Aiken To Face R. Marquez in Battle of Former Champs Saturday in Mexico!

Photo by Rafael Soto/Zanfer Promotions

Former IBF Featherweight champion Eric "Mighty Mouse" Aiken steps back into the ring to face former WBC and IBF Bantamweight and Super Bantamweight titleholder Rafael Marquez Saturday night at the Auditorio Municipal in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico.

Aiken (16-8-1, 12 KO's) has not fought since suffering a no-contest decision against Edner Cherry on September 23 in Hollywood, FL when Aiken was hit after the bell and couldn't continue.  Aiken, who won his world title almost five years to the day in May of 2006 when he beat Valdemir Pereira in Boston by eighth-round disqualification.  Aiken has only competed twice in three years -- his first outing was a six-round unanimous decision loss to Todd Wilson on September 10 in Fairfax, VA.  Aiken is a late sub for his bout against Marquez.

Marquez (40-7, 36 KO's) lost a bid for his third world title in his last outing when he dropped a 12-round unanimous decision to Toshiaki Nishioka on October 1 in Las Vegas.  Marquez defeated Tim Austin in February of 2003 to win the IBF Bantamweight title and made seven defenses of the title before moving up and defeating Israel Vasquez in March of 2007 for the WBC Super Bantamweight crown.  Marquez also holds two victories over former world champion and new hall of famer Mark Johnson.

Aiken by the way, also holds a victory over Austin.  Aiken weighed in at 126 pounds for the bout while Marquez came in at 127.  If you have TV Azteca, the bout is being televised on that network.