Marquez Brothers Back in the Boxing Ring

More than 5 years have elapsed since one of the most successful brother combinations in boxing history fought on the same card and the sportsbooks are posting odds for the spectators. That family inconvenience will change on Aug. 5 when featherweight Juan Manuel Marquez and bantamweight Rafael Marquez headline the "Double Trouble" card at MontBleu Resort Casino and Spa's outdoor arena.

"It is exciting and we are proud for the family, friends and everybody," said International Boxing Federation champion Rafael Marquez of Mexico City during a Showtime teleconference on Tuesday.

The brothers came to the boxing forefront in 2003 when Juan and Rafael each captured IBF titles within a two-week span. In the process they became the fourth Mexican brother combination to claim world championships. The last time the brothers were on the same card, the venue wasn't far away as both scored knockouts on April 1, 2001, in Reno.

For the second time in nine months, Rafael (35-3, 31 KOs) and Silence Mabuza (19-1, 15 KOs) will trade punches in Stateline. Both sides differ in opinion in what transpired the last time, when ring doctor Stephen Brown stopped the fight in the fourth round due to a pair of cuts to Mabuza's face.

"That fight should have been a technical draw," said Nick Durandt, Mabuza's trainer and manager. "When the ref was interviewed in the ring after the fight, and he looked at the monitor and the guy said to him, "How do you see the fight now?" he said, "I messed up. It was a headbutt."

Rafael, who holds the IBO bantamweight title as well, was confused why the Johannesburg, South Africa pugilist desired a rematch.

"Maybe he thought that he won that fight or he was winning that fight. I don't know," Rafael said. "But we are preparing to do a good show on Aug. 5, so the boxing fans are going to love it."

July 28, 2006
Posted By Larry Rutherford
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