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Source: Ace Freeman, Fight Fan

-- Juan Manuel Marquez scored a bruising ninth round TKO of slugger Michael Katsidis in a thrilling affair moments ago at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada as seen live on HBO. Marquez looked sharp early but was dropped with a colossal left hook early in Round 3. As has become his trademark the Mexican stalwart collected himself and came roaring back late in the round. Katsidis poured on the pressure but the sharper Marquez became more and more accurate with each passing round. It was a tremendous pace in the middle rounds with the edge continuing to go to the Mexican warrior. Marquez turned up the heat in Round 8 and really began to pour it on. In the ninth he landed nearly ever punch he threw before the bout was stopped at the 2:14 mark with Katsidis on unsteady legs and covered in blood. With the win Marquez improved to 52-5-1 (38 KOs) and retained his WBA and WBO lightweight world titles. In his post fight interview, Marquez called for a third bout with pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao.