Casamayor/Marquez Is On
By Boxing News June 27th, 2008JOEL CASAMAYOR DEFENDS WORLD LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
AGAINST FORMER TWO-DIVISION
WORLD CHAMPION JUAN MANUEL MARQUEZ
ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 AT THE MGM GRAND
LIVE ON HBO PAY-PER-VIEW
Tickets go on Sale Saturday, June 28 at 10 a.m.
LOS ANGELES, June 27, 2008 – Mexico celebrated its independence from Spain on the historic date of September 16, 1810 and over the years, this day has grown to become a special day of celebration, especially in the world of sports and entertainment. This year, the boxing world will celebrate Mexico’s Independence Day when reigning Ring Magazine World Lightweight Champion Joel “El Cepillo� Casamayor meets former two-division World Champion Juan Manuel Marquez Saturday, Sept. 13 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nev. in a 12-round championship bout that celebrates the best of the sweet science and two of its greatest practitioners.
In professional boxing, this day or the celebrated weekend has always been home to the largest boxing events in the history of the sport. Some of the most memorable Mexican Independence Day fights were: Sept. 18, 1998 when the “Golden Boy� Oscar de la Hoya faced Mexican icon, Julio Caesar Chavez; Sept. 18, 1999 when the “Golden Boy� faced Puerto Rico’s Felix “Tito� Trinidad; and Sept. 14, 2002 when De La Hoya faced Fernando “Ferocious� Vargas.
Casamayor vs. Marquez, a 12-round bout for Casamayor’s Ring Magazine World Lightweight Championship, will headline a night of world-class professional boxing presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Romanza Boxing and sponsored by Cerveza Tecate and Cazadores Tequila. The world title bout will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live on HBO Pay-Per-View, beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
Tickets priced at $300, $200, $125 and $75 go on sale Saturday, June 28 at 10 a.m. and may be purchased at any MGM Grand box office outlet and all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith’s Food and Drug Centers and Macy’s West at the Fashion Show Mall). Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (702) 474-4000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.
“I’m very excited for this great fight and I’m happy that Golden Boy gave me this opportunity,� said Casamayor. “It is going to be a war between two legends but one of us will be finished after this and I know I’m going to retire Juan Manuel Marquez on September 13.�
Marquez commented, “This is the most important fight of my life because I’m putting my career on the line to go up in weight to fight Joel. He is the best at 135 and a very dangerous fighter. It’s a huge fight for me and I’m very excited to fight in front of all of my loyal fans in Las Vegas on Mexican Independence Day weekend.�
De La Hoya, president of Golden Boy Promotions, said, “This match-up continues the great tradition in boxing to hold championship bouts on Mexican Independence Day weekend. When Joel Casamayor, a legendary Cuban fighter and an Olympic Gold Medalist, meets a very dangerous two-division World Champion and future hall of famer in Juan Manuel Marquez, the fans will get their money’s worth of skill, heart and action. This fight is an exciting way to kick off the Fall boxing season and there is no doubt that this will be one of the best fights of 2008 as both fighters are looking to win after coming off dramatic battles.�
Richard Sturm, president of Sports and Entertainment of MGM MIRAGE, said, “The fans in the Grand Garden Arena will be treated to a sensational event. We look forward to celebrating Mexican Independence Day weekend with Golden Boy Promotions and HBO Pay-Per-View.�
HBO PPV’s Mark Taffet said, “Casamayor-Marquez is a marquee matchup in a division that continues to turn out one great fight after another. It’s the kind of ‘best vs. best’ battle that boxing fans love.â€?
The greatest Cuban fighter of the last 30 years, 1992 Olympic Gold Medalist and current Ring Magazine Lightweight World Champion Casamayor (36-3-1, 22 KOs) has unquestionably stamped himself as a future Hall of Famer with world titles in two weight classes, along with a resume that many experts believe should contain no losses. Owner of wins over Nate Campbell, Diego Corrales (twice) and Roberto Garcia, Casamayor’s only defeats have come via highly disputed decisions against Acelino Freitas, Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo, fights most believe “El Cepillo� deserved to win. In his last fight in March though, Casamayor refused to leave things in the hands of the judges and knocked out the previously unbeaten Australian warrior Michael Katsidis in the 10th round.
A wizard of the ring who mixes technical prowess with a warrior’s heart and a willingness to go to war, Marquez (48-4-1, 35 KOs) already has secured his legacy as one of the greatest Mexican fighters of all-time. However, he is not satisfied – thus his pursuit of a world title in a third weight class. A former Featherweight and Super Featherweight World Champion, Marquez has fought the best of this era including Manny Pacquiao (twice), Marco Antonio Barrera, Rocky Juarez and Manuel Medina. With his only loss in the last two years being a controversial split decision at the hands of Pacquiao in their classic rematch in March, it is clear that like a fine wine, the 34-year-old Marquez is getting better with age.
The Casamayor vs. Marquez pay-per-view telecast, beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, will be produced and distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View and will be available to 71 million pay-per-view homes. The telecast will be available in HD-TV for those viewers who can receive HD. HBO Pay-Per-View is the leading supplier of event programming to the pay-per-view industry. For Casamayor vs. Marquez fight week updates, log on to www.hbo.com.
June 27th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Casamayor — the mayor’s house — is going to send Marquez to the outhouse. Marquez is full of crap. Manny kicked his butt twice. And this dude followed Manny all the way to Mannyland to be disrespectful. The hurt business is no Casablanca, so Marquez, his team and his posse should cut it out. “I’m shocked that gambling is going on in here.” “I’m shocked that Marquez — the canvas kisser — lost to Manny twice.” Yea, right! Give me a break! The Cuban will expose the stinky smell of Marquez. Holla!
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:16 am
Radam G., Lol your a joke…let me guess another overnight boxing fan..right?. Hating on Marquez because he exposed manny twice and got robbed in the process. Admit it he give your girl pac a boxing lesson!..And when JMM defeats Casa sept 13..he will be the true and Lineal champion of the 135 pound division..so you and pacquiao will be calling him CHAMP!. Admit it at least JMM has the stones to challenge a real fighter not some bum tomato can like diaz..LOL what a joke this pacquiao scared to fight a real fighter at 135, he opts to fight a paper champ. Yes Marquez went to P.I like a man and made a fool of manny, he made him look like a girl and all manny could say is “I Got Lucky That Night”..hey at least he is honest!..JMM did kiss the canvas 4 times but what does that tell you about mannys inabillity to finish him off, not the sign of a true champion, and after all that JMM wants more…thats a real man!!!…MABUHAY!
July 3rd, 2008 at 1:02 pm
This is a must see. I am intested to see if Casamayor goes toe to toe with JMM or is he will resort to dirty tactics. As far as Pacquiao vs JMM II, I have seen it and truly analized it. Whether one is familiar with scoring a fight or not. All one has to do is look at the fighters’ faces and demeanor before the result is announced. I won’t forget Manny’s face. He cried when he was awarded the fight. He was not only scared of knowing he had lost, he was thankful the fight was awarded to him. Look at his face after the fight you guys. His face says it all.
Cheers.
July 6th, 2008 at 10:47 am
Marquez will be crying for the rest of his life, thinking that someone is always robbing him. This dude needs to get a clue. “You are in the pros,” not the amateurs.” Those amateur-a$$ soft shots don’t count like a wack-the-heck-out-of-you-pro shot. In two bouts, Manny made that b*tch Marquez kiss the canvas four times and rocked his sorry-a$$ 23 times. Just with that, that is enough to win both bouts. I went back and watched both fights after a reader said something similar to what I just wrote above. You immature worshipers of Marquez need to man up and go on with life, and stop the playground spitting. It is what it is. Move on! Casamayor is going to beat down Marquez, and we hear the same thing of how Marquez got ripped off. Marquez has a con-artist style that is satisfying to his haters crew and fans, but not to the judges and authentic experts — that amateurish-tap-tap-and-run $hit doesn’t work with educated eyes. As a TSS reader said, “Change the rules, and put that b*tch in the Olympic Games, and he still will lose,” and say that he was robbed. He is a weak, warring punk, who believes that he is better than what he is. And his fans, posse, haters crew, family and team need to educated themselves about how judging in the hurt business works. Holla!
July 7th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
Juan Manuel Marquez is the best out there right now. Yes he lost to Manny twice, but could Manny finish him off? No Way. I have mad respect to Manny for even winning to a legend like JMM. Now to the Joel Casamayor fight…… Well Joel doesn’t stand a chance, yes he may hold the title in his weight division, but JMM is to much of an experienced fighter. JMM is very good skills, and comes out to you in all angles. Juan Manuel is still hungry, and as you can see he was robbed in his last fight. Manny is the best legendary mexican fighter ever excluding the great julio cezar chavez. Hands down, Joel doesn’t stand a chance. He is stepping into the ring with one of the best counter punchers. We will see come september 13th, as Juan takes home the ring magazine belt, and gives us a show for all of his mexican people.
July 8th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Casamayor will win this fight by split desicion, JMM is a tough and experienced fighter but Casa should be able to handle him. This is gonna be a hell of a fight!
July 8th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
well all i can say is “I CANT WAIT” Marquez vs Casamayor
its not as big as COTTO vs MARGARITO but sure as hell a great match
i agree that im glad marquez has the witts to challenge Joel a hard tough fight for a moving up in weight and he is very capable of comming out with a big W. I like PAC but DAVID DIAZ??? come on guy id like to see him with Juan DIAZ or a nate Campbell he let me down by taking the easy way to a new world tittle.
Prediction:
if Marquez sticks to his beautiful boxing he will be the new king
if Casamayor makes this a street fight goodnight Marquez.
but i noticed casamyors skills evaporating while marquez is a ring tech
MARQUEZ by Split Decision.
for the record i had marquez winning the rematch with PAC by a point
could have been a draw no worse.
July 9th, 2008 at 11:55 pm
marquez?..very skilled?… he should be as a pro and claimant of diff titles,
but who is this pac? i remember seeing this pac beating marquez twice, mean marquez a kind of champ is no better than this so called pac.
yet marquez claimimg he win?? not a sign of a real champ,
and come to pi just to insult the poor english of this pac.“I Got Lucky That Night�.. ha ha ha what a champ.
OR…………. he just want to win the heart of his countrymen
saying look at me! he cant beat me by way of knock out but still…. a losser
July 14th, 2008 at 11:52 am
Can’t wait to see JMM against mere mortals. Pacman fans should have more respect for JMM. He has been the toughest opponent for Manny, and the way JMM picked himself up from the canvas and fight back is amazing! I am a Pacman fan, but JMM has truly earned my respect. JMM is still hungry and has many years left in the tank. His power is underrated, because his technical abilities are so great. The other great thing about JMM is his ability to recover from a knockdown. JMM is too skilled and too strong. I don’t think Casamayor has a chance.
July 21st, 2008 at 11:23 pm
manny was robbed in the first fight and so he has the faced of another robbery in the making as the last card is being read. you cannot blame manny for the look as the third card is being announced because of the decision in the first fight. the second fight is good and i believe one of the best fight he had done. casamayor is like pacquiao or vice versa and so it will be another blockbuster fight.
July 25th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
guys!guys!youre all right….would u accept a man,who for how many times kissed the canvas to be a “champ”,a winner?(manny and marquez)..do you believe a robbed decision by marquez?well,there r three judges,who could say ,the final say..come to think of this….vice versa…would you accept that decision?marquez is the winner(who kissed d canvass,and the judges favored manny?)be fair…?!!?!?whoa?!?!i know marquez s still hungry,because he still has something to prove to the people that can make us think and confident of what he(JMM) really is…Filipinos dont say and talk too much,their not boostful, their humble always.. because the ENDS justifies MEANS…so u cant say just for the look,just for the things he said,”Maybe i just got lucky”…..!!!anyways …am looking forward for marquez so far …not yet for him….for manny ….he has this plans for future fights….well lets wait….and see!?!right guys!!?!?
July 27th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
I think that casamayor is good but in his last fight he (got lucky ) that guy
from Australia was sloppy. and was staring to get the best of Casamayor
the only way that he can beat a fighter like Marquez is to make it a war and Marquez will not shy away from it( i have Marquez by late TKO or Majority decision)…………….
July 27th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
Pacman is a smart and respectful man. I love that guy. Pacman is not ignorant as some of his followers (Radam). I’m a mexican and I admire JMM. He is a great boxer. The Pacman vs JMM fights were great. The knock-down thing was the key for Pacman’s victory. JMM was not a piece of cake for Pac. Nobody has beaten Pac as bad as JMM. Every intelligent man knows that. Anyway, Casamayor is the bigger man. I think this is going to be the most difficult fight of JMM career. I can’t say that JMM will win but he has a good chance.
September 10th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
I am a boxing fan I love both JMM and Pac, I agree PAC has a difficulty knocking out JMM and JMM technical skills still not enough to win judges score card. I would like to win JMM over Casamayor so that we have Pac VS JMM 3. I like it. What do you think guys. I dont want to see this oether two guys fighting another but themselves. Its a good match !!