In the Book of Samuel, Abner (Hebrew אבנר "Avner" meaning "father of [or is a] light"), is first cousin to Saul and commander-in-chief of his army (1 Samuel 14:50, 20:25). He is often referred to as the son of Ner.

Abner is only referred to incidentally in Saul's history (1 Samuel 17:55, 26:5), and is not mentioned in the account of the disastrous battle of Gilboa when Saul's power was crushed. Seizing the youngest but only surviving of Saul's sons, Ish-bosheth, Abner set him up as king over Israel at Mahanaim, east of the Jordan. David, who was accepted as king by Judah alone, was meanwhile reigning at Hebron, and for some time war was carried on between the two parties.

Abner Mares Martínez (born November 28, 1985 in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico) is a Mexican undefeated professional boxer. Mares is the current WBC Super Bantamweight Champion. Abner medaled repeatedly in international amateur tournaments for Mexico. Mares grew up in the city of Hawaiian Gardens, California.

Although Mares is undefeated, the legitimacy of his record is in question due to multiple controversial victories and decisions he has received, such as against the likes of Yonnhy Perez, Vic Darchinyan and Joseph Agbeko.

Mares was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico and at age seven his family moved to the city of Hawaiian Gardens, California. At age fifteen he was sent back to Mexico by his father.

As an amateur, Mares compiled a record of 112-8 with 84 KOs. Mares won the U17 World Championships and the bantamweight gold medal at the Central American games 2002 beating Juan Manuel López and the silver medal in the same division in 2003 at the Pan American Games in Santo Domingo. At the Junior World Championships 2004, he finished second losing to Aibek Abdimomunov. He participated in the 2004 Summer Olympics for his native country. There he was beaten in the first round of the Bantamweight (54 kg) division by Hungary's Zsolt Bedák in a highly controversial decision.