Marquez up to the lightweight challenge
Juan Manuel Marquez is going from facing one of the most electric and hard-hitting fighters, in his last fight, to one of the most talented, in his next bout.
No need to feel sorry for him or think that he can not win. Instead, he wants the challenge and looks forward to it.
On Sept. 13, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Marquez, 48-4-1, 35 KOs, will take on Joel Casamayor, 36-3-1, 22 KOs, with the hopes of wrestling away the interim WBO Lightweight title away from the Cuban-born fighter.
The bout will headline the "Challenge" card, presented by Golden Boy Promotions, in association with Romanza Boxing. HBO Pay Per View will televise the card.
Marquez is coming off one of the best fights of 2008, when he lost a close 12-round split decision against current pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao in March. The bout was a 2005 rematch that saw Marquez recovering from three knockdowns to rally and fight his way to a 12-round split decision draw in May of 2004.
Rather than sulk in the decision in a bout he feels he won, Marquez now moves forward and will fight one of the consistently better fighters within the last decade. Both boxers fight under the Golden Boy Promotions banner.
Like the gentleman that Marquez is, one who rarely runs his mouth, he was quick to praise the talent and ability of Casamayor.
"He is a very good fighter," said Marquez, who is a native of Mexico City and now resides in the Orange County city of Anaheim. "I know that he will give it his best for this fight."
Casamayor is coming off a thrilling battle against previously-unbeaten Michael Katsidis at one of the newer venues to host professional boxing, the Morongo Spa Resort and Casino in the Southern California desert.
Casamayor rallied in the 10th round after being dropped and stopped the hard-hitting Katsidis with one punch to the chin.
Marquez is never one to shy from fighting the best at featherweight and super featherweight. However, like Pacquiao, he will go up five pounds in weight and will hope to win a world title in a third different weight class.
Regardless, Marquez always felt that he and the 1992 Olympic Gold medalist would meet sooner or later.
"We always thought about this as a future fight," said Marquez, who made his professional career over 15 years ago. "I never expected the bout to be made this soon. I always like to fight the great fighters out there. This is a great opportunity to fight him."
Casamayor has been in tremendous battles throughout his career against some of the best super featherweights and lightweights in the world. One knack that Casamayor has on him is that he sometimes uses rough tactics in a bout. Marquez hopes that will not be a problem for his match up against Casamayor.
"I know he can be a bit dirty as a fighter," replied Marquez to the topic of Casamayor's style. "Hopefully, the referee will do a good job of not allowing those things to happen. If he does not, than I could fight dirty as well."
"I do not like to fight that way," continued Marquez. "You have to do it intelligently. I have had to do it in the past when a referee does not have control of a fight. I have to defend myself."
Although Marquez will be stepping inside the ring against Casamayor, he could not help but think what a victory would do for his future. Should he come out victorious against Casamayor, not only would he have a world title, but added leverage to make a third bout against Pacquiao.
Marquez feels not only does he have a score to settle, but that Pacquiao needs him.
"(David) Diaz did not have the skills to be fighting Pacquiao. I know that Pacquiao made more money with me than he did with Diaz. He knows that I beat him. That is why he does not want to fight me."
Asked which Pacquiao decision left Marquez with a bad aftertaste, Marquez responded:
"Both of them. I hit him often and easier in the second fight. I know that there was the knockdown, but I felt that I was the better fighter. I don't even think he expected that he was going to be announced as the winner."
With respect to Casamayor, Marquez knows that he will have his hands full. He knows Casamayor could bring different styles and can adjust to Marquez' game plan during the bout. However, he feels he is confident that he can outbox and defeat Casamayor.
"I'm preparing well in the gym every day. I trust my training. I know that Casamayor is a difficult fighter. However, he is not invincible. I can win and I have the skills to do it."
