http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/players/joseph_agbeko/74760 Recent articles about Joseph Agbeko en-us Abner Mares, who just made the first defense of his IBF bantamweight belt last December against former champion Joseph Agbeko, has opted to vacate his title rather than face mandatory challenger, South Africa's Vusi Malinga. The decision to vacate paves the way for Malinga to face Filipino AJ Banal for the vacant title. Mares, who just won the belt by beating Agbeko as part of Showtime's bantamweight tournament in August of last year and defended it successfully against the former champ four months later, is considered by many to be a fighter on the verge of breaking through to a more mainstream audience. As such, a Malinga bout offered little in the way of payday or exposure for the native of Montebello, Calif., by way of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. High on the list of priorities for the 26-year-old is a possible move up in weight for a main-stage bout against new WBO junior featherweight titlist Nonito Donaire. "After watching Saturday's fights, I'm convinced Abner Mares beats No Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:35:36 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/mares_vacates_ibf_bantamweight_title/9834529 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/mares_vacates_ibf_bantamweight_title/9834529 Mares vacates IBF bantamweight title http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/mares_vacates_ibf_bantamweight_title/9834529 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/6/f/6f2743b2962def1ced927e3e01d6b32ee67ab9b1/mini/Fight_Night_Club_126c.jpg Last Saturday night, boxing held a much anticipated rematch which provided the answer to a controversial first outing! No it was not Miguel Cotto vs. Antonio Margarito 2 but rather the rematch between Abner Mares vs. Joseph Agbeko. In the end, Mares convincingly beat Joseph Agbeko and defended his IBF bantamweight championship! All photos taken [...] Tue, 06 Dec 2011 03:22:51 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/abner_mares_vs_joseph_agbeko_2_ringside_photo_gallery/8545324 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/abner_mares_vs_joseph_agbeko_2_ringside_photo_gallery/8545324 Abner Mares vs. Joseph Agbeko 2- Ringside Photo Gallery http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/abner_mares_vs_joseph_agbeko_2_ringside_photo_gallery/8545324 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/e/a/ea115fd9715ea2ee02c47de23a0c3e9443c14ffb/mini/GettyImageProxy.ashx_requestUrl_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f90123360.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d77BFBA49EF878921CC759DF4EBAC47D076FF1C5C9FD11542F9814D54A4A069543B4833365E5917E8.jpg Rankings Overhaul - 154 lbs after Cotto-Margarito II, 118 lbs after Mares-Agbeko II & Heavyweight By now you know all about the Cotto vs. Margarito results from last night. Cotto scored a TKO 10 victory thanks to Margarito's eye, which was swollen shut. He had been dominating the fight before that, and controlling most of the action. After the results from last night, it's time to go back to our weight class division rankings, and see where everybody stands right now. Take a look. ---> Updated junior middleweight division rankings Cotto further solidified his status at 154 lbs with his triumphant, revenge victory over Margarito. Of course, in addition to last night's Cotto vs. Margarito 2 fight, a few weeks ago we also saw the thrilling Alfredo Angulo vs. James Kirkland match. Kirkland scored a huge win there to vault himself back into very good position in the division. So there's a lot of movement in the top 10 there, and the new rankings are definitely wo... Sun, 04 Dec 2011 15:45:06 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/cotto_vs_margarito_2_results_rankings_updates/8507263 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/cotto_vs_margarito_2_results_rankings_updates/8507263 Cotto vs. Margarito 2 Results = Rankings Updates! http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/cotto_vs_margarito_2_results_rankings_updates/8507263 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/e/a/ea115fd9715ea2ee02c47de23a0c3e9443c14ffb/mini/GettyImageProxy.ashx_requestUrl_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f90123360.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d77BFBA49EF878921CC759DF4EBAC47D076FF1C5C9FD11542F9814D54A4A069543B4833365E5917E8.jpg It's main event time from Anaheim on Showtime Championship Boxing. Abner Mares and Joseph Agbeko will do battle for a second time after Mares' victory earlier this year was sullied by what appeared to be numerous unpunished low blows. Referee Russell Mora ended up at the center of attention on that night, but the focus will be back on two talented bantamweights tonight.The announce team of Steve Albert, Al Bernstein and Antonio Tarver dissect the first bout, coming to the conclusion that Mares was not throwing low shots on purpose, but Agbeko still got done dirty by the officiating. All three commentators expect a tighter leash by tonight's referee and a close, competitive bout.Agbeko, who is known as "King Kong," makes his way out, seeking to regain his IBF title. He is 28-3 with 22 KOs over the course of his career.Wearing a skull bandanna and accompanied by a live rapper, Mares comes out second. The young Mexican is undefeated as a pro, coming in with a 22-0-1 record with 13 knockout Sun, 04 Dec 2011 12:04:34 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/abner_mares_vs_joseph_agbeko_ii_round_by_round/8505016 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/abner_mares_vs_joseph_agbeko_ii_round_by_round/8505016 Abner Mares vs. Joseph Agbeko II: Round By Round http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/abner_mares_vs_joseph_agbeko_ii_round_by_round/8505016 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/e/a/ea115fd9715ea2ee02c47de23a0c3e9443c14ffb/mini/GettyImageProxy.ashx_requestUrl_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f90123360.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d77BFBA49EF878921CC759DF4EBAC47D076FF1C5C9FD11542F9814D54A4A069543B4833365E5917E8.jpg (Jeff Gross / Getty Images) December 3, 2011 was a night of rematches free of controversy. The crowd at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California was electric as they witnessed Abner Mares (23-0-1 13 KOs) out box and out work Joseph “King Kong” Agbeko (28-4 22KOs)  This time it was a clear unanimous decision. In their first fight Mares won a controversial decision which overshadowed his achievement of capturing the IBF bantamweight title.   This time though from the sound of the first bell you could tell Abner was determined to prove to everybody that he deserved to be the champion. The first round started out with Agbeko working his jab and working the body. It was slow paced in the beginning but it picked up with some great exchanges. Abner seemed to abandon his body work in the first round fighting a very safe clean fight. It didn’t stay like that much longer. The second round was close at the start but Abner with seemed to have the upper hand in the exchanges. Landing clean hooks to the body and Sun, 04 Dec 2011 04:30:00 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/agbeko_vs_mares_without_a_shadow_of_a_doubt/8499367 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/agbeko_vs_mares_without_a_shadow_of_a_doubt/8499367 Agbeko vs. Mares: Without A Shadow of a Doubt http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/agbeko_vs_mares_without_a_shadow_of_a_doubt/8499367 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/9/a/9a331c4d60879493fc0cdfc3727365105bc68c07/mini/GettyImageProxy.ashx_requestUrl_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f84004861.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d17A4AD9FDB9CF193307E2C13F1C60962A395EE7C8A4C7A43.jpg Abner Mares beat Joseph Agbeko by unanimous decision Saturday night to retain his IBF bantamweight belt. The Mexican fighter (23-0-1, 13 KOs) won 118-110 on all three judges' scorecards in a rematch of his controversial, majority-decision victory over Agbeko (28-4) in August. Mares landed several blatantly low blows on his Ghanaian opponent during that bout, but the official inexplicably didn't notice them or penalize Mares, who acknowledged his failings. The IBF later ordered an immediate rematch. Mares was sharper and crisper than Agbeko on Saturday, leading comfortably in all punch stats. He fought the final 10 rounds with a deep cut near his right eye. Sat, 03 Dec 2011 23:47:39 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/mares_beats_agbeko_keeps_bantam_belt_in_rematch/8496250 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/mares_beats_agbeko_keeps_bantam_belt_in_rematch/8496250 Mares beats Agbeko, keeps bantam belt in rematch http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/mares_beats_agbeko_keeps_bantam_belt_in_rematch/8496250 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/4/9/495ea5b2e6304592b69b5f6049a0fc950356780a/mini/Fight_Night_Club_e85e.jpg Two performances on Showtime Saturday in the bantamweight division reminded us of the oft-ignored second part of Egan's nickname for boxing: It's "the sweet science," certainly, but more accurately, it's "the sweet science of bruising."On the undercard, Anselmo Moreno made a splendid debut on the American scene, dishing out a beating to Vic Darchinyan to win a unanimous decision. The mechanism of the beating was "purty boxin'." In the main event, Abner Mares and Joseph Agbeko revived the action of their first meeting, this time without controversial low blows and ending with Mares sharpshooting his way to his own unanimous decision.Mares comes out of this with the definitive victory that eluded him the first time, redeemed. Moreno showed what many of us who have seen him realized: The Panamanian is a real talent. ANSELMO MORENO-VIC DARCHINYANMoreno has been something of a hidden treasure, and it's been difficult to drag him into m... Sat, 03 Dec 2011 23:21:10 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/abner_mares_answers_the_questions_against_joseph_agbeko_anselmo_moreno_wows_against_vic_darchinyan/8497933 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/abner_mares_answers_the_questions_against_joseph_agbeko_anselmo_moreno_wows_against_vic_darchinyan/8497933 Abner Mares Answers The Questions Against Joseph Agbeko; Anselmo Moreno Wows Against Vic Darchinyan http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/abner_mares_answers_the_questions_against_joseph_agbeko_anselmo_moreno_wows_against_vic_darchinyan/8497933 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/e/a/ea115fd9715ea2ee02c47de23a0c3e9443c14ffb/mini/GettyImageProxy.ashx_requestUrl_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f90123360.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d77BFBA49EF878921CC759DF4EBAC47D076FF1C5C9FD11542F9814D54A4A069543B4833365E5917E8.jpg Saturday is just jam-packed with rematches of serious, serious action fights, a couple of them still fogging up your television screen with controversy from the first time around. Over on HBO pay-per-view, in one of the controversial ones, we get a do-over of Antonio Margarito-Miguel Cotto, a bout tainted and/or enhanced by the suspicion that Margarito had loaded gloves the first time around and by the potential that Margarito's gruesomely reconstructed eyeball might explode. For now, is this space, we'll save that for later and concern ourselves with the sequel to the controversial Abner Mares-Joseph Agbeko bout over on Showtime, the first fight an echo of Norm MacDonald's famous joke after the O.J. Simpson verdict: "Well, it's finally official: Low blows are legal in the state of California."The galling thing about Russell Mora's refereeing job back in August -- actually, there were a lot of galling things about it, all of them reaching a crescendo wh... Thu, 01 Dec 2011 19:46:59 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/change_to_win_abner_mares_vs_joseph_agbeko_ii_preview_and_prediction/8453740 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/change_to_win_abner_mares_vs_joseph_agbeko_ii_preview_and_prediction/8453740 Change To Win: Abner Mares Vs. Joseph Agbeko II Preview And Prediction http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/change_to_win_abner_mares_vs_joseph_agbeko_ii_preview_and_prediction/8453740 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/e/a/ea115fd9715ea2ee02c47de23a0c3e9443c14ffb/mini/GettyImageProxy.ashx_requestUrl_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f90123360.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d77BFBA49EF878921CC759DF4EBAC47D076FF1C5C9FD11542F9814D54A4A069543B4833365E5917E8.jpg HOW THEY PICK ’EM: EXPERTS LEANING TOWARD MARES OVER AGBEKO IN ANOTHER EXCITING, TIGHT FIGHT This Saturday, Dec. 3, Live at 9 P.M. ET/PT on SHOWTIME® At Honda Center In Anaheim , Calif. NEW YORK (Dec. 1, 2011) – Boxing’s “little guys” tend to produce some of the most exciting fights and this Saturday, Dec. 3, doesn’t look to be an exception when Abner Mares defends his International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Council (WBC) Silver Bantamweight Championship titles against former two-time IBF 118-pound world champion Joseph King Kong Agbeko in the main event onSHOWTIME Read more [...] Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:45:18 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/showtime_media_prediction_poll_abner_mares_vs_joseph_agbeko_ii/8450269 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/showtime_media_prediction_poll_abner_mares_vs_joseph_agbeko_ii/8450269 SHOWTIME Media Prediction Poll-Abner Mares vs. Joseph Agbeko II http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/showtime_media_prediction_poll_abner_mares_vs_joseph_agbeko_ii/8450269 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/e/a/ea115fd9715ea2ee02c47de23a0c3e9443c14ffb/mini/GettyImageProxy.ashx_requestUrl_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f90123360.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d77BFBA49EF878921CC759DF4EBAC47D076FF1C5C9FD11542F9814D54A4A069543B4833365E5917E8.jpg Looking at this upcoming rematch on Saturday between Joseph Agbeko and Abner Mares makes me think back to when Riddick Bowe fought Andrew Golota back in 1996 in a two fight series. Golota fouled himself out of both fights because he continuously hit Bowe below the belt and for whatever reason just couldn’t stop doing it.   Many of us watched, and thought to ourselves what the hell is Golota doing? I found myself thinking that as well this past August, when Abner Mares was doing the same exact thing to Joseph Agbeko in their fight, with the only difference being the referee did nothing about it.   You can also go back to another one of Abner Mares’ fights, when he fought Vic Darchinyan in December of last year right before the Agbeko fight. His punches strayed low on more than one occasion in that one as well, prompting Darchinyan afterward to call for a protest of Mares’ victory.   After seeing this happen for two straight fights in a row, I find myself asking, is there a pattern developing here? Is Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:41:09 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/will_abner_mares_go_low_again_against_joseph_agbeko/8450569 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/will_abner_mares_go_low_again_against_joseph_agbeko/8450569 Will Abner Mares Go Low Again Against Joseph Agbeko? http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/will_abner_mares_go_low_again_against_joseph_agbeko/8450569 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/e/a/ea115fd9715ea2ee02c47de23a0c3e9443c14ffb/mini/GettyImageProxy.ashx_requestUrl_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f90123360.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d77BFBA49EF878921CC759DF4EBAC47D076FF1C5C9FD11542F9814D54A4A069543B4833365E5917E8.jpg This Saturday night will see the rematch of the controversial finale to the bantamweight tournament between Joseph Agbeko and Abner Mares. In this special sneak peek video preview of Mares vs. Agbeko II from Showtime, you can listen to what each of the two fighters has to say about the fight, about what happened in the first match, what they expect now and more. Take a look. Mares-Agbeko should be a good one this weekend, and we'll get to see once and for all how the first fight perhaps should have played out. Enjoy the sneak peek video preview above and then keep checking back later in the week for more updates. Thu, 01 Dec 2011 12:50:04 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/mares_agbeko_video_preview_sneak_peek_of_the_rematch/8443978 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/mares_agbeko_video_preview_sneak_peek_of_the_rematch/8443978 Mares-Agbeko Video Preview Sneak Peek of the Rematch http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/mares_agbeko_video_preview_sneak_peek_of_the_rematch/8443978 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/9/a/9a331c4d60879493fc0cdfc3727365105bc68c07/mini/GettyImageProxy.ashx_requestUrl_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f84004861.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d17A4AD9FDB9CF193307E2C13F1C60962A395EE7C8A4C7A43.jpg Ahead of his rematch with Joseph Agbeko, Abner Mares speaks to fight correspondent Marcos Villegas on expectations of the fight and perhaps extra scrutiny focused on the current and defending champion given the controversial first bout between the two fighters a few months back. Mares takes it all in stride, uses the pressure and extra [...] Wed, 30 Nov 2011 00:45:46 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/abner_mares_joseph_agbeko_is_a_slow_fighter_but_he_has_a_fast_jab/8410648 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/abner_mares_joseph_agbeko_is_a_slow_fighter_but_he_has_a_fast_jab/8410648 Abner Mares “Joseph Agbeko is a slow fighter, but he has a fast jab” http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/abner_mares_joseph_agbeko_is_a_slow_fighter_but_he_has_a_fast_jab/8410648 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/e/a/ea115fd9715ea2ee02c47de23a0c3e9443c14ffb/mini/GettyImageProxy.ashx_requestUrl_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f90123360.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d77BFBA49EF878921CC759DF4EBAC47D076FF1C5C9FD11542F9814D54A4A069543B4833365E5917E8.jpg Moreno To Make United States Debut Against Vic ‘The Raging Bull’ Darchinyan In Co-Feature To Abner Mares vs. Joseph Agbeko II IBF & WBC Silver Bantamweight Championship Saturday, Dec. 3 At Honda Center In Anaheim , Calif. , Live on SHOWTIME® Just one month out from the biggest fight of his life and his first in the United States, Anselmo “Chemito” Anselmo and his wife Rouss Laguna Moreno found out they are expecting twins. There are indeed big things ahead for the 26-year-old fighter from Panama City, Panama, who will also be making his SHOWTIME and Golden Boy Promotions Read more [...] Thu, 24 Nov 2011 17:32:47 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/six_questions_with_anselmo_moreno/8309491 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/six_questions_with_anselmo_moreno/8309491 Six Questions With Anselmo Moreno http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/six_questions_with_anselmo_moreno/8309491 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/e/a/ea115fd9715ea2ee02c47de23a0c3e9443c14ffb/mini/GettyImageProxy.ashx_requestUrl_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f90123360.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d77BFBA49EF878921CC759DF4EBAC47D076FF1C5C9FD11542F9814D54A4A069543B4833365E5917E8.jpg Joseph Agbeko joins us for an in depth interview. Agbeko fights on Dec.3 in a rematch with Abner Mares. Also, rising Golden Boy Prospect, Randy Caballero will stop by to catch us up on his career, and to talk about his upcoming fight on Dec. 2.   We will also preview, debate, and give our predictions for the Saul "Canelo" Alvarez - Kermit Cintron fight   Other Topics For Discussion:   Chavez Jr. vs. Manfredo Jr. recap Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. next  for Nonito Donaire In Feb? Dyah Davis vs. Alfonso Lopez on FNF Jan.6 season opener   We go live at 9 PM EST, 8 PM CST, 6 PM PST, and 2 AM GMT.   Call in at 646-381-4990.   You can join in on the round table discussion or listen live on your phone.   Your voice will be heard!    http://ropeadoperadio.com/ Wed, 23 Nov 2011 09:30:00 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/joseph_agbeko_and_randy_caballero_join_us_tonight_on_rope_a_dope_radio/8282560 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/joseph_agbeko_and_randy_caballero_join_us_tonight_on_rope_a_dope_radio/8282560 JOSEPH AGBEKO AND RANDY CABALLERO JOIN US TONIGHT ON ROPE A DOPE RADIO http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/joseph_agbeko_and_randy_caballero_join_us_tonight_on_rope_a_dope_radio/8282560 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/9/a/9a331c4d60879493fc0cdfc3727365105bc68c07/mini/GettyImageProxy.ashx_requestUrl_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f84004861.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d17A4AD9FDB9CF193307E2C13F1C60962A395EE7C8A4C7A43.jpg The bantamweight tournament finale between Joseph Agbeko and Abner Mares was filled with controversy. Whether you missed that fight, or you just wanted to take a look back and remind yourself of what went down, you can check out this official Showtime video look back on Agbeko vs. Mares I right here. Basically, the referee screwed the pooch in this one. He let Mares get away with dozens of low blows, which must have had at least some affect on Agbeko, and he even called a blatant low blow a knockdown in Mares' favor. Agbeko ended up losing the narrow decision, and there was an uproar after about how it all played out. Of course, missed in with all of the controversy was some great fighting and boxing action as well. For all of these reasons, Mares-Agbeko II in a few weeks should be a good one, and one you won't want to miss out on. Enjoy the video highlights and look back on the first Agbeko-Mares fight in the meantime. Tue, 22 Nov 2011 13:02:21 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/agbeko_mares_video_look_back/8263006 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/agbeko_mares_video_look_back/8263006 Agbeko-Mares Video Look Back http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/agbeko_mares_video_look_back/8263006 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/9/a/9a331c4d60879493fc0cdfc3727365105bc68c07/mini/GettyImageProxy.ashx_requestUrl_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f84004861.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d17A4AD9FDB9CF193307E2C13F1C60962A395EE7C8A4C7A43.jpg