After reading the interview that Boxingtalk conducted with Sergio “The Latin Snake" Mora, former IBF light middleweight titlist Raul Marquez couldn't help himself.  He contacted Boxingtalk and had one clear and defining message that he wanted to send: “bring on The Latin Worm.”  Marquez pulls no punches in this interview, he makes it abundantly clear that he wants Sergio Mora in the ring, and he wants him ASAP.
 
BT – What's up champ?

RM – Well I am training hard, and working hard as always.  I read your interview with Sergio Mora, and he said that he wants to fight a legitimate contender, someone who's ranked. Well, here I am.  This is the second time that I came on Boxingtalk and challenged him.  The first time I did it was awhile ago.  I haven't heard nothing back.  I feel that this time the pressure is on him.   He just fought a guy that lost his last two fights [Elvin Ayala].  I think he got a gift draw.  I thought that he lost that fight.  He needs to fight a guy like me, look at his fellow teammates, Manfredo Jr. fought Calzaghe, Alfonso Gomez fought Gatti and Tackie, so he needs to fight someone like me. Now it's time for The Latin Worm to step up and fight me.  I am ranked number 5 by the WBA, and number 8 by the WBC, I am an ex-Olympian, and I am a former world champion.  Mora needs to stop running into his little hole and hiding.  His people need to stop running away from me.  I won my last 5 fights, and I beat guys that are better than those that he's been fighting.  I hope Sergio steps up and lives up to this challenge.  I think Raul Marquez vs Sergio Mora would be a great co-main event for Taylor vs Pavlik [rematch].

BT – If a fight between you and Mora did happen, how do you see that match up?

RM – I think it would be an exciting fight.  Mora is a great athlete, he's fast, and he has good skills.  I come to fight, I am a veteran, and I have fought the best.  I am 40-3 with 29 knockouts.  I fought Jermain Taylor, when I fought him he wasn't willing to exchange with me like he did with Pavlik.  I am the right test for Sergio Mora, they are talking about Mora vs Pavlik?  He looked like crap in his last fight, what are these people thinking?  What has Mora done to deserve a fight with Pavlik, or Taylor?  Same thing goes for John Duddy, what has Duddy done to deserve a shot at Pavlik?

BT -  Isn't it fair to say that Mora being shelved for over a year had a little something to do with his last performance?

RM – Well, we will see when he fights me.  Perhaps it did, but we'll see.  His people knows who my promoter is, Warriors Boxing.  Guys like Mayweather, De La Hoya, and Hopkins fight once a year and they don't look rusty.  I don't know if that had a lot to do with it.

BT – Your last five fights all ended up with you knocking your opponent out.

RM – I fought [Elco] Garcia, he fought Vernon Forrest a real good fight.  I knocked him out with a body shot in 6 rounds.  I fight guys that come to win!

BT – Why do you think it's been so long for you to get another title shot?

RM – Guys don't want to fight me.  We tried to fight Felix Strum, but they don't take the challenge.  There has been so much talk about Mora and Taylor, Mora and Pavlik, and the boxing experts saw him (Mora) as someone that was a contender.  But now with his performance against Ayala?  I think I would be the right test for him, and if he is really the guy that they are making him out to be, he needs to get in there against me.  Mora should show the world that he's a real contender, and not a pretender.

BT – Why does it makes sense for Mora to take you up on your challenge?

RM – I think it's great for boxing.  I am in boxing to be the best, I have only lost 3 fights in my whole career.  I was an Olympian, and one of the best amateurs in the world.  We are in boxing to be the best, so what is Mora waiting for?  The fight is good for both of us, the winner moves on, and the loser has to go back to the drawing board.  If I lost against Mora, I would really think about retiring from boxing.  I hope that they don't ignore me again, I hope I hear something back from Mora's people.

BT – Closing thoughts?

RM – I am hungrier than ever, I am better than ever, and I am older and wiser.  I hope Mora steps up to this challenge.  Always good to be on Boxingtalk, you guys are the bible of boxing.  It's good to be back on with you guys again.

M

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