Abner Mares has been given the green light to resume training after a detached retina nearly ended his boxing career.
Mares released a video on Twitter announcing that he has been cleared to train and resume nearly every type of boxing training. The only thing that Mares is not allowed to do yet is spar or have any contact in the eye during training. Regardless, it is good news for the former world champion, who hopes to be in the ring soon.
"Yesterday, I went to see my ophthalmologist, my branded specialist, and I got some really good news. I got the green light to start training. I got the green light to start doing normal activities, meaning I can hit the bag, I can run. I can do all the boxing training, except one thing yet: I can't spar yet, no contact in the eye. But that's a big improvement. My eye is really good. It's been almost two months since the surgery and it looks good. I can't wait and hopefully soon I'll be back in the ring," Mares said.
Really happy and blessed to receive these news ---- thank you all for having me in your prayers and hopefully soon we are back in that ring pic.twitter.com/APp2yStMTM
— ABNER MARES (@abnermares) March 22, 2019
The news of Mares' injury was announced just weeks before he was set to challenge WBA super featherweight champion Gervonta Davis. Mares withdrew from the fight, but the original announcement stated that he suffered an elbow injury. It was only then that Mares appeared on "Inside PBC Boxing" in early February to reveal the real reason he had to withdraw from the fight against Mares. Mares was replaced by Hugo Ruiz, who got knocked out by Davis in the first round.
At the time of the announcement of the detached retina, there was some fear that it could be a career-ending injury. The latest update assures that Mares is on his way back to the ring, but no real timetable has been set. Mares has won world titles in three weight classes (bantamweight, super bantamweight and featherweight).
