GL:  Let's talk about the rematch between Rafael Marquez and Israel Vasquez, this Saturday night, held in Hidalgo, Texas. "I think it's going to be fight of the year two.  They're going to be fighting in an 18 foot ring.  It will be a tremendous fight, just like it was the first time.  I believe Rafael Marquez maybe knocks Vasquez out, maybe earlier this time." 

GL:  In the first fight, it was clear that Marquez's jab was the difference maker in the fight.  Do you expect Vasquez to make any adjustments to force Rafael do something else?

GS:  I think he'll try to stay busier, and move a lot more than he did in the first fight, and not leave his nose out there exposed.  Truthfully, I see this fight being the same as the first one. 

GL:  In your opinion, is there any way this fight sees the scorecards?

GS:  No.

GL:  I know you don't deal with negativity, but if Vasquez was to even the score, is there already a contractually obligating clause for another match.

GS:  No, there's not, but I have a tremendous working relationship with Scott Woodworth and with Sycuan.  I believe that Showtime would be right there for the re-match, for number three. 

GL:  What other GSP talent is going to featured on the show?

GS:   A lot of my fighters will be on the card.  It'll be an exciting card, you've got Lacierva, who's one of my fighters, going for the 122 pound title against Caballero.  I just think it's a tremendous card.  This is the card that defines the 122 pound weight division.

GL:  In your opinion, how far up can Rafael go in weight and still be able to achieve the kind of success he's attained thus far?

GS:  I believe he can go to 126 with no problem, eventually.

GL:  Okay, but obviously there's enough action at 122 to keep him there.

GS:  There's plenty of action, plenty of fighters that are at 122 pounds.  There's certainly the winner of Caballeros and Lacierva.  There's another fight there as well.  There's Jhonny Gonzalez, there's no limit at who can come up to 122, or currently who's at 122.  It's wide open.  We can do Ponce DeLeon, we'd love to fight Ponce De Leon.  I think that Marquez will eventually unify the division. 

GL:  Very strong words. 

GS:  The winner of Caballeros-Lacierva will have the WBA title.  So, I don't think there's any problem.  Ponce De Leon will fight Marquez.  I believe I just signed the best 118 pounder out there, in  Perez.  He's a real good kept secret, but I just signed him.  I had him on my card Saturday, and he's just absolutely terrific.


GL:  Darchinyan's loss to Donaire, I've never had the chance to ask you.  How surprised were you?  Where does Darchinyan go from here?  You have Donaire so when can we expect him back in the ring?

GS:  I was not surprised, I told everybody it was going to be a real fight.  I told everbody that Donaire was real.  In that aspect, I wasn't shocked.  Vic is still there, he's still a top, top fighter.  I'm going to bring him back, maybe against Hussein Hussein, maybe a rematch against Donaire.  There's a lot of guys.  I also represent Luis Maldonado and Jose Lopez, in the 112 pound, and they're going to fight down there.  From 108 or 112, all the way to 122, GSP rules the roost."

GL:  GSP is currently ruling the current 175 pound champion, Chad Dawson.  BoxingTalk recently speculated that we understand a fight between him and Antonio Tarver is in the works.  What can you tell us about that?

GS:  I've been trying to make that fight, I continue to try to make that fight.  I have a purse bid with Akinow?, so we'll see what happens.  There are guys out there, I would love to fight Roy Jones with Chad Dawson, I'd love to fight Bernard Hopkins with Chad.

GL:  Anybody, basically. 

GS:  So, anybody.  You know that last time they gave Paul Briggs the shot that he didn't get last time.  There are a lot of fights out there for Dawson, we're not missing any opponents at all, believe me.

GL:  What's new with EliteXC?

GS:  We had a great XC show on Friday night ? caught an upset victory against Berto Zumas?, he had a bad night.  So, there was only one, but Berto will come back, as ?? came back.  Our next XC show is in August, in September we're going out to Hawaii for an EliteXC show.  Good things are happening.

GL:  I love EliteXC, I'm still waiting for them to make me a proposition to be exclusively with them and me on BoxingTalk.  Closing thoughts for the fans.

GS:  A lot of great fights happening this year, which is great for boxing. Whether it's Showtime, or HBO, whether it's GSP or Top Rank, or GoldenBoy, it's good for boxing.  As long as we can bring the best fights, I thought Vernon Forrest put on a spectacular show on Boxing After Dark.  I think he showed that he's back and he's a 154 pound champion.  Shows like that only help boxing.  The fights that we're going to show this year, Cotto, Mosley, Dawson, bringing Darner back, Rafael Marquez, Juan Manuel Marquez, all good things for boxing.  For the fans, whether it's me, or another promoter, I don't diss anybody whether it's HBO or Showtime.  Whatever is good for boxing, is good for the fans.

 

M

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