Marquez wants to fight 'em all

Story & photos by Chris Cozzone

There are two camps in town: Those who think New Mexican fighters should fight each other, in order to rise to the top; and those who think that, unless something big is at stake, like a world title, local fighters should fight out-of-towners.

There’s no guessing what camp Albuquerque jr. lightweight Archie Ray Marquez comes from.

I want to fight ‘em all,” says Marquez, after just one fight. “I want to fight on the road and I want to fight here. I want Willie Villanueva and I want Matthew Esquibel.”

Though both Villanueva and Esquibel are undefeated, with more pro experience—Villanueva is 9-0, 2 KOs, and Esquibel, 7-0, 4 KOs—Marquez says he hopes to fight ‘em both in the next year.

“I’d like Esquibel by the end of the year, or next year, latest,” says Marquez, “and Willie? I’d fight him Saturday night if he took the fight.

“Willie beat me in the amateurs after I just had a couple fights. Then, later on, we fought at a Chavez smoker and he won a decision—it was robbery, though. So, I’d love that rematch.”

Marquez is already matched up for Saturday night. On the undercard of the Juan Romero-promoted show at Sky City Casino in Acoma, Marquez, 1-0, 1 KO, will go four with Santa Fe’s Holguin Gutierrez (0-1).

“All I know about him, is, he gave Willie a good fight.”

In 2006, Gutierrez and Villanueva mixed it up in a battle of debuters—it was, at least in this reporter’s opinion, the best four-rounder of the year.

Since his debut, Gutierrez has been inactive, but reports up north say he’s been in the gym, and has improved greatly.

“I’m in the best shape yet,” says Marquez, who’s been training under Sergio Chavez at LA Boxing in Albuquerque.

“Being pro is different than the amateurs—it’s frustrating because you don’t fight as often.”

After turning pro in December, Marquez has had but one opportunity to fight—in February at Austin, Tex.

“I had to pull out due to the flu,” says Marquez. “It’s good to be fighting again. I’m ready for Saturday.”

Five more bouts are scheduled for the Sky City card:

• In the feature six-round bout of the evening, featherweight Matthew Esquibel (7-0, 4 KOs) takes on his toughest foe in Luis Alberto Cervantes (7-1-3, 2 KOs), of Cathedral City.

• Super bantamweight David Proa (2-0, 2 KOs), of Albuquerque, goes four with Santa Fe’s Beto Perez (1-2, 1 KO).

• Bantamweight James Piar (1-0) takes on El Paso’s Saul Palacios (2-0) in a four-rounder.

• Welterweight debuter Alejandro Lopez fights Albuquerque’s Jose Garcia (1-3-1, 1 KO).

• Albuquerque’s Josh Torres will make his pro debut, opponent TBA.