By Jake Donovan

While tonight’s fight is no longer a major title opportunity, Sergio Mora has every intention of using his ESPN2-televised bout with Abraham Han as an audition to earn his spot on the middleweight stage.

Original plans called for Mora to face two-time middleweight titlist Jermain Taylor tonight at Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi. Taylor ruined those plans—and possibly the rest of his life—following his outrageous behavior and eventual arrest during a Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade in his hometown of Little Rock, Arkansas.

With Taylor currently jailed and awaiting title, Mora was ready for whatever adviser Al Haymon was ready to throw his way. In came Han, who accepted the fight on less than three weeks’ notice. The former super welterweight titlist doesn’t put any stock into that fact, and expects the very best  version of the well-schooled Texan.

“The fact that he accepted this fight on short notice, it tells me he feels and knows that he can beat me,” Mora (27-3-2, 9KOs) believes, although also acknowledging another possible train of thought. “Or, he could be taking it just for the money, just wants to be on television, that he’s in decent enough shape to not get hurt, but not come in to win. 

“My money is on the former when it comes to Abie, who always comes to fight.”

A regional title is at stake, one that will elevate the winner in the International Boxing Federation (IBF) middleweight rankings. Such a move is significant in light of recent events, as Taylor was officially stripped of his title earlier in the day. Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam is the leading contender for the vacant crown, with former four-time titlist Felix Sturm the next highest rated contender. 

It’s not likely that Mora will move up high enough in the rankings to where he will get the call, but the Californian isn’t too worried about missing out on an opportunity.

“Even if N’Dam signed anyone to fight for the title, I’m still in a great position,” Mora believes. “The fact that I’m not #2 might be a blessing in disguise. I’m not obligated, I can pursue the best opportunity. By the end of the month, Gennady Golovkin will have gotten his next fight (versus Martin Murray) out of the way. 

“After that, Andy Lee fights Peter Quillin. Daniel Jacobs is out there. (World middleweight champion) Miguel Cotto is still looking for a challenger for his next fight. There’s a lot of things are going to be in the mix in the next couple of months.”

Of course, Mora needs to win tonight in order to get to that point. But even just winning isn’t enough these days, no matter who your connection. Criticized in the past for his fights lacking sustained action to the naked eye, the original Contender winner and former 154 lb. titlist has added entertainment value in recent years, and plans to put on a show tonight. 

“When you win a title, it doesn’t matter how you do it, just that you get that crown,” Mora theorizes. “Contenders, they have to win and please the fans in order to create demand. 

“From here on out, fans can expect me to win for me to deliver crowd-pleasing action fights every time I step into the ring. The next time I step into the ring could be for a world title against one of these big names. I plan to give everyone a reason (tonight) to want to watch me fight for the world title the next time.”

Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene.com, as well as a member of Transnational Boxing Ratings Board and the Boxing Writers Association of America. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox