By Mark Vester

Former champion Juan Manuel Marquez has rejected the use of veteran ref Joe Cortez for the upcoming fight with Juan Diaz, scheduled for February 28 in Houston, Texas. Marquez appears to have been concerned with the way Cortez officiated several fights that involved Mexican opponents - with a lot of focus on the terrible call with Humberto Soto being disqualified in last year's bout against Francisco Lorenzo. Soto was beating the hell out of Lorenzo, when Cortez issued a DQ call for Soto hitting the fighter as he was down, but a replay showed that no punch ever hit Lorenzo as he was on the mat.

"He is like the enemy of Mexican boxers. I asked for him not to appear in the ring [for the Diaz] fight and they assured me that he won't," Marquez told ESTO. 

Marquez expects a tough fight against Diaz. He predicts nothing short of a solid win to set up more big fights in the future. He told the paper that he is ready for any fight plan that Diaz decides to execute.

"I am going to beat Diaz in this fight in Texas. There is a good number of opponents for big fights. This is one of those big fights, since Diaz was recently the lightweight champion of the WBO, WBA and IBF," Marquez said.

"Diaz is a boxer with a good technique and throws a lot of punches.  I am going to fight according to what he does.  If he chooses to run, I am going to pursue him.  If he wants to attack, that is so much better, because I prefer that type of opponent.  I am prepared for everything.  I have seen him fight and he is very good boxer.  We are going to give a good fight for the fans."

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