Abner Mares Beats Joseph Agbeko Again

Abner Mares beat Joseph Agbeko by unanimous decision in Anaheim, California, Saturday night to retain his IBF bantamweight belt.

In a rematch after their controversial bout four months ago, the Mexican won 118-110 on each oif the three scorecards.

He maintained his unbeaten record, which now stands at of 23-0-1, with 13 knockouts.

Mares was awarded a majority decision over the Ghanaian in August, but he landed several blatantly low blows without being penalised. The IBF ordered an immediate rematch.

This time there were no questionable blows. Mares landed more punches and power shots despite fighting the final ten rounds with a deep cut near his right eye. 'I'm happy that my fans finally saw my true boxing skills,' Mares said. 'I beat him the first time, and I beat him again. I knew I was winning the whole fight.'

Earlier Panama's Anselmo Moreno kept his WBA bantamweight title in his American debut, winning a unanimous decision over Vic Darchinyan, an Armenian-born Australian.

Moreno could be Mares's next opponent, said Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions.

Mares was sharper and crisper than Agbeko, whose vocal supporters disliked the verdict.

'A lot of media guys told me at the press conference that this is California, and that I will have to knock him out to win,' said Agbeko, whose record fell to 28-4.

'I told them no. If I win, I deserve to win. Right now, I don't have anything to protest. I don't feel like a loser. I think this decision is unfair.

“You shouldn't have to knock out your opponent to win in California. I thought I fought better tonight than the last fight.'

Both fighters traded blows from the first round, and Mares didn't flinch when his cut opened in the second round.

'It bothered me a few times, because he was only going for my eye,' Mares said.

Agbeko was understandably sensitive to low blows, complaining to referee Lou Moret after borderline punches in the third and sixth rounds.

Mares came alive in the final minute of the 11th, landing several strong punches that staggered Agbeko.

'Last time, I was a little stocky,' Mares said. 'This time I didn't have as much muscle, so I was faster.'

Moreno thoroughly outboxed Darchinyan in his 26th consecutive victory and ninth title defence. Darchinyan was docked a point for throwing the backpedalling Moreno to the canvas at the fourth-round bell.

'He's a great boxer, but he faced a ghost tonight,' Moreno said. 'He couldn't catch me. He threw a lot of punches, and I avoided them. Yes, he did connect a few times, but so did I.'

Moreno, who has a 32-1-1 record, with 11 knockouts, said he hoped to fight Mares next in a unification bout.

Darchinyan also lost to Agbeko and Mares.'I couldn't find him, and I lost the fight,' Darchinyan said. 'I was going for big punches, and I couldn't find a home for my left.'