Rafael Marquez, who defends his IBF bantamweight title against undefeated No. 1 contender Silence Mabuza in Saturday's excellent co-feature on SHOWTIME, shadow boxes during a workout Wednesday at Caesars Tahoe. In what figures to be an explosive main event Saturday on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on west coast), exciting Jeff Lacy puts his IBF super middleweight title and unbeaten record on the line against IBF No. 5 contender Scott Pemberton.
Marquez Quotes: "This is going to be a great fight and I am looking forward to it. I have fought guys with Mabuza's style before. He is a good boxer, but I know I will catch up with him eventually
"I have been training in the mountains in Mexico City at 15,000 feet so I am not concerned at all about the altitude here in Lake Tahoe.
"I feel 98 percent ready. By Saturday, I will be 100 percent.
"I think people are getting to slowly know me more and more. Recognition doesn't come easily, but I feel that as long as I do my job in the ring -- and that is all I can do -- more and more people will hear about me.
"Winning is the most important thing but, of course, I look forward to getting more respect."
