19.10.07 – By John Martinez – Boxingrealm.com – The year of 2007 has been good to boxing fans. In fact, it has been so good that picking Fight of the Year is proving to be difficult thus far and the year ain’t over yet. To name a few, we’ve witnessed Marquez/Vazquez I and II. Kelly Pavlik’s amazing takes no prisoner style. We have seen Nonito Donaire prove that Darchinyan can be dethroned. We watched as Cotto and Judah went to hell and back and lived to talk about it. All this and there are still more fights on tap in the coming weeks..
One of those fights is for the WBC super featherweight championship on November 3rd. SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING will play host to a double-header beginning at 10PM ET/PT featuring IBF featherweight titleholder Robert Guerrero vs. Martin Honorio in the preliminary bout.
In the main event of the evening, World Boxing Council super featherweight king, Juan Manual Marquez will defend his crown against challenger Rocky Juarez. I spoke with Juarez about his upcoming assignment and he assured me that his fight would be in the mix for Fight of the Year honors.
JM: Rock, you have been named as an opponent for WBA featherweight champion Chris John, IBF featherweight titlist Robert Guerrero, and now WBC super featherweight champion Juan Manual Marquez. Has it been difficult to focus mentally and physically due to all the changes in opponents?
RJ: No. I think the best thing for me right now has just been getting ready for the title shot. You know, my promoters were telling me that I was going to fight Chris John and then it was Guerrero and now it’s Marquez. But I think overall Marquez is the bigger name out of all of them and I’m still fighting for a title and that gives me that extra boost to train even harder and get ready for November 3rd.
JM: Ronnie Shields told me that he thought a fight with Marquez was a better match up for you rather than with Guerrero. Do you share this same assessment and if so why?
RJ: I was going into the fight with Guerrero very confident. I always felt that I could beat him. But now we have Marquez and he is a bigger name that is bringing a bigger payday and a shot at a title for me. A fight with Marquez is better for me as well because it would erase the two or should I say the one loss to Barrera that I have.
JM: Some critics say that you haven’t earned the right to fight Marquez for the title. They believe that your last outing did little to elevate you to get this opportunity and feel that Marquez will be too much for you. What would you like to say to those who doubt your opportunity?
RJ: Well first of all, I can’t disagree with them about my last outing. I personally gave myself a B minus so I understand what they are saying there. But to say that I haven’t earned this shot is something that I don’t understand. I gave Barrera 24 rounds. I don’t need to go onto the internet to know what some fans and critics are saying about me. All they’re doing is lighting a fire in me. They’re just putting more gas on the fire and that motivates me even more.
I think Marquez knows what he’s going up against. I think he’s feeling more confident about what he’s hearing from the public about how he’s going to roll over me, but come November 3rd I’m going to be ready and show the world that this is my third opportunity at a title and I’m going to make the best of it.
I’m not a fighter that goes backwards. I come to fight. The fight with Humberto Soto was my toughest fight yet. We both took some and gave some. In my first fight with Barrera, people say that I won. In the second one, he chose to fight an intelligent fight and not stand in there. So I think with Marquez, he is probably going to do the same thing as Barrera did, but as the fight goes on, he’s going to want to prove to himself and the fans that he can stand toe to toe and brawl. He has got more Mexican in him that makes him want to fight and that’s what is going to come out and make it great on November 3rd. We’re both punchers and you’re going to see something great November 3rd.
JM: Rock, give us your thoughts on the recent Barrera/Pacquiao fight. What did you think of Barrera’s outing and do you have any thoughts on facing Manny in the near future?
RJ: You know everyone’s talking about Marquez/Pacquiao. I was there that night when they first fought and I put my money on Marquez because I knew that he has heart and that he is very intelligent when he fights. Lately, Manny’s been rolling over everybody and people are forgetting that Marquez still has to fight Rocky Juarez. Why can’t or shouldn’t I have the opportunity to fight Manny if things go my way against Marquez? That’s what I want to know.
john@boxingrealm.com