Filed under: WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, Boxing Rumors, Showtime, FanHouse Exclusive
When 35-year-old former world champion, Rafael Marquez (pictured above, at right), of Mexico City, challenges 27-year-old, southpaw WBO featherweight (126 pounds) king Juan Manuel Lopez (above, at left) in Saturday night's Showtime televised, Top Rank Promotions clash, it will be a match up of hard-hitting Latino fighters that should thrill the crowd at The MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Marquez's promoter is Gary Shaw.
In addition, theirs will be yet another battle in the long-running rivalry between Mexican boxers and those from Puerto Rico, a fact that is lost on neither combatant.
"It's very important being Puerto Rico versus Mexico. It's probably the most important fight of my career," said Marquez (39-5, 35 knockouts), who, like Like Lopez, is in only his third bout at 126 pounds. "I haven't fought too many Puerto Ricans at the level that I'm fighting this fight."
Lopez is making the second defense of his crown and looking to rise to 30-0, with his 27th career knockout.
"I don't want to put extra pressure on myself, but I understand the tradition of Puerto Rico fighters fighting against boxers from Mexico," said Lopez.
"I think Puerto Ricans expect a lot from me, and I hope to give them the best fight that I can," said Lopez. "And I know he's going to give all he can, and, so, it's going to be another great fight for the rivalry."
Showtime boxing analyst, Steve Farhood (pictured at right), has put together his top 10 most compelling fights in the rivalry.
"Nothing stirs the passion of Hispanic fight fans like the 30-plus-year rivalry between the boxing greats of Mexico and Puerto Rico," said Farhood. "I've picked out 10 that I consider the best of the best."
Below, listed in chronilogical order, are Farhood's top 10 bouts between Puerto Rico and Mexico, which leads the series, 6-4, among his selections.
No comments:
Post a Comment