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Jesus Cuellar-Abner Mares Headline Showtime Boxing Championship Double-Header

By Jeremiah Delgado

On Saturday Dec. 10 starting at 10 p.m. ET, the Galen Center in Los Angeles will play host to a SHOWTIME boxing double-header. These two fights will be for the Featherweight and Middleweight Championships, respectively, with Jesus Cuellar(28-1, 21 KOs) taking on Abner Mares(29-2-1, 15 KOs) for the Featherweight title.

Cuellar is ready for this bout and has been wanting it to happen for a while now.

"The fight is here and I'm ready to step in the ring," Cuellar said at his media workout last week. "I have defended my title six times already and I want to be the best in the division. He's one of the best and I'm willing to challenge him. This is an important fight that I've wanted for a long time. It's an important fight for my career and to prove to everyone how good I am."

He is being trained by the very well-known Freddie Roach. Roach has trained Manny Pacquiao, Miguel Cotto, Oscar De La Hoya and plenty of former UFC champions as well. Mares is also being trained by a very well-known trainer in Robert Garcia. He, like Cuellar, respects his upcoming opponent.

"On paper I thought that Cuellar is probably going to be toughest, strongest fighter I've been in with," said Mares. "I can't say for sure because we haven't fought yet. But I know that he is a strong, powerful champion who is coming in to keep his title."

Jesus Cuellar vs. Abner Mares | December 10 on SHOWTIME by SHOWTIME Sports on YouTube

Garcia believes that Mares is a great fighter, but he needed some tweaks to his fighting mentally.

"I think basically what Abner needed was just a new voice," Garcia said. "He had been working hard and training in a nice gym that he liked. But he was calling his own shots. I think he was getting a little too comfortable. I just think he needed a new voice."

The other championship fight is also between two great fighters with great trainers. Jermall Charlo (24-0, 18 KOs) will be looking to defend his title against Julian Williams(22-0-1, 14 KOs). Williams is undefeated and is the mandatory number one challenger for the IBF Middleweight Championship.

Jermall Charlo vs. Julian Williams | December 10 on SHOWTIME by SHOWTIME Sports on YouTube

Charlo has been training with Ronnie Shields. Shields has trained two of the greatest fighters to ever step in the ring in Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield.

This match is shaping up to be another great bout on the night. These two 26-year-old fighters are ready to go head-to-head for the title belt. They are also both considered to be in the prime of their careers and should put on a show on Saturday night in Los Angeles.

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