GL:  Boxingtalk here with former IBF junior middleweight titlist, Raul "El Diamante" Marquez.  Tell us about it.  What's the latest and greatest with you, and when can we expect to see you back in the ring? "Well, hopefully soon.  I'm with Warriors Boxing, and it's like I was telling you before, I'm looking for another stay busy fight.  Actually, I'm not sure if I want to take another stay busy fight.  I'm looking for a bigger fight, that's going to mean something, to catapult me into an even bigger fighter.  I've had five fights in the bag since I lost to Jermain Taylor.  I feel that I have matured more into the middleweight division.  When I fought Jermain, I was a 154 pounder, I was trying to make some fights happen for me at 154.  For some reason, I'm not naming any names, but guys didn't want to fight me.  The opportunity came to fight Jermain at 160."

GL:  Since then, you've had five fights.  You've got your little winning streak going.

RM:  With guys with decent records, they don't have losing records.  I know they are not King Kong, but they are the same type of guy that everybody fights, before they get to a big fight.  Now, I'm ready to fight for a world title.  I'm an ex-Olympian, an ex-world champion, I've got five wins under my belt.

GL:  Is there anybody, in particular, that you have your sights set on?

RM:  I would love to fight Kelly Pavlik, in Youngstown, Ohio.  He's a great fighter, he did a great job with Jermain.  I know I lost to Jermain, I feel that I was more of a junior middleweight.  I feel that I'm stronger, I train everyday, it's like I'm brand new again.  I feel younger.  I want a shot at Kelly Pavlik.  Jermain never banged me up, like he banged on Kelly.  He had him out in the 2nd round.  I went 9 rounds with Jermain, and he beat me, but he didn't give me a beating like he gave Kelly.  Not taking anything away from Kelly Pavlik, he survived the 2nd round and came back strong.  I would love a shot at Kelly Pavlic, and I'm willing to go to Youngstown, Ohio to get it.  I'll fight himm there.

GL:  Obviously, Raul, every fighter with pride wants to make the biggest and best fight out there.  I think most people would agree with me that, right now, Kelly Pavlic is an unrealistic chioce for your next fight.  Since the fight with Taylor, you've got your winning streak going, but for the networks, and the other movers and shakers, to make this fight do you think you'll have to fight someone in the top 10, a world rated contender, who people aren't going to look at as such a winnable fight as the last several that you've had?  Do you feel that you need to beat somebdy ranked in order to have a title shot, before you get another opportunity like that?

RM:  Not neccessarily, but if I have to, I will.  I've directed my promoter to go make fights with the guys that people are talking about.  John Duddy, ? Lorenzo, they didn't want to fight me.  They don't want to fight, I don't know what they're waiting on.  I'm ranked #8 by the WBC, I'm #5 for the WBA.  We tried to make fights with both these guys, and they didn't want to make them.  That's just boxing, you know.  It's for me to deal with, but if I do get that fight with someone to prove myself, I'm willing to do that.

GL:  I spoke with undefeated middleweight Tarvis Simms.  He told me that he would love to fight Raul Mauquez.  Do you know anything about Simms?

RM:  I don't know anything about Tarvis Simms.  We're looking at the fighters like John Duddy.  They're talking about Lorenzo, I don't know who he is.  I've heard of his brother, he's the WBA champion.  I've never heard of Tarvis. 

GL:  He's undefeated and he's ranked, so he would definitely fit the bill. 

RM:  If my promoter thinks that it would be a makable fight for me, that means something, then we can talk about it.  This is also a business, so we've got to create that way too. 

GL:  Do you plan on fighting again before the end of the year?  Whether it's a tune-up or not?

RM:  Absolutely, I'm trying to get a fight in December.  Like you said, whether it's a tune-up or not.  Another stay-busy fight, to keep busy.  If not, I'm stll in the gym every day.  I keep myself in shape.  A veteran like me, I've already had five fights.  I fought two fight this year, and I want something big.  The elite fighters, the guys like the Mayweathers, where they fight once a year.  Once every three years.  If I fight in six months from now, I'll be fighting to keep myself in shape. 

GL:  Until we have a more formal update, we will cut this short for now.  Give us some closing thoughts for the fans.

RM:  It's always good to be here on BoxingTalk, with the man that knows it all, at the Bible of Boxing, Greg Leon.  Hopefully, through your website, like it happened in the past.  BoxingTalk helped me make the Mosley fight, and helped me make the Taylor fight.

GL:  Boxingtalk did make the Mosley fight, and I'm still waiting for it's repairations for that fight.  That's okay, when Raul Marquez becomes champion, he'll buy me a car.

RM:  We'll talk about that.

M

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