Marquez and Alvarado looking to earn Pacquiao fight on Saturday

Marquez and Alvarado looking to earn Pacquiao fight on Saturday

Mark E. Ortega
Martinez News-Gazette
May 15, 2014


Saturday night, boxing returns to The Forum in Inglewood, Calif., as future first ballot Hall of Famer Juan Manuel Marquez squares off with Mike Alvarado in a welterweight bout that could very well determine the next opponent to Manny Pacquiao later this year.

Marquez got his start in the States at the old Forum, racking up victories as an obscure but talented technically sound Mexican fighter. It wasn’t until his controversial draw with Pacquiao a decade ago that Marquez began earning the respect of casual observers.

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Diaz continues comeback on Alvarado-Provodnikov undercard

Diaz continues comeback on Alvarado-Provodnikov undercard
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
October 18, 2013


After a tough two-year stretch that saw him suffer losses in three out of four bouts, former unified lightweight titleholder Juan Diaz took a break from boxing in 2010 following a unanimous decision rematch loss to Juan Manuel Marquez.

A return to the ring the following year was nothing more than a false start as Diaz pulled out of a proposed ESPN2 fight, announcing his retirement from the ring instead.

Diaz, who turned 30 just a few weeks ago, fights on Saturday on the untelevised undercard of the much-anticipated junior welterweight title clash between Mike Alvarado and Ruslan Provodnikov. His opponent is the unheralded Juan Santiago.

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Vargas outpoints Narh, Magdaleno stops Hidalgo in three

Vargas outpoints Narh, Magdaleno stops Hidalgo in three
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
October 12, 2013


On the eve of tonight’s highly anticipated welterweight showdown between Timothy Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez, a free show was held at the same venue that fight will take place at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

Earning a stay busy victory in the night's main event was welterweight Jessie Vargas, who won a hard fought ten round unanimous decision over Ray Narh.

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Bits & Pieces: Bradley's trainer weighs in on Marquez fight

Bits & Pieces: Bradley's trainer weighs in on Marquez fight
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
September 10, 2013


In attendance at Saturday’s card in Indio, Calif., was trainer Joel Diaz, who has a big fight coming up next month as he prepares Timothy Bradley to face Juan Manuel Marquez.

A lot of people are arguing that Bradley will have a hard time coming off the rough fight he had with Ruslan Provodnikov in March (recently voted best fight of the year so far in a RingTV poll). Diaz explained to RingTV why that fight was difficult and why it won’t affect him in October.

“One of the biggest reasons he got hurt in the last fight is that he blew up to 185 pounds due to the injuries to his feet [from the Manny Pacquiao fight last June],” said Diaz.

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Did HBO's 'Champions Dinner' snub Rigondeaux?

Did HBO's 'Champions Dinner' snub Rigondeaux?
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
August 8, 2013


This past weekend in Los Angeles, HBO Sports had a private dinner that they called the "Dinner of Champions."

Fighters in attendance were Adonis Stevenson, Ruslan Provodnikov, Mike Alvarado, Gennady Golovkin, Yuriorkis Gamboa, Nonito Donaire, Juan Manuel Marquez, Terence Crawford, and Mikey Garcia, based on a picture tweeted by Provodnikov.

When reached by e-mail for a list of those in attendance, HBO informed RingTV.com that it was a private dinner and that the guest list was not available.

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Rios, Garcia talk about Heredia team presence

Rios, Garcia talk about Heredia team presence
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
March 29, 2013

LAS VEGAS--One new wrinkle in Saturday's anticipated return bout between Brandon Rios and Mike Alvarado, and a recently developed storyline, is the news of the addition of strength and conditioning coach Angel “Memo” Heredia to the camp of Rios.

Heredia is most recently known for his work with Juan Manuel Marquez, transforming the veteran from a soft looking junior welterweight to the cut-to-shreds welterweight version that starched Manny Pacquiao abruptly last December. Prior to that, Heredia’s checkered past of helping athletes with performance enhancing drugs and then testifying against them made him a recognizable name.

Rios told RingTV.com after Thursday's press conference that he talked to Heredia in December, before Pacquiao-Marquez IV.

“I approached him at Pacquiao-Marquez and told him how Marquez looked good, healthy,” said Rios. “I told him we need to work together, but we didn't start working together until this rematch with Mike became official.”

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Marquez halts Pacquiao in instant classic

Marquez halts Pacquiao in instant classic
Mark E. Ortega
Martinez News-Gazette
December 10, 2012

LAS VEGAS--Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, the unbelievable run of future boxing Hall of Famer Manny Pacquiao came to a halt, as a devastating right hand from the Filipino Congressman's greatest rival, Juan Manuel Marquez, knocked him unconscious. The end came with one second left in the 6th round and was a shocking end considering the first three fights between the two went the distance.

The fight far exceeded the buzz that was generated beforehand--many boxing scribes had figured the bout would go much like the third one had--a tactical affair with a bit of action sprinkled throughout. Though both fighters were saying before the fight they were gunning for knockouts, many chalked that up to the kind of talk necessary to sell the pay-per-view purchasing public.

Marquez hoping fourth time the charm against Pacquiao

Marquez hoping fourth time the charm against Pacquiao

Mark E. Ortega
Martinez News-Gazette
December 6, 2012

LAS VEGAS--The fourth time is the charm.

That is the hope of Mexico's Juan Manuel Marquez at least, who at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Saturday meets fellow future Hall of Famer Manny Pacquiao for the fourth time in the last eight years, looking to score his first official victory over the Filipino icon during their rivalry.

Many would argue that Marquez has won at least 24 of the 36 rounds the two fighters have fought in their three fights. However, Pacquiao holds the edge in having put Marquez on the canvas four times, including three times in the opening round of their first fight back in May 2004.

Tales from the Tape: Castillo-Casamayor and The Ring 135-pound title

Tales from the Tape: Castillo-Casamayor and The Ring 135-pound title

Mark E. Ortega

Ultimateboxingresults.com

February 25, 2009 

With this Saturday being the highly anticipated clash between Juan Manuel Marquez and Juan Diaz for Marquez’ Ring Magazine 135-pound title (and now the WBA and WBO titles as well), I thought it would be an excellent chance to take a look back at a card featuring another fight for the 135-pound world title from a few years back between champion Jose Luis Castillo and Joel Casamayor. With Nate Campbell moving up to 140-pounds after failing to make weight a few weekends ago against Ali Funeka and Manny Pacquiao set to fight Ricky Hatton for the 140-pound world title, Marquez-Diaz has become a bout between the clearly two best fighters in the entire division. 

Similarly, when Floyd Mayweather, Jr. moved up from lightweight in 2004, it made Jose Luis Castillo’s bout with Juan Lazcano not only for the vacant WBC 135-pound title, but for the vacant Ring Magazine title as well as Castillo and Lazcano were recognized as the #1 and #2 fighters in the division. Castillo won a close decision in a memorable fight, making him the recognized #1 fighter in the division. At the same time, Diego Corrales and Joel Casamayor, fresh off their rematch that saw Corrales awarded with a split decision victory, were both making the move to 135-pounds instantly making it one of the hottest divisions in the sport. A string of title would go off one after another between the likes of Casamayor, Castillo, Corrales, Acelino Freitas, and Julio Diaz. Add to that the emergence of the young and exciting Juan Diaz and you had a lot of excitement being generated in one of the premiere weight classes.