Las Vegas means opportunity for champion fighters this weekend

Victor Cayo does not understand English.

So when American reporters ask Cayo — a super lightweight from the Dominican Republic — a question, he counts on his translator to make sense of it. This changes if you mention two words — "Las Vegas."

Cayo's eyes light up, he straightens his posture in his seat and smiles before anyone can explain exactly what he's being asked.

"It's like a dream come true," Cayo said through a translator. "When you're a kid, you watch the fighters and the big fights here in Las Vegas and you want to be there someday."

Cayo (24-0) will make his debut in the boxing capital of the world Saturday night when he faces WBA interim super lightweight champion Marcos Maidana (27-1) at The Joint at the Hard Rock in the main event of HBO's Boxing After Dark.

Maidana, an Argentina native, also will be making his first appearance in Las Vegas. Consider him equally as excited.

"At this stage, every fight is crucial," Maidana said through a translator. "Winning here in Las Vegas and beating a guy like this, I feel would bring better opportunities after the fight."

Sports books consider Maidana a major favorite at a price of 5.5-to-1. He has been a rising star in the boxing world since knocking out Victor Ortiz in the sixth round of a June 2009 fight to earn his WBA title.

But Cayo was at that fight in Los Angeles. Cayo said he spotted vulnerabilities in Maidana.

"I can't speak for Victor, he was in the ring and got hurt pretty bad," Cayo said through a translator. "But we saw some flaws. At the end of the fight, I said, 'I can beat this guy.'"

Saturday night's co-main event also is a title fight. South Africa's Ali Funeka (30-2-3) will take on the Dominican Republic's Joan Guzman (29-0-1) for the vacant IBF lightweight belt.

It's a rematch of a November fight in Quebec City, Canada, that controversially ended with a draw. Funeka controlled most of the fight and severely bloodied Guzman's face, but it wasn't enough for him to get the decision in only his second fight outside of his home country.

"In Canada, I got robbed," Funeka said through a translator. "I hope Las Vegas won't be the same as Canada."

It will also be Funeka's first bout in Las Vegas. Guzman has fought here twice, but not since 2006.

Guzman said he thought the draw was the correct decision the first time around. Everyone in his camp, including his four-year old son, wanted another shot at Funeka and was excited when the rematch came together.

"He's a very good fighter, but he had me hurt and couldn't get me out," Guzman said through a translator. "I think he lacks heart and determination."

It's hard to believe any of these four fighters will be short on motivation. The location alone is enough to be determined.

"This is where all the greats fight," Maidana said. "If I'm ever going to be great, I've got to win here."