HOLLYWOOD, California – Juan Manuel Marquez, still rated as the No.1 boxer in the lightweight division, remains hopeful that a closing encounter with Pound-for-Pound King Manny Pacquiao comes to pass.
Marquez, in an exclusive interview, says “After I finish Juan Diaz,” whom he will have a rematch on July 31 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, “I will take Pacquiao’s head next.”
Marquez, who is upbeat about acknowledging his popularity in the Philippines, says Pacquiao’s won over him by split decision is a “big question mark on Pacquiao’s forehead”.
“I am ready to snap his head back to the air again,” adds Marquez, a Chilango, who has received critical acclamations by columnist and bloggers alike as arguably the best Mexican fighter Pacquiao has ever faced.
Because of his two fights with Pacquiao, Marquez catapulted to stardom and made himself as one of the most formidable foes of Pacquiao before the latter declares retirement. Marquez promises a tough fight with Pacquiao at the full welterweight division.
Marquez , who will be at the Staples Center here in Los Angeles this Saturday, May 22, for his brother Rafael’s fight against Israel Vasquez., promises a tough fight with Pacquiao at the full welterweight division.
On the other hand, in what could have been exhilarating trails of Pacquiao’s victory over other fighters, such as Oscar de la Hoya, Ricky Hatton, David Diaz, Eric Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera, Jorge Solis, Joshua Clottey and more , Marquez has shown a distinctive performance despite losing one and garnering a draw to Pacquiao.
Last March 8 marks the day when Pacquiao walked away with a hard fought draw with Marquez in 2004 for both the WBA Super World featherweight and IBF featherweight titles at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.
Meanwhile, Marquez says he will be at the Staples Center in Los Angeles this Saturday, May 22, to be in the corner of his brother, Rafael, who is set for a non-title bout against Israel Vasquez on their fourth encounter, dubbed ‘Once and For All’.
Following three epic battles, three-time World Champion Israel Vazquez and two-division World Champion Rafael Marquez will face off in the fourth installment of what is perhaps the greatest boxing trilogy of all-time live on SHOWTIME at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast). In the co-feature, Yonnhy Perez will defend his International Boxing Federation (IBF) Bantamweight World Title against unbeaten top contender Abner Mares.
