The stakes couldn’t be any higher for Mexico’s best fighter, Juan Manuel Marquez. The 36-year-old, who is regarded as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, will be squaring off against 26-year-old Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz on July 31st, in a rematch of their 2009 Fight of the Year.

   For Marquez, a win over the young, determined Diaz would keep him in contention for his dream match, a third encounter against his nemesis Manny Pacquiao. The two fought to a controversial draw in 2004, and four years later Manny Pacquiao walked away with a razor-thin decision, Marquez has wanted nothing more than to settle the score with the Filipino superstar. A loss to Diaz would be devastating, and could signal the end of his 17-year illustrious career, a career that has seen Marquez win titles in three different weight classes.

   In a conference call held earlier this week, President of Golden Boy Promotions, Oscar De La Hoya, and CEO Richard Schaefer discussed Marquez’s future, as well as the possibility of a third fight between Marquez, and Pacquiao. “I pushed for the (Pacquiao-Marquez) rematch, and I was told that the timing was not right” Schaefer said. “I can assure you that the timing is never going to be right, I don’t think that (Bob) Arum is ever going to want a piece of Marquez. Marquez has Pacquiao’s number, that’s why I think that the fight is never going to happen.”

An end to Underachieving Undercards

   Richard Schaefer is calling the Marquez-Diaz II card the best that Golden Boy has ever had. Whether it is or not could be opened up for debate, but there is no denying that the card which includes fighters that have won nine world titles between them, and have amassed a collective record of 153-12 is impressive, and should give the fans their money’s worth. The card looks like this: 

   In a 12-round bout immediately before the main event, New York phenom Daniel “The Golden Child” Jacobs looks to capture his first world championship when he takes on unbeaten Russian Dmitry Pirog for the vacant WBO Middleweight crown. Former Three-time World Champion Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero and future Hall of Famer/former Four-time World Champion Joel “El Cepillo” Casamayor will square off in a 10-round junior welterweight bout that will put the winner in line for a huge fight in either the lightweight or junior welterweight divisions.

   Opening the pay-per-view telecast, former Two-time World Champion Jorge “El Niño De Oro” Linares will face perennial contender and 2000 Olympic Silver Medalist Rocky Juarez in a 10-round lightweight bout. “When we were putting together this event, we knew Marquez vs. Diaz II was a sure-fire Fight of the Year candidate,” said Oscar de la Hoya, president of Golden Boy Promotions. “Then we said, why not go one step further and pack this card with three more fights that have the potential to do what Marquez and Diaz did in 2009? This is without question the most stacked pay-per-view card we have ever put on and the fans will love every minute of it.”

EL GRAN CHISME:

Covina’s John Molina Jr. Headlines July 9th Edition of ESPN2 Friday Night Fights

   On Friday, July 9, John Molina, Jr. (20-1,16 KOs) will look to make his opponent pay the price as he forges forward to take the WBO/NABO Lightweight Championship from undefeated “Hammerin” Hank Lundy (18-0-1, 10 KOs) as the 12-round main event on the “Let Freedom Ring” card presented live on ESPN2 Friday Night Fights. NABO #9-rated Molina who is promoted by Goossen Tutor Promotions, rebounded from his sole loss last year against former WBO/NABO lightweight champion Martin Honorio, with two solid wins just one month apart from each other earlier this year.  Stated Molina, “I am excited to get back on television and I will make sure I stay there. You learn a lot more in defeat then in victory regardless of the circumstances and it is the worse feeling in the world.  I will do everything needed to do in the ring so I never feel like that again.”

Frank “Derecho” Espinoza Firma a Antonio Orozco

   El apoderado del año 2007, Frank “Derecho” Espinoza, ha firmado a su más reciente pugil, el estrella amateur Antonio Orozco de National City, CA. Orozco, quien vivió su infancia en Kansas, ha sido un profesional desde el 2008 y tiene un curriculum de 7-0, 5KOs.  En Kansas, Orozco amontono una carrera amateur espectacular con triunfos sobre el ex-Olimpico Javier Molina además de títulos nacionales y medallas de bronce y plata en los Jr. Olympics. “Este es el siguiente paso que estabamos buscando. Cuando él se acercó a nosotros, no tuvimos ninguna duda”, dijo Orozco, 22, del muy respetado Espinoza.  “Nosotros creemos que él es la persona adecuada a llevarnos a la cima. Estamos muy entusiasmados, ésta es la oportunidad que buscábamos. El sabe como levantar a sus peleadores en el tiempo correcto, aunque no tenemos ninguna prisa”. La admiracion es mutual ya que Espinoza cree que tiene un diamente para pulir en Orozco. “Los planes son en moverlo, él es joven y tenemos tiempo”, concluyó Espinoza.  “Lo vamos a mantener activo y buscar seguir ganando con la meta final de cumplir su sueño, de convertirse en campeón mundial”.

Combates Semi-Finales Del Torneo “Guante Azteca” Este Viernes en Tijuana

   El Viernes, 2 de Julio, Promociones Zanfer presenta el tercer capítulo de su torneo de la división de los gallos “Guante Azteca” con una velada de siete peleas en el Auditorio Municipal de Tijuana, MX.  José “Tigre” Cayetano (5-0, 1KO) y Luis “Chupacabras” Gómez (3-1, 2KOs), ambos de Tijuana, MX, van en el combate estelar a ocho rounds en una pelea semi-final del torneo. Apoyando las peleas del torneo, Manuel “Chango” Vargas (26-5-1, 11KOs) de Guadalajara, MX, intercambiará golpes con Ricardo “Rocky” Armenta (10-6-1, 4KOs) de Sonora, MX, a seis rounds mientras que el invicto Danny Escobar (5-0, 4KOs) se mide a ocho rounds contra Walberto Gaxiola (11-7, 5KOs), también de Sonora, MX.

   Boletos ya estan a la venta en la taquilla de Auditorio Municipal de Tijuana, Baja California, México, por 100 pesos ($8.33 U.S.) y 50 pesos ($4.16 U.S.). La función será a las 8:30pm y será televisada por Canal Aztecal regionalmente en México.