Abner Mares' chase for a world title in a fourth weight class hit a major roadblock as he suffered an injury that canceled his upcoming title fight against Gervonta Davis.
Mares suffered an injury during training camp and now his fight against Davis, for the WBA "Super" super featherweight title set for February 9, is off. The title bout was supposed to headline a Showtime-televised card from Dignity Health Sports Park, formerly known as StubHub Center.
According to Mike Coppinger, Davis will move forward as the headliner for the event against a different opponent.
Breaking: Abner Mares suffered an elbow/arm injury and is withdrawing from his Feb. 9 title fight against Gervonta Davis. Davis will still headline Showtime event against a different opponent. Three different replacement foes being explored
— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) January 30, 2019
Before any official announcement regarding the injury is made, Mares posted the following message, which can be seen below, on his Instagram story:
"If only people knew the pain that I'm going through right now emotionally knowing I was beyond read to fight because that's what I do. I fight and always give it my all for you guys. Hurts people saying I'm faking things, man if they only knew. Thank you to the positive messages and wishing me well. God bless you all and will hear from me soon."
This would have been Mares' first title defense since he defeated Jesus Cuellar to win the vacant title in 2018. Davis became the youngest world champion in boxing at the time when he defeated Jose Pedraza to win the IBF title in January 2017. Davis would go on to be stripped of the title in August 2017 when he missed weight for a title defense against Francisco Fonseca.
Mares, who has won world titles at bantamweight, super bantamweight and featherweight, last fought in June 2018 when he lost to Leo Santa Cruz for the WBA featherweight title.
