Triumphant Marquez wants another shot at Pacman
(08-01 13:52)
Juan Manuel Marquez, pictured, retained his WBA and WBO lightweight titles with a unanimous decision victory over American Juan Diaz before demanding a third fight with Manny Pacquiao.
The Mexican drew with the Filipino in 2004 and suffered a narrow defeat four years later but will hope to come away with a victory if they meet for a third time.
"The trilogy with Pacquiao is what I want,'' said Marquez, 51-5-1, (37 KOs). "Everybody wants to see it. It's good for all fight fans, for the Mexicans, the Filipinos. That's the most important fight for me now.''
The fight with Diaz was a rematch of a February 2009 contest, in which Diaz set the pace early before Marquez took control and scored a knock-out in the eighth round.
There were no knockdowns this time, but on several occasions Marquez appeared to hurt Diaz with sharp combinations. He landed more than Diaz in every one of the 12 rounds and in total scored with 288 punches, 133 more than his opponent.
Diaz, 35-4 (17 KOs) said he had intended to set a more measured pace than in the previous encounter, but that Marquez had thwarted his plans.
"I think I fought a good fight. We were trading punches. I didn't want to stand in front of him. The game plan was to get in there, throw combinations, step around him and get out,'' he said.
"But it was tough and I got hit with some good punches. He's a great fighter.''
REUTERS
|
|
|
|
