Juan Manuel Marquez Vs Rocky Juarez: Back On

ByBoxing Press

Boxing fans were left disappointed last week by the announcement that the WBC super featherweight title bout between Juan Manuel Marquez and Rocky Juarez was called off due to a Marquez injury, but thanks to some quick work by Golden Boy Promotions and SHOWTIME, this championship bout has been quickly rescheduled – along with the IBF featherweight title bout between Robert Guerrero and Martin Honorio – for Saturday, Nov. 3.

“Marquez-Juarez is a fight the fans wanted to see, and we pulled out all the stops to make it happen before the end of the year,” said Oscar de la Hoya, president of Golden Boy Promotions. “But we couldn’t have done this without Ken Hershman and SHOWTIME. We thank them for helping us put this great fight back on and are excited to be promoting our first SHOWTIME event.”

“Delivering real fights for real fight fans on the first Saturday of every month is our trademark,” said Hershman, senior vice president and general manager, Showtime Sports & Event Programming. “We are excited to be working with Oscar and his company and we’re proud to deliver such a compelling match-up on the network.”

Marquez, the WBC super featherweight champion, was forced to withdraw from his original date with Juarez (this Saturday, Sept. 15) after suffering an infection in his right hand. Doctors have assured the champion that he will be healed and ready to go for the rescheduled date of Nov. 3.

Marquez vs. Juarez, which headlines an exciting night of world-class professional boxing presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Romanza Productions, will air live on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING beginning at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

Mexico City’s Juan Manuel Marquez (47-3-1, 35 KOs) captured his second world championship and launched himself back into the upper reaches of the pound-for-pound list with a thrilling victory over the legendary Marco Antonio Barrera on March 17 of this year. Marquez, one of the best technicians of this era, is also known for his warrior heart, which led him to get off the canvas three times in the first round and battle to a 12-round draw against Manny Pacquiao in their Fight of the Year candidate in 2004. Houston’s Rocky Juarez (27-3, 19 KOs), a 2000 Olympic Silver medalist for the United States, has also met with great success in the pro ranks. Best remembered for his two bout series with Marco Antonio Barrera, the aggressive Juarez has won two in a row in 2007 and is eager to make it three by taking Marquez’ world title.

One of the most exciting young champions in the sport today, Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero (20-1-1, 13 KOs) was considered to be a slick boxer early in his pro career, but has since developed into a two-fisted boxer-puncher who is deadly in all aspects of the sweet science. In his last bout, the 24-year old from Gilroy, California won the vacant IBF featherweight crown with an impressive ninth round TKO of veteran Spend Abazi. In Martin Honorio (24-3-1, 12 KOs), Guerrero will be facing a hungry contender who has waited a long time for his shot at the world title. Unbeaten in his last seven fights, this Mexico City resident is coming off solid back-to-back wins over Rogers Mtagwa and Joe Morales to earn this title opportunity.

A venue for the Nov. 3 Marquez vs. Juarez fight will be announced shortly.