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Márquez to take a break after beating Casamayor

By SERGIO ABARCA LEVETTY/ Notimex

After scoring a win over Cuba's Joel Casamayor last Saturday, México City's Juan Manuel Márquez said he will rest with his family before returning to the ring in the first months of 2009.

Márquez scored an 11-round knockout against 'Cepillo' Casamayor to capture the Ring Magazine lightweight belt at Garden Arena at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in a bout promoted by Golden Boy Promotions.

"I once again crowned myself. Casamayor is tough, but this win I earned for the Mexicans and by Mexicans. Go México," said a happy Márquez after his triumph in a city that was celebrating Mexican Independence Day.

"It was a great fight. I'm ready to fight whenever the promoter says so. Joel is intelligent and, until I knocked him down, I felt that I was going go win before the limit," he said about knocking down Casamayor twice in the 11th round.

Márquez appeared after the bout with bumps on his face. "I deserve a great rest, and I'll return next year against an opponent determined by promotor Óscar De La Hoya," he said.

Meanwhile, Casamayor is asking for a rematch.

"I deserve the rematch because I gave him the opportunity," said Casamayor. "I thought I controlled the entire bout, but Márquez has a lethal counterpunch. He got me on a bad stance, and I feel bad emotionally. But I want the revenge."