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LAS VEGAS (AP) -Joel Casamayor will fight Juan Manuel Marquez on Sept. 13 at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas, Golden Boy Promotions confirmed Friday.
Marquez, the former two-division champion considered one of the world's best kilo-for-kilo boxers, will fight as a lightweight for the first time. He lost a narrow split decision to Manny Pacquiao in March, surrendering his WBC super featherweight belt after one of the year's best bouts.
Casamayor, the former Cuban Olympic champion who will turn 37 next month, is unbeaten in his last six fights since losing his WBC lightweight title to Jose Luis Castillo in December 2004. Casamayor beat Michael Katsidis in March, knocking out the previously unbeaten Australian in the 10th round to end an action-filled fight.
The 34-year-old Marquez, a featherweight champion for two years, will move up in weight for the second time in his last four fights partly to keep pace with Pacquiao. The Filipino champion, who says he would welcome the chance to meet Marquez for a third time next year, will make his own lightweight debut against WBC champ David Diaz on Saturday night.
Neither fighter has ever been knocked out.
