Long wait, strong undercard build anticipation for Dec. 10 Jesus Cuellar-Abner Mares title fight at USC

Abner Mares defended his vision on Monday and Jesus Cuellar said he’ll make weight, so there appears to be no obstacle to the featherweights finally getting in the ring Dec. 10 at USC’s Galen Center.

Hawaiian Gardens’ former three-division world champion Mares (29-2-1, 15 knockouts) hasn’t fought since August 2015, when he lost a majority decision to Leo Santa Cruz for the “super” World Boxing Assn. featherweight belt at Staples Center.

A spring date was scrapped by an injury to main-event fighter Keith Thurman, and then a shift in opponents to Cuellar was scrapped when the New York State Athletic Commission ruled Mares ineligible to fight there in June because he has previously undergone surgical procedures on his left eye – retinal repair and vision-enhancement before 2008.

Mares pronounced his vision is fine, and promoter Richard Schaefer said he has been assured by an eye expert who examined the fighter that Mares is at no greater risk than any other fighter.

New York’s handling of Mares is among ongoing issues the state commission is having. It also dramatically hiked insurance requirements, driving smaller promoters to move bouts out of the state, Schaefer said.

“They had a very difficult year, New York. I think everyone would agree it’s been a mess out there,” Schaefer said.

Cuellar’s power punching is a danger not only to Mares’ eye, but his head and body. The Argentine WBA “world” featherweight champion is 28-1 with 21 knockouts, and he carried a noticeably bigger frame to a news conference with Mares last month.

Cuellar, however, said he’s never experienced weight issues and said he’s at 130 pounds (four pounds above the featherweight limit) as of Monday.

Being bigger on fight night, though, will be an advantage Cuellar says will help him against Mares’ experience against left-handed fighters.

Cuellar switched to seven-time trainer of the year Freddie Roach for this bout, renewing Roach’s rivalry with Mares’ trainer Robert Garcia, who came under fire in 2010 for participating in a video in which his fighter Brandon Rios mocked Roach’s Parkinson’s condition.

“I’ve learned a lot. I feel extremely improved, and we have a lot of confidence heading into this fight,” Cuellar told reporters in a Monday conference call.

The Showtime-televised card, with tickets starting at $35 at Galentix.com, also features a world-title super-welterweight bout between champion Jermall Charlo and Julian Williams.

Schaefer also announced undercard fights, including unbeaten super-lightweight Sergey Lipinets (10-0, eight KOs) of Kazakhstan versus veteran Lenny Zappavigna (35-2, 25 KOs) and bouts featuring dynamic super-welterweight prospect Erickson Lubin (16-0, 11 KOs), unbeaten super-featherweight Mario Barrios (16-0, eight KOs) and Riverside welterweight Josesito Lopez returning to action for the first time since March 2015.