DALLAS – You can sense the buzz around Dallas’ own super bantamweight prospect Roberto Marroquin, and after March 13 it will only get bigger.
Marroquin, 12-0 (9 KO’s) will fight in only a scheduled six – round fight on the live pay-per-view portion of the Manny Pacquiao vs. Joshua Clottey card at a contracted 124 lbs. at Cowboys Stadium in by far the biggest fight promotion ever in Dallas – Fort Worth history.
Promoter Bob Arum insisted the 20-year-old prospect be seen as part of the PPV portion of “The Event” as he says Marroquin is one of Top Rank’s brightest prospects ever.
“I’m comfortable with eight – round fights but this was so I could fit on pay-per-view in front of a larger audience and for my family and friends,” said the relaxed Marroquin at his first “Media Day” Thursday afternoon at the new Maple Avenue Boxing Gym (MABG) on the north fringe of downtown Dallas.
Marroquin had a few trainers, family, friends and good turnout of DFW’s media attend his Media Day.
“This is the first time I have ever been featured at a big press conference, especially at home,” said the friendly Marroquin. “It’s a lot of fun. I appreciate the coverage I have been receiving.
“I hope this leads to more big fights in Dallas in general and for me. I’m also very excited for my family and friends. My father (Gabriel) and cousin (Jack Mora) are here today.
Marroquin will be facing another young Dallas prospect named Sammy Sanchez, 4-1 (0 KO’s).
“We know Sanchez,” says Marroquin’s head trainer Raul Martinez. “I have been with Roberto since he was just seven and now he is 20 and a young man. Sanchez has a lot of heart and will put up a fight but we’ll beat him.
“I’m very happy for Roberto and his family but the road only gets tougher after this,” he said.
Among the luminaries in attendance were referee Laurence Cole and former middleweight contender Big Sugar Ray Phillips of Dallas. “BSR,” as a young undefeated prospect, was thrown in too soon with a contender named Marvelous Marvin Hagler at the old Boston Garden but lasted into the eighth round.
On the under card of that fight card was a prospect trained by the late great Eddie Futch who I believe made out pretty well as a trainer by the name of Freddie Roach.
“The Event” manager/marketing director Lester Bedford was in attendance and along with gym owner Stacy Verbeek put the successful event together.
