Marquez TKOs Casamayor for title

By Andy Samuelson

Saturday, Sept. 13, 2008 | 8:45 p.m.

The Mexican fight fans who filled the MGM Grand Garden Arena Saturday night, including New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, saw plenty of fireworks on this Mexican Independence Day weekend, but none bigger than a pair of right hands that were landed in the 11th round by their beloved Juan Manuel Marquez, who knocked out Joel Casamayor for the first time in his career to claim the Ring Magazine lightweight title.

"I wanted to fight for all the Mexican people and I did it," said a beaming Marquez. "He was the best lightweight in the world, but I was the more intelligent fighter tonight. I knew how to neutralize his left hand. I threw a lot of combinations because I knew I couldn't win with just one punch."

Marquez (49-4-1, 36 KOs), who moved up five pounds to the 135-pound weight class, was a bit timid out of the gates — giving Casamayor (36-4-1) the chance to take control. But by the fifth round, Marquez clearly was in the groove -- not only landing his patented counter punches, but also initiating his own offense.

Marquez opened up a cut in the fifth over the Cuban's right eye and bloodied the fighter's nose in the sixth. Just when Casamayor tried to claw back in the eighth and ninth rounds, Marquez answered with a dominant 10th.

But it was in the 11th that the Mexico City native made the crowd of 7,882 erupt. He knocked Casamayor down with a big right in the final minute of the round. The 37-year-old Cuban hopped to his feet, but clearly was a little dazed. He walked right back into a flurry of Marquez punches that pushed him against the ropes, then another right ended his night at the 2:55 mark.

"I knew he would get back up. He's a great fighter and we thought this fight would be real tough 'til the end," Marquez said. "But both of those were real hard punches that connected really well."

While Casamayor claimed Marquez just "caught me when I was in the air," the 1992 Olympic Gold Medalist later admitted that Marquez was the man of the night.

"I fought as a champion, but Marquez was the best this night," Casamayor said. "He knew how to control my punches, and I had a bad night.

"I'm very emotional right now."

So too was an excited Marquez, whose promoter Oscar De La Hoya said will take a break before the two of them sit down and figure out the next move. Obviously with De La Hoya fighting Manny Pacquiao in December, Marquez can't get the rematch he would like with the pound-for-pound champ who squeaked out a split decision against Marquez last spring and scored a draw against him in a 2004 championship bout.

“There’s no way (Top Rank promoter) Bob Arum and Pacquiao are going to fight him again,” said Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy promotions. “I don’t think Pacquiao wants anything to do with Juan Manuel Marquez any more. Juan Manuel Marquez will fight anyone. He’s never turned down anyone."

Forrest defeats Mora, recaptures crown

Vernon Forrest was emphatic that when he lost to Sergio Mora in June, it was just an off-night.

“The Viper” proved his point Saturday night with punches, defeating the former champion from the reality TV show "The Contender" by unanimous decision at MGM Grand Garden arena to recapture his WBC super welterweight title.

“My better was better than his better,” Forrest said. Judges scored the 12-round victory 119-108, 118-109 and 117-110.

“That’s the difference between a contender and a champion. I told you I just had a bad night," Forrest said of his June loss. "Anyone can have a bad night.”

On Saturday, that was Mora — who even before the fight struggled to make weight. Forrest started to take control in the second with his speed dictating the fight.

The two-division world champ (41-3, 29 KOs) opened a cut over Mora’s eye in the fifth and put him into the ropes, forcing him to his knee in the seventh.

After trying to take him out in the ninth, Forrest stayed in control with his jab the rest of the way.

“That is basic Boxing 101. The jab sets up everything,” an excited Forrest said, smiling and sporting his newly crowned championship belt over a gray sweatsuit as he watched the night’s main event.