Mexican ring warrior Juan Manuel Marquez said his hunger to win more world titles remains the same as ever despite having already won a bevy of belts in four different divisions.
On October 12, the man called as the 'Dinamita' will once again climb into the ring with a goal of becoming the first Mexican to win world titles in five different weight classes.
It's much easier said than done, though, especially if he's going to face undefeated American boxer and current WBO welterweight kingpin Timothy Bradley at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Marquez, who will turn 40 years old this coming August, will be fighting his 63rd career fight since he turned professional way back in 1993.
Marquez has already captured world titles at junior welterweight, lightweight, junior lightweight, and featherweight division, but his thirst for more belts prompted him to reassess his retirement plans and eventually take another crack at a possible fifth world title against the man, who also scored a victory against his bitter rival.
Coming off a sensational sixth-round TKO win over Manny Pacquiao in December, Marquez could have accepted a more lucrative deal if he pursued for a fifth fight with the Filipino boxing champion. But Marquez is apparently contented with the outcome of his rivalry with Pacquiao and thinks it's time for him to move on.
"We both beat Pacquiao, and now we are going to get this settled between Bradley and myself," Marquez told ESPN during Thursday's news conference at the Beverly Hills Hotel in California. "Bradley is good fighter. He fights to win. I know what we are both in for on Oct. 12."
Meanwhile, Bradley's immaculate 30-0 record remains intact after 'barely' winning his last two bouts against Pacquiao and the hard-hitting Ruslan Provodnikov. Bradley took the WBO title with a controversial split decision win over Pacquiao a year ago and then survived Provodnikov's upset bid in a brutal showdown last March.
Marquez, on the other hand, hasn't fought anyone since his career-defining win over Pacquiao. Yet, that doesn't mean the Mexican would allow this opportunity slip away.
"I want this fight more than he does," Marquez said of Bradley, according to ESPN, "I want to make history. All of the fans in the arena on Oct. 12 will be on my side."
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