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Puerto Rican
superstar and WBO featherweight world champ Juan Manuel Lopez
and Mexican legend and future Hall of Famer Rafael Marquez
participated in an international media conference call on
Monday to discuss their upcoming rivalry fight on Saturday,
Nov. 6, LIVE on SHOWTIME from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in
Las Vegas.
One of boxing's
fastest rising stars, Lopez (29-0, 26 KOs), of Caguas, Puerto
Rico, will attempt to make the third defense of his WBO
crown. The 27-year-old champion has registered an astounding
26 knockouts in 29 professional fights. The power-punching
southpaw will now face the toughest and most important test of
his career in Marquez, a battle-tested great with a relentless
desire to win at all costs.
Marquez (39-5, 35
KOs), of Mιxico City, a former IBF bantamweight (118)
champion, cemented himself in boxing lore when he moved up to
122 pounds to take on Israel Vazquez in what became an
unforgettable four-fight series that saw each warrior win a
pair of battles. The 35-year-old is coming off a third-round
knockout of Vazquez in the final installment of the series in
only his second fight at featherweight (126). Now, he'll take
on the younger Lopez at 126 pounds in a quest for a world
title in his third division.
In the co-feature,
world-ranked contender Allan Green will face veteran contender
and former world champ Glen Johnson in a must-win Super Six
World Boxing Classic bout. The winner of the 12-rounder will
earn a spot in the tournament Semifinals.
Here's what the
fighters had to say on Monday:
JUAN MANUEL LOPEZ:
"I'm really
looking forward to the fight. It's going to be a great fight
for the fans and I'm looking forward to getting in the ring.
"On paper this
looks like my toughest fight. The (Rogers) Mtagwa didn't look
like it was the toughest fight but it turned out to be my
toughest fight I had. So you can't really speculate on that.
All you can do is prepare yourself very well. You have to be
in the best condition to fight this type of fighter.
"I'm very humbled
when people compare me to Felix Trinidad. You know he's my
idol and now my good friend. Any comparison you give me to him
inside the ring or outside I will take. I'm happy to take
comparisons with me and Felix.
On Rafael Marquez:
"Without a doubt I
know he's coming to prove himself that he's still at the same
level as he's always been. I'm out to prove that I'm at the
same level that's he's at. I think the fans are going to be
real excited about this fight and I can't see how it will not
be a good fight. We both have a lot to prove and we're willing
to give up everything in the ring.
On the Puerto Rico
vs. Mexico match-up?
"I don't want to
put extra pressure on me but I understand the tradition of
Puerto Rico fighters fighting against boxers from Mexico. I
think Puerto Ricans expect a lot from me and I hope to give
them the best fight that I can. And I know he's going to give
all he can and it's going to be another great fight for the
rivalry.
You have only
fought just nine rounds in the last 13 months. How will that
affect your preparation?
"I don't put too
much stock in that. I know I prepare myself well for 12 rounds
every time out. So the preparation is always the same. I try
to be in the best shape possible.
What concerns you
most about Marquez?
"We are very aware
of what he can do. He's a tremendous fighter and he has a lot
of skills. And I know he wants to win just as bad as I do. I
know just how dangerous he is.
"I expect the
fight to end in a knockout but I don't expect it to end early.
I think it will be a long fight and I will end it with a
knockout but late. I think we both have the power to knock
each other out. As long as it lasts it's going to be a war.
"I just have to
box intelligent. I just have to box smart when I get in there.
If I need to box, I'll box. If I need to fight, I'll fight.
But you're definitely going to see a war. We're both going to
exchange a lot of punches.
"These are the
kinds of fights I need to prove myself.
"I think he's
going to be very aggressive. He'll come at me. I also feel
like they want to get me to the late rounds. They think I'm
going to get tired and I'm not going to be able to fight 12
rounds at the same pace like he will. We'll just have to see
what type of guy they get: If they get that real aggressive
guy or if they get the guy who is going to counter.
"My expectations
are that it will be a fight of the year candidate. I know
we're both going to go for it and try to win it. I hope no one
misses this fight because it's going to be one of the best
ones of the year.
RAFAEL MARQUEZ:
"My injury is
fine. It was tough to have to suspend the fight but my
preparation never stopped. I've been running and doing other
things just not hitting anything. I'm very well prepared. This
fight is important and I think it will be a great fight.
"I wouldn't
compare (Lopez) to anyone really. If I had to pick a level of
fighter I would probably put him at the level of a Tim Austin
or a Mark Johnson, two very good lefthanders that I have
fought in the past. He probably has a little bit more power
than those two but they were both great fighters when I fought
them. That's who I would compare him to since they're both
left handed and have quick hands.
"It's going to be
a real tough fight. I'm going to give the fans the best fight
that I can and, of course, all the fans watching on
SHOWTIME.
"It's very
important being Puerto Rico versus Mexico. It's probably the
most important fight of my career. I haven't fought too many
Puerto Ricans at the level that I'm fighting this fight. This
guy is very intelligent and he knows what he's doing in the
ring. It's so important I don't leave any stones unturned
because I know how important this fight is.
What do you say to
people who say you might not have much left at age 35?
"I tell them that
they're wrong. As long as you take care of yourself and as
long as you prepare well for a fight that shouldn't be any
problem. I think my brother proved it against Juan Diaz, who
was 10 years younger than him. I've always taken care of
myself and I think I have a lot left to give. I think that age
doesn't matter. I don't see that as a problem. I really
don't.
Do you expect a
long fight?
"It could actually
go either way. We're both so powerful that it could end
earlier than late because of our power.
"This is one of
the biggest fights you will ever see in the lower weight
divisions. We both have a lot to prove and the fans are going
to enjoy it. I'm looking forward to giving the fans another
great fight.
"I don't see him
being a lefthander as that much of a problem. Obviously you
don't fight that many lefthanders at the championship level.
But I've never had any problems with it. I don't see it as a
big problem. You have to be at your best to fight any guys at
this level.
"I'm ready for
whatever he decides to bring. If he wants to exchange, I'll
exchange. If he wants to box, I'll box. I just think when you
fight a fighter who is a really great fighter it's a huge
motivator to get better and fight the best fight that I can.
"I've seen some of
the videotape on him. I see how strong and powerful he is, but
I also see his weaknesses. I see that he has a weak chin. So
we have to take advantage of that and put our punches together
and use a lot of combinations. I have to use all of my
experience and all of my power and all my intelligence in the
ring to get to him. It's a winnable fight, no question. I can
win this fight. I just have to be smart enough to know what to
do in there. I can't be reckless.
"This is a very
important fight. If you can't make it to Vegas then be sure to
tune in on SHOWTIME because it's going to be a war.
