Very good question. Marquez ranks much higher all time than Taylor but Meldrick was pretty amazing at junior welter even if only for a brief time. I’m thinking it goes the distance in a close fight. Not sold on a winner
This is a helluva entertaining match up and a fight that could go either way. JMM was able to deal with the speed and power of Pacquiao quite well. Taylor was slightly quicker and could throw many more flashy combos but didn't have the same kind of power. Taylor's tendency to let his hands go a little too often leaves him open to JMM's counters and combos of his own. This fight all comes down to Taylor's mentality. If he boxes smart similar to the way Bradley did he wins a convincing decision. If he comes to fight more than likely he gets countered too often for JMM to win by decision or even by surprise stoppage.
I’d favour Taylor, greater though Marquez may be. I think the speed & activity would be very disruptive.
C'mon guys. Marquez longevity and ability to still be a world-level fighter at a late age was impressive at a time when modern recovery methods/sports science was just kicking up another gear, but he was still an older,blown up, past-prime fighter beyond 135. This was somewhat mitigated against Pac becuase he too was aging, pushing how far up in weight he could go, and they had plenty of stylistic familiarity from their first two fights at lower weights; it turned out not to be a matchup where the weight mattered too much by then. but a young Taylor, circa McGirt/Chavez would be like Bradley x 3 and end up making him look like he was in slow motion. Marquez would need to knock him out to win, but I don't think he brings the same firepower as Chavez (or McGirt) at 140 and he's even slower of foot than 140 Julio and certainly more hittable. Two guys that want to plant and fire back in combination at every opportunity, but one who throws about four times as many punches, has the feet to control who starts the exchanges and enough mobility and jabbing ability to win every round that he bothers to use it enough (which was always a problem for Taylor). Marquez might have the firepower, superior smarts and precision to disrupt Taylor's workrate and bust him up enough for a Chavez type win p4p, or maybe even a 130 Marquez vs rookie 135 Taylor, but 140 versions of both is a step too far imo. I'd bet on this being an increasingly one sided beatdown after the early rounds. Not as bad as the bizarrely inept showing by Buddy (who claimed an inner-ear infection later, though made no mention of it in the immediate aftermath), as marquez puts together better combinations, but not a very competitive fight either.
I think you're overrating Marquez by leaps and bounds. There is absolutely NOTHING that Marquez did better at 140 than McGirt. Nothing. Taylor fighting the way he did against McGirt is more than enough to get the job done on JMM. I'm with Lora. This would be a one sided beating. Can't believe anyone thinks otherwise.
Taylor would run Marquez out of the ring and I would not be shocked if Taylor stops him. People forget how special Taylor was before Chavez fight and how fast he was.
JMM seems to be getting more underrated in my view, especially with the variety of styles and great fighters he's faced and beaten. Taylor is an awesome fighter, incredibly gifted and exciting to watch but I also don't want to overlook his flaws. As talented as he was pre-Chavez he was never that hard to hit clean and didn't have the best ring IQ at times, especially when he decided to welcome a tear up. JMM was a fighter that was capable of adapting well mid fight and I can see him adjusting to Taylor's style after a rocky start. I agree that the Taylor from the McGirt fight was his most complete performance and I see that version beating JMM without a doubt. I just think that seeing JMM beating Taylor is also not out of the realm of possibility.
JMM is one of my favorite fighters but he wasn't the same fighter at 140 and above. He is being overrated now. Meldrick in his extremely brief prime outpoints Marquez convincingly. Taylor isn't Freddie Norwood. Way too athletic and fast, and the much bigger man.
