I'll get flamed for this but I'd take Valero in this one. Diaz was able to get to Marquez in the first fight and so did Katsidis, Valero is more talented, tougher and a harder puncher than both. Marquez's best days were at 126 & 130, he done well as a lightweight but you can see that he was getting hurt more often and having to dig deeper against lesser talented fighters at 135 (compared to at 126 & 130). Neither Valero or Marquez would be able to svoid the temptation to make it a war (in my opinion) and for that reason I'd take the naturally bigger man. I think Valero had a huge amount of potential but his troubles took their toll even before his death. He's one of the "what could have been" talents. Don't get me wrong, Marquez is a more talented technician but I just think fighting a guy like Valero at 135 might be too much. Anyway, it would be a hell of a fight regardless of the winner. A great styles match up.
It's a fun matchup but the gulf in skill is too great, IMO. Diaz was a more skilled pressure fighter, and Katsidis was a tighter swarmer. Valero may have had more dynamic ability, but I don't see him winning on his raw power and jumpy aggression alone. And if he loses, it's because he gets countered hard and often enough to get stopped by the end of the fight, so I don't see a decision. JMM by KO.
Nobody knows for sure, JMM gets better the longer the fight goes, but is very likely to hit the canvas early. Valero never lost and obviously had serious power.
Juan Diaz was tagging JMM at will, Katsidis dropped JMM with a vicious hook. Valero is leagues above both those fighters.
Much as Valero was an exciting talent,I think Marquez would be too wily and despite a trip to the canvas,would come back and score a late stoppage.For all people can say Marquez isn't a natural lightweight,he's pretty much always come up with the goods.
At LW, JMM hasn't fought anyone that has one punch KO power, and Valero has that in abundance. Valero is also a patient stalker too with ring generalship, not like Diaz or Katsidas, whom goes in with a high guard, head first, eats a few punches before landing their own. JMM has pretty recovery powers, but more often than not gets KD with a left (Money, Pacquiao, Katsidas), and Valero is probably one of the hardest hitting left handers of this era. Valero by late KO or JMM to quit on his stool like De Marco.