Three time world champion and Mexican ring legend Juan Manuel Marquez will be returning to the ring next weekend, when he takes on Serhiy Fedchenko in Mexico City in a split site PPV that will also feature Brandon Rios take on Richard Abril. It has been sometime since we have seen Marquez, who lost a controversial decision to Manny Pacquiao last November.
The lineal lightweight champion talks about contemplating retirement, Manny Pacquiao, fighting Brandon Rios and his upcoming April 14th bout.
FHTV: How does it feel to fight back in Mexico City Juan?
JMM: I feel very happy because I fought for 18 years and now I am finally fighting again in México City. I have been training very hard because everyone knows that Fedchenko is a very good fighter.
FHTV: You are still going strong at 38, why?
JMM: The training and the conditioning are very important. I feel very well at 38-years-old. I like to fight smart. I like everything about my sport.
FHTV: How hard was it for you to lose that decision to Manny and it seems now you have changed your mind about retiring, why?
JMM: I trained very hard for 18 years. When I fight with Manny, I train very different. I felt great because I changed my training for him. Everybody knows I was looking for the rematch with Manny but I don’t know what happened. The most important thing is I like to fight and I will fight on April 14 and I am very happy about that but I don’t know what happened with the rematch.
FHTV: Were you dead serious about retiring?
JMM: I considered retiring because everybody knows I want to fight Manny again and that I won the last fight and I feel very angry about that decision.
FHTV: What are you thoughts about a possible fight with Brandon Rios?
JMM: The person that I fight next…the most important thing about that person is that he is in the 140’s, above 140.
FHTV: You have accomplished so much, why continue to fight?
JMM: The main reason for me to continue is that I want a rematch with Manny and that is the main factor for me to come back. I have the fight on April 14, but I train very hard again. I think I won the last fight and I am looking for the rematch.
FHTV: Talk to us about the continuing training with Angel Heredia?
JMM: I felt very healthy for the [Pacquiao III] fight. He is great for conditioning and training. I felt very happy for the Pacquiao fight because I felt great and I felt great because of him. Now I am training with him again and I am very happy again.
FHTV: What will it are like to fight for the first time since 1994 in México City in a new arena in your hometown?
JMM: I feel very happy because I get to give back to my country and people want to see this fight. I started my career here in México City with my first eight fights. Then I fought in Los Angeles and in many other places. Now I am back in México and I have a great opponent.
FHTV: Talk to us about your opponent?
JMM: Fedchenko has a difficult style. I will try to do my job in the ring because Fedchenko is a dangerous fighter. I have trained very hard for this fight. I train very hard because in the ring, anything can happen. Fedchenko is coming to México wanting to win this fight.
FHTV: Any last thoughts Juan?
JMM: I am looking forward to putting on a great show in México City and I invite everyone to buy the show because Fedchenko is a tough fighter and it is another tough fight for me.
