WBO number-one ranked Jr. Lightweight Juan Carlos “Mini” Burgos (30-1, 20 KO’s) is finishing up a hard training camp preparing for his WBO world title bout on January 19th against Roman “Rocky” Martinez (26-1-1, 16 KO’s) at the Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City that will be part of a championship tripleheader televised Live on HBO.
Burgos has what he has termed the best training camp of his life as he prepares for his second opportunity for a world championship title.
Burgos believes that his past experience of competing for a title will serve him well.
Back on November 26, 2010, Burgos dropped a hotly contested decision to Hozumi Hasegawa in Japan in his lone attempt at a world title.
“I don’t want to let this opportunity get away from me. I have been in this position before when I faced Hasegawa and I know I could’ve done much better that night. It could have been a life changing victory for me but I let that one get away. Not this time,” said Burgos
Continued Burgos, “I have grown mentally and physically and I am prepared for a fight like this and I know it will be exciting.”
Since that setback, Burgos has wins over two undefeated fighters in Luis Cruz (19-0) and Cesar Vazquez (25-0) as well as former world champion Cristobal Cruz.
“I have to show the whole world what I am capable of, Martinez is the champ so I have to get that belt away from him, it won’t be easy but I know I can do it.”
Burgos wants to win this title in exciting fashion in front of a huge audience on HBO and the knowledgeable boxing crowd inside a sold out Madison Square Garden.
“Not only do I want to get the victory and be a champion but I want to please the crowd and make sure that the fans get their monies worth.”
This fight will be an emotional fight for Burgos as he is dedicating the bout to his uncle and former Light Flyweight champion Victor “El Acorazado” Burgos who won his world title, almost ten years to the day (February 15, 2003), with a scintillating 12th round stoppage over Puerto Rican Alex Sanchez.
Victor Burgos was nearly fatally injured on his final bout against Vic Darchinyan in 2007; he has had a miraculous recovery and currently works for Tijuana’s City Hall.
Juan Carlos and Victor had a chance to chat over the holidays as the former champion shared his experience and motivated the young challenger.
“It was inspiring for me to hear my uncle tell me the story of his first world title victory and how it was nearly 10 years to the date of my fight. He battled it out against Puerto Rican Alex “Nene” Sanchez back in 2003. He finally got that belt after many fights in which he was not that lucky. Now I just want to keep the tradition and make my family proud.”
The LIVE HBO tripleheader fistic action that is set to take place on January 19th will air 9:45 (ET/PT).
