Para kay Mexican world super featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez, ang inaabangang rematch kay Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao ay hindi niya prayoridad sa ngayon.
“I’m focused on November 3rd,” wika ng 34-anyos na si Marquez. ”The talks of rematches and the talk about other opponents doesn’t matter to me, because I’m 100 percent focused on Rocky Juarez. I know that the job at hand is a very tough one, and I know Rocky Juarez is a tough and dangerous opponent. That is what I’m focusing on now.”
Matapos dalawahan si dating world super featherweight titlist Marco Antonio Barrera sa kanilang rematch noong Oktubre 6 sa Las Vegas, Nevada, umingay na ang inaasahang salpukang muli nina Pacquiao at Marquez.
Ngunit bago ito mangyari ay idedepensa muna ni Marquez ang suot niyang World Boxing Council (WBC) super featherweight crown laban sa 27-anyos na si Juarez sa Nobyembre 4 (Manila time) sa Desert Diamond Casino sa Tucson, Arizona.
“I’m not thinking about Manny Pacquiao. I know he’s there, but I am not going to think about Manny Pacquiao because I’ve got November 3, that I need to fight Rocky Juarez, and that’s all that matters up to this point,” wika ni Marquez.
Dadalhin ni Marquez, itinakas ang isang draw sa kanilang upakan ni Pacquiao noong Mayo ng 2004 sa Las Vegas sa kabila ng tatlong beses na pagbagsak sa first round, ang 47-3-1 win-loss-draw rekord (35 KOs) kontra sa 27-3 (19 KOs) ni Juarez.
Ipinaramdam naman ni Oscar Dela Hoya ng Golden Boy Promotions ang Marquez-Pacquiao II sa Marso ng 2008 sa Mexico City.
“The fight is going to Mexico, Showtime is waiting to go to Mexico for television in Mexico,” ani Dela Hoya. ”They are doing all the effort it takes to bring that kind of fight into Mexico. Yes, it is going to happen. It will be the beginning of great shows happening in Mexico. It will be great.” (Russell Cadayona)