By Jhonny Gonzalez

Former welterweight champion Carlos Quintana (28-3, 22KOs) realizes that his career is at stake this Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, when he faces Deandre Latimore (23-3, 17KOs) in a junior middleweight fight on the Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Miguel Cotto pay-per-view.

Quintana has lost two of his last five, both by knockout. At 35-years-old, he feels a loss to Latimore will knock him back to the bottom and its going to be too difficult to get back up. He hopes a big win will lead to a title shot.

"At this stage of my career, I can not afford to lose this fight. The goal is to win. I can not underestimate Latimore, I must be aware at all times, since a victory can place me close a title fight," Quintana told Carlos Gonzalez.

"Maybe I'll take three or four rounds to find the rhythm and it will be important to apply pressure. If the opportunity arises to end the fight as soon as possible, I'll take it. From what I've seen, Latimore has little resistance, so he can go (to the canvas) at any time."