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Abner Mares is off the June 25 show at Barclays Center with an injury

Fighters Network
17
Jun

Leo Santa Cruz vs Abner Mares fukuda

Former three-division titleholder Abner Mares has been scratched from the June 25 card at Barclays Center on CBS because of an undisclosed medical issue that prevented him from getting licensed in New York State, and his fight with Jesus Cuellar is off, DiBella Entertainment announced in a statement on Friday. The card is still headlined by Keith Thurman’s welterweight title defense against Shawn Porter.

ESPN.com reported the injury as having to do with his eyesight. A source confirmed to RingTV.com the nature of the injury. Mares was diagnosed with a detached retina in 2008 after hurting himself in training. He was eventually medically cleared to resume his career in 2009 after surgery and treatment. The 30-year-old has fought 15 times since, his last bout a majority decision loss to Leo Santa Cruz in August.

Now, organizers are scurrying to fill the co-feature slot with a replacement. A bout on the undercard could move up, a source said. An announcement will be made shortly. It’s unlikely that Cuellar will remain on the card. “Abner’s condition is in no way life-threatening, nor was it revealed in a blood or urine test,” the statement read. “There was no use of any drugs, including PEDs or other banned substances. In honoring Abner’s right to medical confidentiality, no further information will be released on this situation unless he chooses.”



Cuellar (28-1, 21 knockouts) holds a secondary featherweight title, and his clash with Mares (29-2-1, 15 KOs) was viewed as an exciting chief supporting bout. The card is billed as a Showtime Championship Boxing broadcast on CBS, presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

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