In 2008, Mexican icon Juan Manuel Marquez solidified his place among boxing’s elite and became Mexico’s number one fighter by knocking out Joel Casamayor and winning a championship in a third weight class. As 2009 opens, Marquez will not be resting on his laurels, as he accepted the challenge to face former three-time lightweight champion Juan “The Baby Bull” Diaz on Saturday, February 28th in what promises to be an early Fight of The Year candidate..
“This fight between Marquez and Diaz will shake the lightweight division to its core and truly determine the best 135-pounder in the world,” said Oscar de la Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions. “As a fan, I can’t wait to see this fight.”
Marquez vs. Diaz, a 12 round bout for the Ring Magazine World Lightweight Championship, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and will be televised live on HBO’s World Championship Boxing beginning at 10 pm ET / 7 pm PT.
Mexico’s premier fighter and a future Hall of Famer, Juan Manuel “Dinamita” Marquez (49-4-1, 36 KO’s) has signified excellence for over 15 years and in three weight classes. A world champion at featherweight and junior lightweight, the 35-year-old Mexico City native made an immediate impact at 135 pounds when he won the Ring Magazine World Lightweight Championship by becoming the first man to stop Cuban great Joel Casamayor on September 13, 2008.
“Juan Diaz is a talented young fighter with a bright future,” said Marquez. “But this is still my time and I am not about to let Diaz take my belt away from me.”
Just nine years old when Marquez made his pro debut, 25-year old Juan Diaz (34-1, 17 KO’s) has roared through the pro ranks during his eight-year career and built a stellar reputation as one of the fight game’s most exciting young stars. The Former Three-Time World Lightweight Champion defended his crown seven times, beating the likes of fellow World Champions Acelino Freitas and Julio Diaz along the way. In his last bout in September of 2008, “The Baby Bull” thrilled his hometown fans at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas with a dominant 12 round decision win over Australian warrior Michael Katsidis.
“Juan Manuel is one of the greats in the game and it’s an honor to fight him, but I will be victorious on February 28th,” said Diaz.
A site for Marquez vs. Diaz will be announced shortly. For more information please visit www.goldenboypromotions.com.
BJ FLORES LOOKS TOWARDS BOUTS WITH TOMASZ ADAMEK OR WAYNE BRAITHWAITE FOR EARLY 2009
LAS VEGAS, NV (December 22, 2008) World ranked cruiserweight BJ Flores is preparing for a busy 2009 as he looks towards battles against either world champion Tomasz Adamek or former champion Wayne Braithwaite.
“Right now we’re in the negotiating stage for two possible fights. Either I go straight to fighting the newly crowned champion Tomasz Adamek for an optional defense or I fight Wayne Braithwaite as part of an elimination process for the IBF title which Adamek just won from Steve Cunningham.
Both are terrific fighters, but I believe I can beat either one and look forward to challenging myself against the very best in the division. At this point I’m starving for a fight. My preference is to face Adamek for the world title, but I’ll face whomever my team puts in front of me.”
With his last fight coming almost a year ago, Flores will be taking a much needed tune up bout on January 23rd in Las Vegas. “This will give me a great opportunity to shake off a little ring rust and fully prepare for a battle against either Adamek or Braithwaite.”
In regards to this past year, Flores said, “No question it’s been frustrating not having fought since beating Darnell Wilson back in February, but I’ve been training like a beast here in Las Vegas and truly feel like a well oiled machine. Between the boxing workouts and sparring along with the Cross Fit training I’ve been doing for the last six months, I’m probably in the best shape of my career.
About the proposed bout which was offered to him on three days notice earlier this month against Enzo Maccarinelli, Flores said, “Big deal, he beat a small heavyweight journeyman. It proved nothing. Against Adamek or Braithwaite, we’ll do things professionally and I’ll be well prepared, at this point I could go to training camp to face Godzilla and be okay with it.”
BJ Flores wanted to thank his loyal team; managers Jerry Giuliano and Megan DeAndrea, trainer Jacob Chavez, adviser Lou Mesorano and his father Frank and the entire Flores family for all of their support.
Flores, 21-0-1 (13KO’s) is currently world ranked #2 by the IBF. # 5 by the WBO, #8 by the WBA and #13 by the WBC.