By Salvador Rodriguez

Too much, too soon. Former three division champion Abner Mares has turned down a possible fight with WBC super featherweight champion Takashi Miura of Japan, which promoters were targeting for the Floyd Mayweather-Marcos Maidana undercard on May 3rd at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Mares, who recently moved up to featherweight and was knocked out last August in the first round by Jhonny Gonzalez, felt it was way too soon to once again move up in weight.

Instead, Mares (26-1-1, 14KOs) is very interested in facing WBC super bantamweight champion Leo Santa Cruz (27-0-1, 15KOs) at a catch-weight of 124-pounds or even the full featherweight limit of 126.

"I thought very hard about what was in front of me and I think I'm still a young fighter. I'm just settling in featherweight. There is no reason to move up [in weight] right now or to think about making history and make a mistake [by taking a fight] against Takashi Miura," Mares said.

"Leo Santa Cruz did very well against Cristian Mijares. It's a fight that's interesting and it always comes up. I've just settled myself at featherweight and that would be very good fight in Los Angeles. I think it's already very difficult for him to make 122 pounds, but if he wants to go up to 126 or we can make it at an agreed weight. I'll see if it's possible, but what I know is that both us want the fight."