Marquez expects tough ‘tune-up’ fight this Sunday

THREE-division world champion Juan Manuel Marquez (52W (38 KOs)-5L-1D) of Mexico is expecting some rough sailing this Sunday when he battles Likar Ramos (24W, 18 KOs, 3L) of Colombia at the Plaza de Toros in Cancun, Mexico.

Marquez is headed for a third fight with WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao on Nov. 12. Ramos is a southpaw like Pacquiao and Marquez hopes the fight could serve him good as he prepares for the anticipated trilogy.

But Marquez is not looking past Ramos. In an article posted on the Spanish boxing website notifight.com, Marquez said that he must win against Ramos before he starts thinking about the fight with Pacquiao.

“I came very well prepared and we are not complacent. Ramos is a tough opponent and we take every challenge seriously,” he said.

Ramos, a former WBA interim superfeatherweight world titlist, has stopped his last three opponents aside from being 12 years younger than the 37-year-old Marquez. He won an interim title in 2009 against Angel Granados by unanimous decision in Colombia but lost the belt to Jorge Solis by 7th round knockout in his first defense.

Marquez wrapped up his training last Tuesday with his Hall of Fame trainer Nacho Beristain at the Romanza Gym of Mexico City. His first two fights with Pacquiao were both close and controversial. In 2004, when they were both featherweights, Marquez was knocked down thrice in the first round but the fight ended in a split draw after the Mexican outboxed Pacquiao the rest of the way. In 2008, Pacquiao took Marquez’ WBC superfeatherweight world title by a razor-thin split decision. The knockdown scored by Pacquiao in round three was the deciding factor but Marquez insists that he won both fights.

The fight will be streamed live on the internet from Cancun, Mexico via www.toprank.tv beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and will also be shown on Philippine TV at ABC 5 and AKTV.  Correspondent Rene Bonsubre Jr.