28/2 - Juan Manuel "Dinamita" MARQUEZ vs. Juan "Baby Bull" DIAZ

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On the line

IBO Lightweight Title
Vacant WBO Lightweight Title
Vacant WBA Lightweight Title
Ring Magazine Lightweight Title

Stats & Facts

Marquez:
Age - 35
Stance - Orthodox
Height / Reach - 5' 7" / 67"
Record - 49(36)-4(0)-1
KO ratio - 67%

Achievements:
Former IBF Featherweight Champion
Former WBA Featherweight Champion
Former WBC Super Featherwieght Champion
Current Ring Magazine Lightweight Champion

W RTD10 Robbie Peden, W TKO7 Manuel Medina, W TD7 Derrick Gainer, W UD12 Marco Antonio Barrera, W UD12 Rocky Juarez, W TKO11 Joel Casamayor

L UD12 Freddie Norwood, L UD12 Chris John, L SD12 Manny Pacquiao

D12 Manny Pacquiao

Diaz:
Age - 25
Stance - Orthodox
Height / Reach - 5' 6" / 67"
Record - 34(17)-1(0)
KO ratio - 49%

Achievements:
Former WBA Lightweight Champion
Former WBO Lightweight Champion
Former IBF Lightweight Champion
Current IBO Lightweight Champion

W UD12 Julien Lorcy, W UD12 Jose Miguel Cotto, W RTD8 Acelino Freitas, W TKO9 Julio Diaz, W SD12 Michael Katsidis

L SD12 Nate Campbell

What they say...

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- Juan Manuel Marquez

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- Juan Diaz

Venue

Toyota Center, Houston, Texas, United States.

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Odds

Marquez - 4/6
Diaz - 6/5
Draw - 16

TV coverage

SETANTA!

Implications for British boxing

Is the winner a potential opponent for Ricky Hatton, win or lose against Pacquiao?

VOTE, ANALYZE, DISCUSS.

 

I'm excited for this one.

Check the quotes

1. Is Marquez getting better with age?
2. Does Diaz have the potential to be the best in the world? He seems a nice chap, doesn't he?

 

It is indeed for both straps. Fantastic.

I expect everybody is going to see Marquez as a winner in this fight. I think its going to be close.

 

To argue the case for Diaz...

The kid is a very strong lightweight. He looks flabby, but he has very good stamina, he's a good 12 round fighter, and he's tough and strong. Consider that Nate Campbell threw a crazy amount of punches at him, at least 1300, landing more, but Diaz threw close to 1000 in return. What this demonstrates is that he is quite willing to walk through a certain amount of punishment to land his own.

Campbell also largely had to beat him on the inside, he used veteran moves and his slickness and experience in the pocket was the key. Not to mention the cut which seemed to badly get to Diaz.

In this scenario he is fighting a very orthodox counterpuncher. I think Diaz would have a lot more success when he does get past Marquez's 1-2. Marquez has not fought a lightweight that has brought it to him yet.

On the other hand there is no doubt Marquez throws the better straighter punches, has the quicker handspeed and better defence. That in itself tells you Diaz is going to have to sustain some damage and then hope to outwork Marquez to a hard fought decision. Not to mention Marquez's best performances have been against fighters that have come to him, like Pacquiao, whereas outboxers like Chris John have troubled him where he has not been able to get off with his counters.

I think both pose significant problems for the other. This should be a great fight, an interesting fight.

 

I think Campbell outfought him.

That is why its not as cut and dry for me. Marquez is going to have to do something completely different to Campbell to win. He will have to outbox him. Lightweights previously have found this difficult with Diaz's pace and strength.