By Jhonny Gonzalez
Juan Manuel Marquez, the world lightweight champion of WBA/WBO is finished with his training camp in Mexico and is now in Los Angeles to make his final training runs before a he faces Juan Diaz in a rematch of last year's Fight of The Year bout, won by Marquez in nine rounds by knockout. Marquez-Diaz takes place this Saturday at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
Marquez will take part in several media functions and do light training until Wednesday. He held his last sparring session on Saturday and doesn't plan to have any more. Last September, he was dominated by Floyd Mayweather Jr. after moving up by two weight divisions to take the challenge.
"I have no problem with making the lightweight limit. I hope to come in half a pound under the limit. At this weight I feel fast and strong. I expect a victory for Mexico and I plan to display a great performance for the fans. The [rematch] might even be better than the first [fight]. I think it's going to end in a knockout," said Marquez.
After Diaz, Marquez is the leadining man to fight WBA junior welterweight champion Amir Khan on Decemeber 11 on HBO. Marquez says he is very focused on the Diaz but would love the opportunity to move up in weight to get a chance to become the first Mexican boxer to win four titles in four weight divisions.
"That fight [against Khan] has been mentioned. My focus right now is fully on Diaz, but four titles is something that I want to accomplish. I want to become the first Mexican to win four titles [in four weight divisions] and that's very important to me. We will sit down and discuss [Khan] after my next fight. Right now I have to defend my titles against Diaz," Marquez said.
