SEPTEMBER 15th FIGHT CARD FEATURES STARS OF BOXING BATTLING IT OUT
Posted on | August 28, 2007 | 1 Comment
FIGHTING IS IN THE FAMILY’S SOUL
WBC WORLD SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT TITLE – 12 ROUNDS
Juan Manuel MARQUEZ
vs.
Ricardo Rocky JUAREZ
47-3-1 (35 KO’s)
Record
27-3 (19 KO’s)
Dinamita
Nickname
Rocky
Iztacalco, Mexico
Hometown
Houston, TX
Mexico City
Training Location
Houston, TX
Ignacio “Nacho” Beristain
Trainer
Ronnie Shields
This will be Juan Manuel Marquez’s first defense since winning the title from Marco Antonio Barrera earlier this year. Marquez is known as one of boxing’s best, pound for pound fighters and has thrilled fans for over 14 years. Rocky Juarez is a hard working strategic and tactical brawler who has the confidence to beat a very accurate, talented and experienced boxer in Marquez. This fight is a compelling match-up of ring experience and desire.
Marquez was born in Mexico City and is one of eight children whose father was an ex-pro boxer with 35 fights to his credit. Entering the gym for the first time at the age of eight, Juan and his brother, current bantamweight world champion Rafael, quickly took to the sweet science, with his boxing career starting in amateur tournaments at age 13. With his brother’s recent ring loss to Israel Vasquez, Marquez is planning on winning this not only for his Mexican countrymen, but more importantly, for his entire family .
Juarez is a 2000 Olympic silver medalist and has been involved in some tough battles in the past, including two hard fought wars against Marco Antonio Barrera. But most importantly he is on a quest to beat Marquez for his 91 year old grandfather who has been by his side and in the gym with him throughout his entire career. Juarez will be fighting to prove to himself, his grandfather and his fans that he is a true world champion.
SOLDIER VS CONTENDER—WHAT A SLUGFEST
MIDDLEWEIGHTS – 10 ROUNDS
Kassim OUMA
vs.
Sergio MORA
25-3-1 (15 KO’s)
Record
19-0 (4 KO’s)
The Dream
Nickname
The Latin Snake
West Palm Beach, FL
Hometown
Los Angeles, CA
Philadelphia, PA
Training Location
Los Angeles, CA
TBD
Trainer
Dean Campos
Kassim Ouma looks to end Sergio Mora’s “15 minutes of fame” and Mora looks to prove he is a legitimate fighter and put his Contender days behind him, solidifying his unbeaten record. An interesting battle in the making—a former child-soldier for a Ugandan Army, Kassim Ouma’s story is well known (and well respected) in the boxing community. Ouma, the former junior middleweight champion will take on The Contender’s first season winner and undefeated Sergio “The Latin Snake” Mora in what looks to be a fast-paced fight, with many punches thrown.
In fact, Ouma holds the Compubox record for most punches landed in a junior middleweight title fight with an amazing 502. Don’t let that stat fool you into thinking this will be a lopsided fight though; Mora made himself a household name by his fighting style of a high-volume of punches thrown. This looks to be a true slugfest. Jermain Taylor’s (who faced both fighters) take on the fight? Ouma lost to Taylor in his last fight and Taylor beat Mora in the 2000 Olympic trial finals. Also, Mora declined a fight on March 15, 2007 vs Taylor.
SOMETHING TO PROVE
IBF WORLD FEATHERWEIGHT TITLE – 12 ROUNDS
Robert GUERRERO
vs.
Martin HONORIO
21-1-1 (13 KO’s)
Record
24-3-1 (12 KO’s)
The Ghost
Nickname
El Brochas
Gilroy, CA
Hometown
Mexico City
Los Angeles, CA
Training Location
Mexico City
Joe Goossen
Trainer
–
Robert Guerrero is the two-time and current featherweight champion of the world. He will defend his title against a game Martin Honorio, who steps in on short notice for the chance to realize his dream of becoming a world champion. Guerrero wants to prove he can defend and keep the title that he traveled overseas to regain. Guererro also has a fight pattern of rebounding after setbacks. He is now trying to set a new course by staying on top of the game. Martin Honorio, coming off a 12 round split decision over Joe Morales, will look to prove that he is the bigger stronger fighter that can make “The Ghost” disappear for once and for all.
When Martin Honorio began to box, he didn’t have dreams of glory or world titles dancing in his head, he just wanted to learn how to defend himself from the daily beatings he endured in the crime-infested streets of Iztapalapa, Mexico. Since turning pro in 1999, Honorio has had a very exciting career and over time he has impressed insiders with his gritty style and his ability to lift his 5’10” frame (huge for a featherweight) from the canvas to win bouts.
THE COMEBACK
SUPER LIGHTWEIGHTS – 10 ROUNDS
Francisco BOJADO
Vs.
Steve FORBES
17-2 (11 KO’s)
Record
32-5 (9 KO’s)
Panchito
Nickname
2 Pound
Los Angeles, CA
Hometown
Las Vegas, NV
San Diego/Los Angeles, CA
Training Location
Detroit, MI
Rob Garcia
Trainer
Floyd Mayweather Sr./ Billy Hearns
Both fighters are at a momentous point in their careers. Francisco Bojado is coming back after a break from the sport and at the end of his “first” career that was failed by ring loss and weight gain. He is a rejuvenated, lesson-learned fighter and he knows this time around it’s different. Steve Forbes was known as a competitor even before his days as a “talent” on the Contender. Many felt his recent loss to NABF Champion Demetrius Hopkins was an unfair decision. He knows he has to win this one and re-establish himself as a legitimate contender. This fight will act as a catalyst, slinging the winner forward in their career and getting them back on track for a championship run. Whoever wins this fight will start on his way to a “comeback.”
The “Fireworks” pay-per-view telecast featuring Marquez vs. Juarez will take place at MGM Grand Garden Arena at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. Tickets for this unforgettable night of boxing, priced at $300, $200, $100 and $50, are on sale now at the MGM Grand Garden Arena box office. Tickets are sold at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (Smith’s Food and Drug Centers, Macy’s stores and Ritmo Latino). 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.
The show will be broadcast live on pay-per-view beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, with a suggested retail price of $44.95. The fight will be distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View and will be available to more than 61 million pay-per-view homes. HBO Pay-Per-View is the leading supplier of event programming to the pay-per-view industry. For your Marquez vs. Juarez fight week updates, log on to www.hbo.com.