Finally after several postponements and
changes in venue, Hernan “Tyson” Marquez meets Brian “The
Hawaiian Punch” Viloria in
a WBA/WBO flyweight title unification fight. The much anticipated fight (I had
hoped to attend this fight on a recent visit to America when the fight was
originally scheduled for 29th September,
even extending my stay accordingly) now takes place at the L.A. Sports Arena (formerly the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, the first event at the
celebrated arena was actually in 1959 when Jose Becerra stopped Alphonse Halimi
for the World Bantamweight Championship). It marks the first time since 1965 (when Salvatore Burruni reigned as the WBC/WBA champion) that
so much has been on the line – not to mention their places - in flyweight
history. Both fighters are desperate to win when they finally meet on 17
November. The 24-year-old Marquez hasn’t had the busiest of years, taking
on a pair non-title bouts to keep him sharp leading him into the fight. The
Mexican is currently 34-2 (25) and ranked at number one at 112 pounds by The Ring magazine.
Anson Wainwright - You meet Brian Viloria in a flyweight title
unification. What are your thoughts on this fight?
Hernan Marquez - Win, win, always
win and demonstrate I'm the best at 112 pounds.
AW – This fight has been postponed several times. Has this
been a
problem to you?
HM – No, it wasn't such a big deal. It was a little bit of destruction but the
truth of it is, I planned to fight. I took a bit of time off and went to
Mexico. I did my running in peace and quiet. It was a bit of a delay but that's
how it goes.
AW - You have seen Viloria fight before. What
do you see when you watch him, his strengths and weaknesses?
HM - He really only has one combination, a left hook followed by a right
cross, and that's really all he has. That's about the only thing I'm afraid of.
He always slows down after the sixth and seventh round and that's when I have
to pressure him because he lacks heart to some degree.
AW - Could you tell us about your training
for this fight? Where have you trained, how long and what are some of the
things you have done?
HM – [Marquez’s trainer] Robert Garcia, for having trained Viloria for a
few fights, knows him extremely well, knows what his points of weakness are.
I'm positive I'm going to win because I'll know him well when we fight.
AW - Without looking past this fight, are
you looking at moving up to super flyweight after the fight?
HM - My whole focus, everything that I care about right now, is Viloria. If I
beat Viloria, I want to unify the titles. I want three titles if not four. I
want to unify the whole division.
AW - Though you have fought twice this year,
they have been non-title fights. Has this year been tough for you not being
able to defend your WBA title?
HM - I'm OK; I'm fine. I didn't have the opportunity I'd have liked to have defended
the title. I'm tranquil; I'm OK and just happy to be fighting now.
AW - You were born and still live in
Empalme. Could you tell us about your early years growing up? Were things tough
for you and your family?
HM – Very, very difficult. I didn't know my dad until I was 16, 17 years old. I was raised by my
mother and my grandmother. I was working from the time I was 10 or 11; I was
working in bakeries mostly. It was very difficult but now I have become world
champion. Things are getting a little bit better.
AW - What are your thoughts on the other
flyweight champions like the WBC’s Toshiyuki Igarashi and the IBF’s Moruti
Mthalane?
HM - I don't know either of them very well. I've definitely never seen the WBC
titlist, the IBF titlist only a few times. Right now, the most important thing is
Brian Viloria. If I can beat him, the other titles will come much more easily.
AW - Tell us about your life away from
boxing, if you could mention your family, hobbies and interests.
HM - I'm a father of three; I have three boys. I go to the beach. If I go on
vacation for 15 days, 13 of them are at the beach; it's always the beach. I
don't live with my grandmother anymore but I go visit her almost every day. I
love to walk around the neighborhood, see friends I've had my whole life. I
play soccer; I also play baseball. I'm just a normal guy.
AW - Though you're still young, do you have
any plans on what you may do when you retire from boxing? Are you going to
school? Do you have any qualifications, own a business or have plans to buy one?
HM - I'm very, very lucky. I have my house, land, my own property. I've just
got a gym I'm opening in Hermosillo. I'm only 24; I'm thinking maybe by the
time I'm 30, I'll retire. I'll have my own gym, my own business and maybe I'll
be a commentator.
AW - In closing do you have a message for
Viloria?
HM - I hope you prepare very well because I'm coming to take your title
in a war or die in the ring.
Special thanks to my good friend, Bart
Barry, who translated this interview.
