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Six Questions With Streaking
WBC
Interim Champion Antonio DeMarco
Who Challenges WBC Lightweight
Titlist Edwin Valero
This Saturday, Feb. 6, Live on SHOWTIME® at 9 p.m. ET/PT
A winner of 12 in a row and unbeaten in his last 16 (15-0-1)
dating to May 2006, World Boxing Council interim champion
Antonio DeMarco (23-1-1, 17 KOs) of Tijuana, Mexico, will
challenge devastating Venezuelan and WBC lightweight
belt-holder, Edwin Valero (26-0, 26 KOs), in the main event
this Saturday, Feb. 6, on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING live
on SHOWTIME® (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).
The event at Arena Monterrey will mark the first time a
SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING broadcast has aired from Mexico
since March 7, 1998, when Julio Cesar Chavez boxed a draw
with Miguel Angel Gonzalez. It’s the first card on SHOWTIME
from Monterrey in more than 15 years, or since Chavez
stopped Tony Lopez on Dec. 10, 1994.
SHOWTIME caught up with DeMarco for his thoughts on this
Saturday’s scheduled 12-round bout.
SHOWTIME: Have you ever met Edwin Valero?
DeMarco: “I’ve never had the privilege of meeting Valero
personally, but I have respect for him as a person and as a
boxer. Respect aside, once I get in the ring, I will do my
job and that is to challenge him like he has never been
challenged before and, of course, to exit the ring as
champion.”
SHOWTIME: Do you feel comfortable knowing that you will be
fighting a southpaw?
DeMarco: “He’s a fighter, period. I’m aware he is a southpaw
but that doesn’t faze me. I’ve been in the ring with four
other southpaws and did really well against them. I feel
that when I fight against a southpaw I react especially well
since I‘m a southpaw, too. I know what to expect. That’s not
to say that I only expect him to come in fighting southpaw.
I know he may change his style so I will make my own
adjustments.”
SHOWTIME: Do you think Valero is a tough fighter?
DeMarco: “I know Valero is a tough fighter and that he has
taken on quality opponents. I give him much respect. There
is a reason why he is the champion and he deserves all the
accolades he has received. That said, Valero is no different
than the opponents that I have faced. They were tough too
and so we will see how this fight turns out and who wins.
I’m certain it will be me.”
SHOWTIME: Would you say that Valero mirrors any of your past
opponents?
DeMarco: “Every fighter is different and each has his own
talent and technique. Like I said, there is a reason that he
is a champion. He has that talent so I give him the respect
he‘s earned. All fighters are talented in their own right so
I can’t compare him to anyone I have fought in the past.”
SHOWTIME: Do you feel like the challenger in this fight?
DeMarco: “I do feel like the challenger in this fight and I
am OK with feeling that way. The way I see it, he is the
absolute champion of the world, and I am stepping into the
ring challenging him for that so when I walk out I will be
world champion.”
SHOWTIME: Are you approaching this fight with the steadfast
mentality that you did your last fight?
DeMarco: “Absolutely. No question about it. I have the same
mentality as I did my last. I am walking into the ring
knowing that there is no other option than to win. No one is
going to keep me from my destiny.”
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