Earlier today in Cancun, Mexico, WBA and WBO lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez arrived to the city after breaking camp a thousand miles away in Mexico City. Marquez will be meeting Columbia’s Likar Ramos on Saturday night inside of the Plaza de Toros and he must come away with a victory to secure a November date with Manny Pacquiao inside of the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
The bout will mark Marquez?s first fight in Mexico in over sixteen years, dating back to his November 1994 2nd round knockout over Jose Luis Montes. Marquez has had many training camps in his native land since that time but you can tell how elated he was to come to such a grand reception on this day.
<--- Slideshow: Juan Manuel Marquez mobbed in Cancun as Ramos fight nears
?I am very happy to be here. I feel a lot of emotion to get such a reception. I just arrived and the people greeted me and wished me luck for my fight on Saturday and my commitment to them is to walk out with my fist raised,? Marquez stated in a BoxingScene.com piece by Rafael Soto.
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What?s also special for Marquez in this fight, aside for the Pacquiao fight being on the line, is the fact that his younger brother Rafael will be making an appearance on the undercard against Eusebio Osejo. Rafael has been a fine champion in his own right and you can sense how deep the brothers? bond is from hearing Juan tell it.
?It?s double motivation for this fight,? Marquez continued. ?To fight in my country will always make me proud, and it is great that my brother will fight on the undercard. I?ll arrive excited, and ready to give the fans a great victory for this warm reception.?
The brothers last shared a card together in August of 2006 at the MontBleu Casino in Stateline, Nevada, when Juan stopped Terdsak Kokietgym for a 7th round TKO while Rafael broke down Silence Mabuza for a stoppage after nine rounds.
For images of Marquez?s arrival please visit the slideshow on the left?
Chris Robinson is based out of Las Vegas, Nevada. He can be reached at [email protected]
