By Rene Umanzor
Juan Manuel Marquez (55-6-1, 40KOs) has promised to put Mexico back on the map this Saturday night at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Marquez will go for his fifth divisional title when he challenges undefeated Timothy Bradley (30-0, 12KOs) for the WBO welterweight championship.
Marquez realizes that most of the Mexican boxing fans are looking for a big victory in the wake of Saul "Canelo" Alvarez and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. being dominated and losing their unbeaten records in their big pay-per-view outings.
"It motivates me to stand up for the Mexican sport, but at the same time this is a great responsibility to know that I have a whole country supporting me. It's a great motivation because the fan support will also play a role," Marquez said.
"I'm going [to the United States] with the idea of [representing] Mexican boxing and my country in style. I've done it before and I think October 12 will be no exception. I'm convinced that I can. Each person writes his own story and I'm focused on what I'm doing on October 12. I do not care what our fellow countrymen have done, I'm going to leave everything in the ring, I have prepared for that and I'm only thinking about my fight and what I have to do."
Rene Umanzor covers boxing in Mexico for The Record.
