"I think I am. Marquez is one of the great fighters out there and a great champion. He was in my position at one time where he was coming up strong. I'm ready. I'm the mandatory to him and I know he's going to give me that opportunity. I know that Marquez will fight me if he doesn't get that Pacquiao fight...if everything goes well, I can get that fight with Marquez. Hey, if Pacquiao wants to fight, I'll move up in weight. There are a lot of big fights out there and I'm ready to go," stated top lightweight contender Robert Guerrero as he shared his thoughts on a potential showdown with WBA/WBO lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez. Plus, you don't want to miss what else he had to say about Marquez, Manny Pacquiao, and his eagerness to face any big name from 135 all the way up to 154. Check it out!
MJ: Congratulations on the recent win. How have things been going?
RG: Everything has been going really well.
MJ: Tell me how you think you did with your last fight? I thought it was a good performance.
RG: I thought it was pretty good. I went out there and worked the game plan that my dad had planned. We worked hard and we were ready to go. I think I had a pretty good performance and did a lot of things my father wanted me to do.
MJ: If you had to grade your performance, what would you give it?
RG: I would give it a B.
MJ: Would it be an A if you would have gotten the knockout?
RG: No, there were some things that he wanted me to do that I didn't do. You've always got to be looking at ways to better yourself.
MJ: The big question right now is whether you're going to get a shot at Marquez.
RG: I think I am. Marquez is one of the great fighters out there and a great champion. He was in my position at one time where he was coming up strong. I'm ready. I'm the mandatory to him and I know he's going to give me that opportunity. I know that Marquez will fight me if he doesn't get that Pacquiao fight.
MJ: What is Golden Boy saying about lining up the fight?
RG: Right now, they're looking for that Pacquiao fight. If that doesn't go through, we'll see what happens from there.
MJ: I doubt that particular fight happens because of the promoters and everything else. Have you been told that you're the next in line if Marquez doesn't get Pacquiao?
RG: No, I haven't been told. I know I'm the mandatory to fight him for the WBO championship. I figure I'm the next in line.
MJ: If the Marquez fight doesn't happen, what is your plan B?
RG: I'll leave it to the promotion and my management about where we go from there. I'll be looking for that big fight out there. God willing, if everything goes well, I can get that fight with Marquez. Hey, if Pacquiao wants to fight, I'll move up in weight. There are a lot of big fights out there and I'm ready to go.
MJ: What do you feel is your upper range for weight?
RG: I could probably go all the way to 154. I'm a tall guy and I carry lots of power at 135. The higher I climb in weight, the more powerful I get and the better I feel. I have the height for it and the power; it's just about getting fights.
MJ: I know when Marquez fought Juan Diaz, he trash-talked about being the real Mexican and Juan Diaz being Mexican-American. How are you going to handle him if he says that kind of thing to you?
RG: I'm not about all that trash talk. I'll handle it in the ring. A lot of warfare is psychological and trying to get into a guy's head. None of that bothers me. Just give me the fight and see how it plays out.
MJ: Have you learned anything from watching his recent fights with Diaz, Mayweather, and Katsidis that you can exploit in your camp?
RG: Oh yeah! I've been watching tapes since I've turned professional. I'm always looking at fighters and studying them because sooner or later, you're going to run into them. There is a lot of stuff I've seen on tape that we can capitalize on with my camp and God-given talent. We'll put everything together, get in great shape, and have a game plan going that will be unstoppable. That's the one thing about Marquez; you know it's going to be a good fight and the fans want to see it. I think he'll make the fight.
MJ: What is your take on the lightweight landscape right now?
RG: It's strong. There are a lot of guys there and Marquez in on top. I think of 140 too, with Casamayor. The weight classes are stacked and I'm sitting right there in the mix. I'm ready to go when the opportunity plays out.
MJ: How's your wife doing?
RG: She's doing great. It was her birthday recently; she's 27. Everything is going great and she's doing really well.
MJ: I probably shouldn't put her age in here. I might get you in trouble.
RG: (Laughing) She'd love it because every year is a blessing for her with everything she's been through. I don't think she'll mind it.
MJ: That's cool, man. Is there anything else you'd like to say to the FightHype.com fans?
RG: I'm looking forward to a Marquez fight or a fight with any big name out there from 135 to 154. Just give me that opportunity; let's make it happen. There will be no ducking, no hiding. Guerrero's ready to fight whomever, wherever.