Santa Anita Park hosted legendary Top Rank promoter Bob Arum and two of his fighters, Juan Manuel Marquez and Timothy Bradley, on Saturday in a media work out where all three met with members of the horse racing and boxing media and also chatted with fans and signed autographs. Marquez is preparing for his upcoming world welterweight championship and third mega-fight against Manny Pacquiao scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 12, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. WBO Junior Welterweight champion Bradley will be taking on Joel Casamayor in a 12-round world title fight as part of the Pacquiao vs. Marquez III undercard.
Here’s what the principals had to say on Saturday:
JUAN MANUEL MARQUEZ:
“I flew in today from Mexico City and am happy to be here. I want to do all I can make to this the biggest selling pay-per-view fight ever.
Photo Credit : Chris Farina – Top Rank
“I’ve been training in the higher altitudes and I’m right on weight. We had 11 great weeks of training and now it’s waiting for fight week to begin.
“All the preparation has been done. Now it’s just about having the fight of my life to settle everything once and for all.”
BOB ARUM:
“Boxing and horse racing are both making a strong comeback; boxing more so but horse racing is not far behind. Some people say boxing is dead but there has never been this type of money given out to fighters.”
On recent reports of a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight on May 5, 2012:
“If you ask me if it will happen right now I would have to say no. We have to get past Marquez first and that’s where our focus is, but I don’t believe anything Mayweather and his team are saying right now about a date and location for the fight.”
TIMOTHY BRADLEY:
“I’ve never done anything like this. I mean, to put a boxing ring right next to a horse track? Who does this? It’s just a great way to promote our big week and it’s money well spent. It’s just great to see so many fans come out and support us.
Photo Credit : Chris Farina – Top Rank
“I’ll take Manny in this fight (against Marquez). Manny just has too much size on him. I think it’s going to be a great fight.”
On a potential fight with Pacquiao:
“I’d have to fight a perfect fight to beat him but I’ve seen weaknesses that I know I could expose and would win that fight.
“I’ll fight Maywather right now. I’ll fight Manny. I’ll fight Khan. I’ll fight whoever they put in my way. I don’t care who it is. Just bring them on.”
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