Abner Mares making positive impact on at-risk youths in Los Angeles
Abner Mares remembers how hard it was to escape the violence and other hardships growing up in the Hawaiian Gardens section of Los Angeles, so the three-time world champion has continually partnered with the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department to help mentor underprivileged and at-risk teens.
Leo Santa Cruz keeps his whole family in the fight
All three of Leo Santa Cruz’s brothers—Antonio, Jose Armando and Roberto—were also boxers, so they know the toll training camp can take on a fighter.
Abner Mares earns big style points in his rise to stardom
From his signature gold Mercedes sedan, to his collection of cologne and sunglasses, Abner Mares always finds a way to make a bold impression.
Abner Mares draws inspiration from his mother’s journey to America
Abner Mares has encountered many tough battles in the ring throughout his 10-year professional career. But in his mind, no challenge he’s faced can match the one Belen Martinez stared down more than 20 years ago, when—in search of a better life for her family—she made the treacherous journey with her children from their native Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, to Los Angeles.
How seeing his big brother get robbed in the ring turned Leo Santa Cruz into a better fighter
It was a loss that wasn’t, a would-be win that dissipated as quickly as the smoke that must have been clouding the judges’ eyes.
Love of Music Drives Abner Mares—In and Out of the Ring
Whether it blares from the speakers built into the walls throughout his home, or from the customized iPad mounted to the wall in his gym, music fuels Abner Mares almost everywhere he goes.
Family support leads to Leo Santa Cruz’s ring success
In the first episode of the three-part “Getting to Know Leo Santa Cruz” series, the two-time world champion talks about his early life struggles and how his family has always been fighting alongside him—both inside and outside the ring.
Abner Mares fights for family above all else
In the second episode of the five-part “Getting to Know Abner Mares” series, the three-time world champion talks about his highest purpose for stepping in the ring: providing for his family.