Anson Wainwright - You meet Brian Viloria in a flyweight title unification. What are your thoughts on this fight?
Hernan Marquez - Win, win, always win and demonstrate I’m the best at 112 pounds.
AW – This fight has been postponed several times. Has this been a problem to you?
HM – No, it wasn’t such a big deal. It was a little bit of destruction but the truth of it is, I planned to fight. I took a bit of time off and went to Mexico. I did my running in peace and quiet. It was a bit of a delay but that’s how it goes.
AW - You have seen Viloria fight before. What do you see when you watch him, his strengths and weaknesses?
HM - He really only has one combination, a left hook followed by a right cross, and that’s really all he has. That’s about the only thing I’m afraid of. He always slows down after the sixth and seventh round and that’s when I have to pressure him because he lacks heart to some degree.
AW - Could you tell us about your training for this fight? Where have you trained, how long and what are some of the things you have done?
HM – [Marquez’s trainer] Robert Garcia, for having trained Viloria for a few fights, knows him extremely well, knows what his points of weakness are. I’m positive I’m going to win because I’ll know him well when we fight.
AW - Without looking past this fight, are you looking at moving up to super flyweight after the fight?
HM - My whole focus, everything that I care about right now, is Viloria. If I beat Viloria, I want to unify the titles. I want three titles if not four. I want to unify the whole division.
AW - Though you have fought twice this year, they have been non-title fights. Has this year been tough for you not being able to defend your WBA title?
HM - I’m OK; I’m fine. I didn’t have the opportunity I’d have liked to have defended the title. I’m tranquil; I’m OK and just happy to be fighting now.
AW - You were born and still live in Empalme. Could you tell us about your early years growing up? Were things tough for you and your family?
HM – Very, very difficult. I didn’t know my dad until I was 16, 17 years old. I was raised by my mother and my grandmother. I was working from the time I was 10 or 11; I was working in bakeries mostly. It was very difficult but now I have become world champion. Things are getting a little bit better.
AW - What are your thoughts on the other flyweight champions like the WBC’s Toshiyuki Igarashi and the IBF’s Moruti Mthalane?
HM - I don’t know either of them very well. I’ve definitely never seen the WBC titlist, the IBF titlist only a few times. Right now, the most important thing is Brian Viloria. If I can beat him, the other titles will come much more easily.
AW - Tell us about your life away from boxing, if you could mention your family, hobbies and interests.
HM - I’m a father of three; I have three boys. I go to the beach. If I go on vacation for 15 days, 13 of them are at the beach; it’s always the beach. I don’t live with my grandmother anymore but I go visit her almost every day. I love to walk around the neighborhood, see friends I’ve had my whole life. I play soccer; I also play baseball. I’m just a normal guy.
AW - Though you’re still young, do you have any plans on what you may do when you retire from boxing? Are you going to school? Do you have any qualifications, own a business or have plans to buy one?
HM - I’m very, very lucky. I have my house, land, my own property. I’ve just got a gym I’m opening in Hermosillo. I’m only 24; I’m thinking maybe by the time I’m 30, I’ll retire. I’ll have my own gym, my own business and maybe I’ll be a commentator.
AW - In closing do you have a message for Viloria?
HM - I hope you prepare very well because I’m coming to take your title in a war or die in the ring.
Special thanks to my good friend, Bart Barry, who translated this interview.
