.
Q
Do you feel like you’re getting the respect that you deserve? Not just in this fight, because he’s already, I think, gotten votes for being in the top ten pound for pound and you haven’t. You’ve been in the public eye and you fought big name guys. What are your thoughts on that? Do you concern yourself with any of that?
Mares
It’s not a concern. It’s a little bit of frustration you could say. I mean being that you just said I faced all these tough opponents back to back. Really, I mean, thank God there are some good fans out there that give me the recognition and know who I am and obviously thank you to Showtime for showcasing my fights. But obviously there are other fighters out there that don’t have, the recognition I have. I’m really known out there. But again, I know my time will come. I’ve just got to be patient. Everything happens for a reason and I’ve just got to keep pushing myself and keep going.
Q
Abner, I just want to know how well you’ve grown into the super bantamweight division? You only had one fight there so far and that was with Morel. I just want to know if you feel like you’re full fledged to the bantamweight now.
Mares
No doubt, I’m really familiar with the weight class. I started at the weight class actuall super bantamweight. So it’s not new to me. And if anything, I think I’ve gotten stronger, really, bigger, stronger, and I could tell you I’ve adapted to it really, really well. I’m sparing 140 pounders right now, 135-140 pounders, and they say they feel my power.
Q
You mentioned your power. I was going to bring that up next. I think five fights have gone the distance. So do you think the weight is going to make a difference in this fight or do you think it’s going to be a matter of figuring out Moreno’s style first and then leading to a whole full knockout I guess?
Mares
Well yes, again no doubt figuring his style out first. He is a very hard, difficult fighter, you know, hard fighter to hit. Obviously figure him out first and if the chance is there, go for it. I don’t know how my power’s going to be in that weight class. I hope and I believe that it’s going to be great. Again, I feel really strong and we’ll see. We’ll see if KO comes. If not, I’m ready for a full 12 rounds.
Q
All right, Abner, you’re facing Moreno, a southpaw with a great counter punching style. What do you feel you need to do in this fight in order to impose your will on him?
Mares
Again, he is a really technical fighter, counter puncher all that. I just have to go in there and make it a difficult fight for him. Not make it an easy fight, a comfortable fight, meaning staying at his distance, giving him the chance to just counter me or do whatever he wants from him distance. 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.
Q
Okay. There are some good fights for you up in junior lightweight. How long do you plan to campaign as a junior featherweight?
Mares
Well I’m really comfortable now here at this weight. It’s all a matter of who they can get for me next, God willing everything goes well with this fight really, and we’ll take it from there. But I mean this weight class right now there’s a lot of talent. There are a lot of good fighters, a lot of good fighters in this weight. So I could stick around for maybe another year.
Q
Okay, so it seems like you’re pretty comfortable where you’re at right now. Okay, and I know you don’t want to look past Moreno, but what are your thoughts on Nonito Donaire and how do you feel about the possibility of that fight happening in the future?
Mares
That’s actually the fight I wanted before the Anselmo Moreno fight, but it didn’t work out. I got this fight, which is also as tough and as great for the fans. All I can say, Nonito, he’s a great fighter. He’s really, really explosive, really great fighter.
His last performance against Nishioka, I mean the fight was a little bit, you could say boring at the beginning, but being that Nishioka wasn’t throwing that much, he wasn’t giving that much, but Nonito found a way and took his time and got that knockout. He looked good.
If I were to fight him, obviously I’d fight him different and it would be a great fight. I know and I’ve seen that people want that fight. They’ve been asking for that fight and they know that I could give them a hell of a fight and definitely beat him as well. But again, that’s in the future, first things first.
Q
I just want to say best of luck to you, Abner. I look forward to seeing you fight next week. Oscar De La Hoya and Eric Gomez, I just want to commend you guys for the excellent cards you guys have put on this year. I just want to thank you for thinking of the fans first.
De La Hoya
Thank you very much. It’s appreciated and it’s a team effort, all of us at Golden Boy.
Q
I’ve got to ask though, the only blemish on your record is that draw with Yonny Perez. Do you feel that inspired you to level where you’re at?
Mares
Yes, definitely, that was my first world title shot. I lost. Well, I drew, but pretty much it was a loss for myself because I took it that way. I went to the gym and trained even harder and got myself back in rhythm, back on my toes, and obviously with the help of my promotion and Showtime for putting me on that bantamweight tournament.
Q
And your fights with Agbeko, that first fight, I guess they felt like they dealt with some controversy and then you guys had the rematch. How do you feel about that first fight and then the second fight?
Mares
I mean the first fight obviously is just something that happened in that fight. His style, the way he was leaning down, pushing me down, I mean just numerous things that just happened that night, but it happened.
I gave him the rematch right away. I didn’t want to continue my career with people talking about that controversial fight. I just wanted to get it over with. I wanted to prove to people that that was not just a fluke. I didn’t just win because of what happened, and clearly not.
We fought him again. I felt really good. I think I out boxed him. I was a better fighter that night and against a great fighter because Joseph was a super, super fighter and he hits really hard. Again, a great fight and from both of the fights I learned a lot.
Q
And now you’re getting ready to fight Moreno. Moreno is good at keeping fighters off of him, but now he’s fighting a guy that has a vicious body attack. Do you think he’s going to be able to weather that?
Mares
I don’t know. I hope not. I don’t know. I mean obviously that’s one of the games plans, but there are many things we could go in there and do. Whatever it is, whatever he brings, we have to counter attack that. I know he’s a boxer in that ring that night. It looks that way. It looks like he’s going to be the boxer that night. He’s going to be the technical fighter, but who knows. It might be me. So expect anything from Abner and it’ll be a great fight.
Q
Thank you. Hey, Abner, I had a follow up question. I drew, a couple minutes ago in talking about your desire in the future to fight a guy like Donaire, which I guess to most people, assuming you were able to win the fight next week would crown the true champion at 122 pounds.
You both have championships. You’re obviously both topnotch guys. Would you have liked to have that fight now instead of thinking about in the future, just because Donaire, as good as Moreno has been, Donaire’s got a bit of a bigger name and you guys are probably the two biggest names in the weight class?
Mares
Yeah, without a doubt. I mean I’ve said it that I thought that was going to be my next fight after the Morel fight, but obviously for some reason the fight didn’t happen. It didn’t get made.
Again, you know, this fight came through and it’s just as exciting. Again, a fight the fans were asking for. But without a doubt, I mean, I’ll take, hands down, the Nonito fight. All I have to say is this fight is done already I’m fighting Moreno and keep going. This is a tough fight and God willing winning this fight I hope, I really hope that we get the Nonito fight after.
Q
My question for Anselmo is I just wonder how he feels about taking this fight at 122 pounds and if he feels like it’s a weight class that he plans on staying at win, lose or draw?
Moreno
I feel very good at 122. Right now I’m actually-I feel very strong, very fast. I’m almost at the weight limit already. So I’m feeling very, very good. And as far as staying at 122, it really depends on the outcome of the fight. I’ll see how it goes in the fight and I’ll make a determination with my wife and manager and we’ll go from there.
Q
Okay, and then I had a question regarding, it’s a totally separate matter, Chris Pearson, I just want to know if an opponent was decided for him and if he will be on the Showtime Extreme portion of the card as well?
Gomez
Chris Pearson is going to be a swing bout. So there’s a chance he might get some airtime on Extreme. We’re close on finalizing an opponent.
Q
My question is Abner has said that he hasn’t faced an opponent like Anselmo and you haven’t faced an opponent like Abner, and I wanted to get his thoughts on where Abner ranks, as far as difficulty, among the guys you have fought?
Moreno
My biggest or toughest opponent is always my work in the gym. Whatever Abner said, that’s his opinion, but my training and preparation is always very tough, very intense. So for me, as long as my training and preparation goes well, then I go into every fight as it’s just another opponent. So I know what I go through in my training camps and they’re very, very tough, intense, and those are my toughest opponents, my training camps.
Q
Abner said that he is going to try to make it uncomfortable for you. Meaning he’s going to bring the fight to you. If he has to make it an ugly fight he will. How do you see Abner’s style and how he can, I guess, neutralize it or handle it?
Moreno
I think that Abner’s style is-he’s a classic Mexican warrior that’s going to come to battle. That’s the style that he has. My style is no secret. I like to hit and not get hit. But I feel that I’m very, very confident in my conditioning; that I’m going to be able to overcome anything. I’m very anxious and hungry for this fight and that’s what’s going to lift me to victory.
Q
Do you draw any comparisons from how tough Darchinyan was for Abner Mares and how relatively easy Darchinyan was for you? Are there any comparisons to be made or is that just two different fights?
Moreno
The answer was his distinctly different styles. The style that he has and the style that I have are very, very different. They’re distinct styles. So obviously I don’t take into account the Darchinyan fight because I have a style that’s very complicated.
Darchinyan has a style that’s very complicated and they’re very distinct. Every fight is an individual fight and they’re very distinct. So I don’t really take that into consideration, but I know that I’m going to be ready. I have a style that can complicate anybody.
Q
My last question for you is Abner has had to fight 60 rounds against quality opposition and had to really put out pretty much everything he’s had in those fights and I wanted to know if you have seen those fights, if you’ve learned anything from watching those fights and if you think Abner improved during the course of those fights?
Moreno
The fights that I’ve really watched of Abner, they’re just the last couple of fights, the ones that I’ve been in where I’ve participated on the under cards. I can’t really say if he’s gotten better or if he’s learned anything in those last fights because I haven’t seen all those 60 rounds you’re talking about. But what I do know is that I’m very ready for this fight and I’ve done my work.
Q
Abner, how do you feel about the fight. This fight, you know, it’s a very difficult fight. How have you prepared for the fight? How do you feel going into this fight with Anselmo Moreno?
Mares
You know what? I’ve prepared very, very well for this fight. I’m ready for the fight. Obviously I’ve trained harder than I’ve ever trained before for any fight because it’s going to be a tough fight. I can’t really talk too much about Anselmo. I don’t know what he’s doing, but I know that he’s going to be ready for this fight because it’s a big fight. So obviously I’m ready for this fight and I’m ready to go, ready to win.
Q
Have you seen videos of Anselmo? Have you seen his fights? What do you think about his style?
Mares
Yeah, you know, about his style, obviously it’s a different kind of style. It’s a style that you don’t really see too often. He’s a good fighter. I’m not a person that likes to look at video too much. I leave that up to my trainers. They set up my training camp and sparring partners, but I can say that I know he’s a good fighter. He’s a very good fighter and I’m a very good fighter as well and I’ve got my own style as well so we’ll see who’s style works out the best at night and it’s going to be a good fight.
Sears
All right, thanks, everyone, so much for taking the time to be on this call. I know it was a long one, but we’re really looking forward to next week having you guys both out at the Staples Center November 10th. If you’re not in L.A. or in the area you can watch it live on Showtime.
