lpinoy
11-03-2010, 01:48 AM
by;Lem Satterfield
Rafael Marquez has experienced boxing's ultimate highs and its ultimate lows over a career that has spanned more than 15 years by nearly two months.
In 44 fights, Marquez has gone the 12-round distance in victory only twice, and experienced the 10-round and six-round distances only once each. Marquez has used his tremendous punching power to score knockouts over other 35 rivals for a total of 39 triumphs.
But over the course of his Marquez's fighting tenure, he has also lost five times, being stopped once each in the eighth round -- in his very first professional fight on Sept. 14, 1995 -- as well as the sixth, third and second.
On May 22 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, the 35-year-old Marquez rose to 39-5, with his 35th knockout, cutting his rival over both eyes before scoring a third-round stoppage of 32-year-old Israel Vazquez (44-5, 32 KOs) in the fourth meeting between the featherweights (126 pounds).
In only his second bout at 126 pounds, Marquez evened the series against Vazquez at 2-2. Marquez's seventh-round knockout had dethroned Vazquez as WBC super bantamweight (122 pounds) champion in their first meeting in March 2007, but Marquez lost the next two times by sixth-round knockout in August 2007 and split-decision in March 2008.
But as he enters the twilight of his career, there are some in the boxing community who believe that Marquez does not have much left.
Marquez disagrees.
"I tell them that they're wrong. As long as you take care of yourself, and as long as you prepare well for a fight, that [age] shouldn't be any problem," said Marquez, whose brother, 36-year-old WBO and WBA lightweight (135 pounds) king, Juan Manuel Marquez, recently scored his second victory over a much younger Juan Diaz, one of his wins being by ninth-round knockout.
"I think my brother proved it against Juan Diaz, who was 10 years younger than him," said Rafael Marquez, whose promoter is Gary Shaw. "I've always taken care of myself and I think that I have a lot left to give. I think that age doesn't matter. I don't see that as a problem. I really don't."
Marquez could be facing the most difficult challenge of his career in Saturday night's Showtime televised bout opposite Puerto Rican WBO titlist Juan Manuel Lopez (29-0, 26 KOs), a talented, 28-year-old southpaw who, like Marquez, will be in only his third fight at 126 pounds at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
"This is one of the biggest fights you will ever see in the lower weight divisions. We both have a lot to prove and the fans are going to enjoy it. This could actually go either way. We're both so powerful that it could end earlier than late because of our power," said Marquez, whose clash with Lopez brings together fighters from Mexico and Puerto Rico.
"It's very important being Puerto Rico versus Mexico. It's probably the most important fight of my career. I haven't fought too many Puerto Ricans at the level that I'm fighting this fight," said Marquez. "This guy is very intelligent and he knows what he's doing in the ring. It's so important that I don't leave any stones unturned because I know how important this fight is."
Lopez will be fighting for the fourth time in 13 months.
"I wouldn't compare Lopez to anyone really. If I had to pick a level of fighter, I would probably put him at the level of a Tim Austin or a Mark Johnson, two very good left handers that I have fought in the past," Marquez said of Johnson and Austin, whom he stopped in the eighth rounds of bouts that took place, respectively, in February of 2002, and, February of 2003.
"Lopez probably has a little bit more power than those two but they were both great fighters when I fought them. That's who I would compare him to since they're both left handed and have quick hands. I don't see him being a left hander as that much of a problem," said Marquez. "Obviously you don't fight that many left handers at the championship level. But I've never had any problems with it. I don't see it as a big problem. You have to be at your best to fight any guys at this level."
In October, during his final bout at super bantamweight (122 pounds), Lopez had to survive a near-knockout in the final round to successfully defend his then-WBO 122-pound title against Tanzanian journeyman Rogers Mtagwa.
In January, however, Lopez easily dethroned Steven Luevano for the WBO featherweight crown. Lopez defended that belt in July with a second-round knockout of Bernabe Concepcion (28-4-1, 15 KOs), scoring a first-round knockdown before himself being floored just before the bell ending the same round.
Lopez then dropped Concepcion twice second round, with the second knockdown ending the fight.
"I've seen some of the videotape on him. I see how strong and powerful he is, but I also see his weaknesses. I see that he has a weak chin. So we have to take advantage of that and put our punches together and use a lot of combinations," said Marquez.
"I have to use all of my experience and all of my power and all my intelligence in the ring to get to him," said Marquez. "It's a winnable fight, no question. I can win this fight. I just have to be smart enough to know what to do in there. I can't be reckless."
Marquez's certainly can not be as careless as he was in August, when an injury to his right thumb postponed their bout from Sept. 18. Marquez's injury occurred when Marquez accidentally slammed the door to his truck on his hand.
"Fortunately, my thumb injury did not prevent me from continuing my conditioning, including running daily," said Marquez at the time, when doctors informed Marquez that there was no fracture.
There was an inflammation that required at least six to eight weeks without hitting anything, although Marquez continued to train in the gym, using only his left hand because he did not want to lose his rhythm or conditioning.
"My injury is fine. It was tough to have to suspend the fight, but my preparation never stopped," said Marquez. "I've been running and doing other things, but just not hitting anything. I'm very well prepared. This fight is important, and I think it will be a great fight."
Marquez also has split with trainer Nacho Beristain, who also handles his brother, Juan Manuel Marquez, in favor of Daniel Zaragoza.
"It got to the point that Nacho wasn't training me anymore. It was just time to move on. Zaragoza has taught me a lot. He's lefthanded, and I'm fighting a lefty, so he opens up a lot more opportunities for me," said Marquez.
"I've fought guys with great records before. If you know what you're doing in the ring and you're smart you won't have any problems," said Marquez. "So I'm not worried about him having a perfect record. I think the key to this fight will be conditioning. Whoever is better conditioned to go the 12 rounds will be the winner."
Rafael Marquez has experienced boxing's ultimate highs and its ultimate lows over a career that has spanned more than 15 years by nearly two months.
In 44 fights, Marquez has gone the 12-round distance in victory only twice, and experienced the 10-round and six-round distances only once each. Marquez has used his tremendous punching power to score knockouts over other 35 rivals for a total of 39 triumphs.
But over the course of his Marquez's fighting tenure, he has also lost five times, being stopped once each in the eighth round -- in his very first professional fight on Sept. 14, 1995 -- as well as the sixth, third and second.
On May 22 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, the 35-year-old Marquez rose to 39-5, with his 35th knockout, cutting his rival over both eyes before scoring a third-round stoppage of 32-year-old Israel Vazquez (44-5, 32 KOs) in the fourth meeting between the featherweights (126 pounds).
In only his second bout at 126 pounds, Marquez evened the series against Vazquez at 2-2. Marquez's seventh-round knockout had dethroned Vazquez as WBC super bantamweight (122 pounds) champion in their first meeting in March 2007, but Marquez lost the next two times by sixth-round knockout in August 2007 and split-decision in March 2008.
But as he enters the twilight of his career, there are some in the boxing community who believe that Marquez does not have much left.
Marquez disagrees.
"I tell them that they're wrong. As long as you take care of yourself, and as long as you prepare well for a fight, that [age] shouldn't be any problem," said Marquez, whose brother, 36-year-old WBO and WBA lightweight (135 pounds) king, Juan Manuel Marquez, recently scored his second victory over a much younger Juan Diaz, one of his wins being by ninth-round knockout.
"I think my brother proved it against Juan Diaz, who was 10 years younger than him," said Rafael Marquez, whose promoter is Gary Shaw. "I've always taken care of myself and I think that I have a lot left to give. I think that age doesn't matter. I don't see that as a problem. I really don't."
Marquez could be facing the most difficult challenge of his career in Saturday night's Showtime televised bout opposite Puerto Rican WBO titlist Juan Manuel Lopez (29-0, 26 KOs), a talented, 28-year-old southpaw who, like Marquez, will be in only his third fight at 126 pounds at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
"This is one of the biggest fights you will ever see in the lower weight divisions. We both have a lot to prove and the fans are going to enjoy it. This could actually go either way. We're both so powerful that it could end earlier than late because of our power," said Marquez, whose clash with Lopez brings together fighters from Mexico and Puerto Rico.
"It's very important being Puerto Rico versus Mexico. It's probably the most important fight of my career. I haven't fought too many Puerto Ricans at the level that I'm fighting this fight," said Marquez. "This guy is very intelligent and he knows what he's doing in the ring. It's so important that I don't leave any stones unturned because I know how important this fight is."
Lopez will be fighting for the fourth time in 13 months.
"I wouldn't compare Lopez to anyone really. If I had to pick a level of fighter, I would probably put him at the level of a Tim Austin or a Mark Johnson, two very good left handers that I have fought in the past," Marquez said of Johnson and Austin, whom he stopped in the eighth rounds of bouts that took place, respectively, in February of 2002, and, February of 2003.
"Lopez probably has a little bit more power than those two but they were both great fighters when I fought them. That's who I would compare him to since they're both left handed and have quick hands. I don't see him being a left hander as that much of a problem," said Marquez. "Obviously you don't fight that many left handers at the championship level. But I've never had any problems with it. I don't see it as a big problem. You have to be at your best to fight any guys at this level."
In October, during his final bout at super bantamweight (122 pounds), Lopez had to survive a near-knockout in the final round to successfully defend his then-WBO 122-pound title against Tanzanian journeyman Rogers Mtagwa.
In January, however, Lopez easily dethroned Steven Luevano for the WBO featherweight crown. Lopez defended that belt in July with a second-round knockout of Bernabe Concepcion (28-4-1, 15 KOs), scoring a first-round knockdown before himself being floored just before the bell ending the same round.
Lopez then dropped Concepcion twice second round, with the second knockdown ending the fight.
"I've seen some of the videotape on him. I see how strong and powerful he is, but I also see his weaknesses. I see that he has a weak chin. So we have to take advantage of that and put our punches together and use a lot of combinations," said Marquez.
"I have to use all of my experience and all of my power and all my intelligence in the ring to get to him," said Marquez. "It's a winnable fight, no question. I can win this fight. I just have to be smart enough to know what to do in there. I can't be reckless."
Marquez's certainly can not be as careless as he was in August, when an injury to his right thumb postponed their bout from Sept. 18. Marquez's injury occurred when Marquez accidentally slammed the door to his truck on his hand.
"Fortunately, my thumb injury did not prevent me from continuing my conditioning, including running daily," said Marquez at the time, when doctors informed Marquez that there was no fracture.
There was an inflammation that required at least six to eight weeks without hitting anything, although Marquez continued to train in the gym, using only his left hand because he did not want to lose his rhythm or conditioning.
"My injury is fine. It was tough to have to suspend the fight, but my preparation never stopped," said Marquez. "I've been running and doing other things, but just not hitting anything. I'm very well prepared. This fight is important, and I think it will be a great fight."
Marquez also has split with trainer Nacho Beristain, who also handles his brother, Juan Manuel Marquez, in favor of Daniel Zaragoza.
"It got to the point that Nacho wasn't training me anymore. It was just time to move on. Zaragoza has taught me a lot. He's lefthanded, and I'm fighting a lefty, so he opens up a lot more opportunities for me," said Marquez.
"I've fought guys with great records before. If you know what you're doing in the ring and you're smart you won't have any problems," said Marquez. "So I'm not worried about him having a perfect record. I think the key to this fight will be conditioning. Whoever is better conditioned to go the 12 rounds will be the winner."