By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse
LAS VEGAS -- FanHouse was on hand for the post-fight press conference at the Mandalay Bay Hotel when WBO and WBA lightweight (135 pounds) champion Juan Manuel Marquez addressed members of the media following his HBO pay per view televised 12-round unanimous decision over Juan Diaz.
The 36-year-old Marquez (51-5-1, 37 knockouts), who is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, defeated the 26-year-old Diaz (35-4, 17 KOs) for the second time, adding to his February, 2009, come-from-behind, ninth-round knockout victory that was named Fight of the Year.
His right eye swollen shut from the action, Marquez, who turns 37 on Aug. 23, told the press that he would next like to have a third fight with seven-division titlist and WBO welterweight (147 pounds) champ Manny Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KOs), with whom he has drawn and lost a disputed decision.
Marquez also said that he would consider moving up to 140 pounds in an attempt to earn a fourth crown in as many divisions, possibly against WBA junior welterweight king Amir Khan (23-1, 17 KOs) an acheivement that would make him the first Mexican fighter to do so. Marquez said that he might also entertain a defense against No. 1 mandatory challenger, Michael Katsidis (27-2, 22 KOs) of Australia, who is the WBO's interim belt-holder.
Juan Manuel Marquez post-fight:
On how he felt about the fight in general.
I feel great about the fight. Obviously, Juan Diaz came in with a different strategy. He came in with a different strategy and I was prepared. I was prepared for anything. Obviously the fans enjoyed the fight. But I was prepared for that different strategy that Juan Diaz brought to the table, and obviously, I was victorious.
On what the difference was between the first fight and the second fight.
The first fight, Juan Diaz came in straight forward and pressed the fight. He was aggressive. But obviously in this one, Juan Diaz was thinking more. He was trying to box more. He changed up his strategy, so the fight was a bit more technical. Still, I was happy with my performance.
On Juan Diaz's valiant performance.
Obviously, Juan Diaz is a great fighter and like I said, he changed his strategy. He was about to go down two or three times. But he changed his strategy. He's a great fighter. I'll take nothing away from him and say nothing bad about him. He's a great fighter. But we prepared ourselves to face a tough Juan Diaz.
On the message that he believes that he sent by winning against a fighter who is 10 years younger than he is.
The message that I sent is that age doesn't matter. Age does not matter. There was a 10-year difference. And when you prepare yourself the way that I do, then age doesn't matter. It was a tough fight, obviously, especially after getting poked in the eye and with Juan Diaz changing his style.
But age doesn't matter, and I'm going to continue to fight and to keep pressing on and doing my best. So the message tonight was that age does not matter.
On when during the fight that he was thumbed in his right eye, which was completely swollen shut after the fight.
In the fourth and eight round I felt that thumb go into my eye. In the fourth and eighth round, I felt the sting of the thumb going into my eye.
On the possibility of a Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez III fight.
I'm right here. I'm right here. There's no hiding. There's no running. I'm right here. I'm waiting for him, you know? Our first fight, everybody saw what happened. And I'm right here. That's what boxing wants.
That's what boxing needs, and he needs to face a fighter that can beat him. I'm right here waiting for him, so whenever he's ready to knock on my door, you know, I'll be right here.
WBO interim champion Michael Katsidis, the mandatory challenger for Juan Manuel Marquez, stood up and asked if Marquez would be interested in defending the title against him.
Obviously, look, it's up to my promoter. Obviously, look, my priority right now is and always has been Manny Pacquiao. There's no ifs ands or buts -- I want to fight Manny Pacquiao. But I might have to defend my titles, and we have to respect that Michael Katsidis is the No. 1 mandatory challenger to fight for my titles.
So, obviously, if the Manny Pacquiao fight doesn't happen, then I have to defend my titles with honor and that's what I'll do. I just want to be involved in the best fights possible. That's the way that it's going to happen.
On what weight at which he would want to rematch Manny Pacquiao.
I'll fight Manny Pacquiao between 140 pounds and 142 pounds, 143, that's where I'll fight Pacquiao. No problem. I went all the way up to 147 and fought Floyd Mayweather. I'll tell you one thing, I went all the way up to 147 to fight the best fighter on the planet.
I hung in there for 12 rounds and fought with heart like I always do. If I want to fight Manny Pacquiao, fight me at a catch weight of between 140 or 143 with no problem.
On whether or not he will pursue a fourth world title in as many weight classes against WBA junior welterweight (140 pounds) champion Amir Khan if a Manny Pacquiao fight doesn't materialize.
There are a lot of possibilities that I have in front of me. Now, the doors are wide open. One of the challenges also is to move up to 140 and to be the first Mexican in boxing history to win titles in four different divisions. Four titles in four different divisions.
That's possible, but I have to look at my mandatory defenses, and I have to look at the Manny Pacquiao situation. I have to look at the fact that I want to make history by being the first Mexican champion in four different divisions.
But right now, first things first, I want to take it easy and put some ice on my face and enjoy the victory.
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
