By Ryan Maquiñana

Lightweight titleholder Antonio DeMarco spoke to BoxingScene.com Thursday about his upcoming Sept. 8 defense against John Molina Jr. in the co-feature to Andre Ward-Chad Dawson’s “Made in America” card.  Both bouts will be televised on HBO and will take place in Oakland’s Oracle Arena.

Note: The telephone interview was conducted in Spanish, and I have translated the words to English.

BoxingScene.com: Antonio, how has training camp gone so far in preparation for John Molina?

Antonio DeMarco: Very well, thank you.  Everything’s gone well, and we’re ready.  We’re almost on weight, about 139 pounds, just four pounds left.  We feel strong, motivated, and we’re ready to give the fans a spectacle to watch on September 8.

BoxingScene.com: Molina’s a big puncher with a powerful right hand.  How do you take away that weapon from a strategic standpoint?

Antonio DeMarco: We have to fight in an intelligent manner and counter-punch him accurately because every fighter has tendencies and makes errors.  You have to study your opponent very well to prepare for what they bring to the ring.  Molina has a very good straight right hand, but he has weaknesses in other areas.  We’ll be prepared for him.

BoxingScene.com: You won a brutal war against Jorge Linares that earned you a share of the lightweight title and was a candidate for Fight of the Year.  Do you feel you’ve received the recognition you deserve, or do you feel like you’re still out there trying to gain the public’s respect?

Antonio DeMarco: We’re looking for that respect.  We’re champion of the world, but we still haven’t achieved that yet.  We have plenty of goals and dreams that have been accomplished slowly, and some that we still have yet to finish.  Ultimately, I want people to recognize Antonio DeMarco and remember my name.

BoxingScene.com: Adrien Broner is still searching for an opponent at 135 pounds and I think that’s a fight that would really bring more attention to your career.  If you beat Molina, what do you think about that matchup or any other ones in the lightweight division?

Antonio DeMarco: (Laughs) I want to tell you sincerely, I have a lot of respect for my opponents, and I am solely concentrated on John Molina on September 8 and leaving with my title intact.  Winning is my goal and is the only thing on my mind.  If you ask me this question on September 8 around nine or 10 o’clock after the fight is done and I have won, then we can talk about it.  (Laughs)

BoxingScene.com: Fair enough, Antonio.  Is there anything else you would like to tell the fans who might still be on the fence about whether or not they should buy a ticket for Sept. 8 in Oakland?

Antonio DeMarco: Because it’s going to be a great fight.  The fans are going to see Antonio DeMarco pour his whole heart, his soul, his sweat, and his blood in the ring.  We are prepared to give the fans who are either buying a ticket or watching at home their money’s worth, so don’t miss it.  They’re going to come away happy, and we’re going to give them some fireworks.

Ryan Maquiñana is the boxing producer for NBCOlympics.com and writes a weekly boxing column for CSNBayArea.com.  He is a full member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and the Ratings Panel for Ring Magazine. E-mail him at rmaquinana@gmail.com , check out his blog at Norcalboxing.net, or follow him on Twitter: @RMaq28.