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Boxing

Updated: November 18, 2006, 11.30 AM ET

Marquez-Brown tops one-million sales

By Larry Holman
ESPN.com
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With the blockbuster lightweight bout between Mexico's Patricio Marquez and Louisana's Joe Brown still one week away Showtime announced today that sales for it have already passed the one-million unit mark. This means that if previous trends are anything to go by the final figure will most likely exceed 1.5 million. Although the bout is for Brown's IBF title it's being promoted simply as the World Lightweight Championship. Boxing experts are of an almost unanimous opinion that Marquez is the unofficial world champion by virtue of his defeat of Francisco Ortiz in March. In the time since then he relinquished both the WBA and WBC belts in order to secure the fight with Brown. So if Brown is able to achieve victory he'll not only retain his belt but also be recognised as the real world champion.

The evening's co-feature should also be a fantastic stoush with the very same Francisco Ortiz that Marquez overcame eight months ago taking on the Filipino Benny Diaz for the vacant WBO lightweight belt. Although he does not hold a contract with any of the four fighters New Jersey-based promoter Robert Tattaglia has been heavily involved in promoting the event. As boxing fans would be aware, Tattaglia takes on the role of president of the International Boxing Organisation when it comes into being on January 1 following the merger of the IBF and WBO. It's already been confirmed that the winners of next Saturday's two title fights will meet in March with the inaugural IBO lightweight championship on the line.

Experts have been divided over who will emerge as the victor of Saturday night's main event showdown, but one thing they all agree on is that it will be an absolute war. It seems the two men's styles will make for an absolute thriller. Brown is a swarmer who loves to come at his opponent with rapid-fire combinations while Marquez will do much of his work behind a potent left jab. While he's the more conventional of the two he's also the stronger and Brown will certainly have to be weary of his power. Marquez claimed the WBC title in June 2003 and defended it seven times before adding the WBA belt to his collection with his defeat of Ortiz. But when the two organisations stood adamantly in the way of a clash with Brown, Marquez gave up both titles to make the fight a reality. He brings an outstanding record of 42-2-1(34) into the bout. Brown won the IBF championship in late 2004 and will be making his fifth title defense. His record stands at 33-2-1(24).

Larry Holman is ESPN.com's boxing writer.