TIJUANA – A fighter from this city is competing for a shot at the lightweight title of the International Boxing Federation.

Marvin Quintero's road to that fight has not been an easy one. He's had several matches cancelled at the last minute during his seven-year professional career. And he lost three matches in the 27 bouts he's contested, temporarily delaying his bid to reach the championship fight.

Quintero, 25, one of the best boxers to come out of this city in the last few years, has taken these setbacks in stride. He said he's become a more complete boxer, reaching the level he needs to compete in the big leagues.

On Friday, he is scheduled to face American boxer John Molina at the College Park Center in Arlington, Texas, in an elimination fight for the IFB lightweight title.

The winner will square off against the reigning champion, Miguel Vázquez, from Guadalajara.

"I am very well prepared and I have enough experience to face any rival," Quintero said on a recent day. "I think I'm at my best level, ready to silence all those people who doubted that I could reach the title fight."

The southpaw, who weighs 135 pounds, is trained by the respected Quirarte family. For Friday's match, his sparring partners included WBC lightweight champion Antonio DeMarco and fighters Rogelio Castañeda and Juan Pablo "Cheché" López.

Quintero, who has an industrial engineering degree from the Technology Institute of Tijuana, has won 24 fights, lost three, with 20 knockouts. For his part, Molina, 29, has 24 fights under his belt, winning 23, 19 by KOs, and one defeat.

Their match is to be aired by ESPN2. The preliminary fight features Shawn Estrada against Terrance Woods in a battle of the super middleweights.

omar.millan@sandiegored.com

Originally published by The Union-Tribune's weekly Latino newspaper Enlace; editorial@mienlace.com