Three Titles Will Be on the Line at Staples

The Saturday rematch between World Boxing Council super-featherweight champion Erik Morales (43-1, 33 knockouts) and former champion Guty Espadas (37-5, 23 knockouts) is expected to be a popular one with area boxing fans.

But the Morales-Espadas main event -- a WBC featherweight eliminator bout -- is not the only interesting fight at Staples Center.

Carlos Hernandez (38-3-1, 23 knockouts) defends his International Boxing Federation junior-lightweight title against Steve Forbes (23-1, six knockouts), with the winner hoping to face the Morales-Espadas winner at 130 pounds early next year.

Forbes, a former junior-lightweight champion, said Wednesday he learned a hard lesson after forfeiting the IBF title to David Santos on Aug. 18 because he couldn’t make weight.

“I trained for seven weeks. That way I could take the weight off and not be killing myself,” he said. “I’m still learning; I’m only 26. But this way I feel better, stronger, more like a professional athlete.”

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When perennial undercard fighter Rafael Marquez shocked Tim Austin on Feb. 15, stopping him in the eighth round and taking the IBF bantamweight crown, Marquez joined his brother, IBF featherweight champion Juan Manuel, in an ultra-exclusive club -- simultaneously reigning world champion siblings.

Juan Manuel is “a great fighter and I’m a great fighter,” said Rafael (29-3, 27 knockouts), who will defend his title Saturday against Mauricio Pastrana (30-3-1, 20 knockouts). “We’ve earned the respect of all the other fighters with our accomplishments in the ring.”

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Also on Saturday’s card: IBF light-flyweight champion Edgar Cardenas (30-10-2, 16 knockouts) against Daniel Reyes (32-1-1, 27).

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The intriguing new face Saturday will be super-welterweight Jesus Gonzalez (1-0, one knockout), who was a strong 2004 Olympic hopeful until his weight class (156 pounds) was eliminated.

When asked about the difference between amateurs and the pros, Gonzalez said: “You have to keep your hands up because the gloves are smaller, and you don’t have the headgear any more. That, and be more aware of the punches because there are a lot of tricks the pros have.”

Gonzalez must learn fast. In his July 25 pro debut in his hometown of Phoenix, he flattened opponent Sean Wilson 56 seconds into the first round.