Exclusive Boxing Interview: Juan Manuel Marquez

In a Pay Per View event entitled “Fearless”, Juan Manuel Marquez, 46-3-1 (35), will challenge Marco Antonio Barrera, 63-4 (42) for his WBC Super Featherweight title on Saturday, March 17, 2007 at the Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, NV.

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This will be Marquez’s second outing with his new promoter, Golden Boy. In his first bout with his new promoter, Marquez was impressive in defending his WBO Featherweight belt by beating Jimrex Jaca in the ninth round by KO last November. His upcoming “Fearless” bout with Golden Boy partner Barrera will be his first attempt at a super featherweight title.

SaddoBoxing had the pleasure of speaking to Marquez in an exclusive phone interview to discuss the various sub-plots to his upcoming match as well as his career. Special thanks to his co-promoter Jaime Quintana from Romanza Boxing Productions for helping to set up the interview and translating our conversation.

SaddoBoxing: How much pressure are you feeling with your upcoming match against Barrera?

Juan Manuel Marquez: “Actually, it is not a pressure what I feel. I feel it is a pretty important fight and I don’t want to disappoint anybody. But I am pretty well prepared for this fight so that’s what gives me the confidence that everything is going to be alright.”

SB: There are a lot of interesting sub-plots to your fight; first you faced Pacquiao in May 2004 to a hard fought draw, just after he had defeated Barrera by TKO in November 2003. Do you feel that provides you with a mental edge in the fight?

JMM: “Actually no, what I can tell you is for Barrera and the Pacquiao fight, it is in the past. He is ready for this fight, he is training hard and I can say the same, I have been training hard for this fight. It is going to be a war; a Mexican fight.”

SB: Another sub-plot is that you recently were signed by Golden Boy Promotions, where Barrera is an active partner within the company. Do you feel you are treated equally within the company?

JMM: “Oscar [De La Hoya] has treated me well. I have no complaints. But what I can say, like always with the champion, there is a little bit of preference. But nobody can help him in the ring.”

SB: Finally, your younger brother Rafael just went up a weight class to super bantamweight to win the WBC title; you are also moving up a weight class to super featherweight. fighting for the WBC title. Do you feel any additional pressure from the possibility of making history by being the only brothers to hold titles consecutively in two weight classes?

JMM: “It’s pretty motivating. My brother had an excellent fight. I just congratulate him for that great fight. But now it’s my turn to get that belt and make history.”

SB: How have you prepared for this fight?

JMM: “It was an excellent preparation for this fight. My physical condition is excellent. More than two months; training, running and making some exercises to gain strength. The last three weeks I am working on speed and I think I got it, so it shouldn’t be a problem at all.”

SB: Barrera seems to have taken more of a boxing approach in his latest fights rather than trading punches like we saw when he faced Erik Morales. What are you expecting to see from Barrera?

JMM: “Actually, what I can tell you is I am expecting Barrera to come in and trade punches. He is very smart, he might decide not to trade punches but he is going to be boxing. I am expecting Barrera to make a smart fight but I am ready for everything that Barrera has.”

SB: Do you have any predictions for the fight?

JMM: “No, I don’t like to predict at all in any fight. I can tell you I am well prepared and if the knockout comes, I will welcome it of course. If not, I come prepared to fight 12 rounds as hard as possible because I don’t want to leave any doubts to the judges when I win.”

SB: Your career has had highs and lows. After your fight with Pacquiao, you should have been propelled into the mainstream of the sport but instead you fought on undercards of other big fights and then were forced to fight in Indonesia against little known Chris John where you lost your title. Do you think about the possible directions your career will take with a win or loss against Barrera?

JMM: “Yes, I understand in the past there were problems and I owe everything that happened in the past to my ex-promoter. But now I am pretty happy with my promoters, everything is going fine. Obviously, if I win and have a victory over Barrera, everything is going to change. I am coming for everything, I am well prepared and the past I want to leave as the past.”

SB: You mention your past promoter, what were the specific obstacles that prevented you from higher profile fights and better paydays in the past?

JMM: “They had preferred boxers at that time and they still do. They didn’t give us attention that we needed at that time. Now that my brother and myself are doing pretty well, they might be regretting the treatment that they gave us. We want to keep showing that we are capable of doing better things. We were with them five years and nothing happened, nothing exciting. That’s alright, that’s the business of boxing.”

SB: Do you feel that Golden Boy will help prevent a similar outcome for your future?

JMM: “I talk to Oscar [De La Hoya] and he promised me big fights. This is my second fight with Golden Boy Promotions and he is delivering what he promised. He promised me a fight with Barrera and in my second fight, he gives me the opportunity to fight Barrera. He is delivering well; I don’t think he will do me wrong. He is willing to do things; he is willing to save the sport of boxing.”

SB: I look forward to your fight on Saturday and wish you the best of luck.

JMM: “Thank you very much and I am going to do my best to beat Barrera.”