Pedroza would probably win a close, somewhat controversial decision, ala his fights with Rocky Lockridge. Maybe a bit too fluid for Juan at the end of the day.
I like Marquez by a 116-112ish margin but I wouldn't be surprised if he hit the deck along the way. Pedroza was impressive against Jorge Lujan who was a counter puncher like JMM but hardly on the same level. If they had a ref like Steve Smoger (who wouldn't deal with any bs from Pedroza) and it'll be a differant fight.
Pedroza was a better boxer than Marquez flat out, dirty tactics or not. I hate the way he gets branded in the Saddler/Angott mold.
I think it gets completely overplayed...though it is true he had a few dirty tricks, Pedroza get unfairly lumped in with the worst foulers in history.
I don't think Pedroza was as consistently dirty, time in and time out, as some other fighters out there (Hopkins for example). Hopkins will be up 9-1 on the cards and still feel the need to hit the guy low when the ref is on the other side and can't see it. Though I do think that the LaPorte fight was one of the most blatant displays of fouling over a long fight that I've seen, and that he should've been DQ'd.
Hey, there's no disgrace being associated with those two great fighters...and let's face it, Pedroza was dirty...and one of my favorite fighters, btw.
Oh yes...I loved watching Pedroza defend his title..he did whatever it took to win..and as a result he was such a successful champion...and you would have never predicted that after he got splattered by Alfonso Zamora.
I like Pedroza by a fairly close decision. I'd give Pedroza the edge in most departments with the exception of punching power. Pedroza is one of my all-time favorites, but he was a dirty fighter. He was "skilled dirty" and worked it into his arsenal and made it look natural. Low bolo punches, kidney punches, elbows. He had a flow and a rythem to him. Great fighter.
I think Marquez is too flat footed and easy to hit.It was the more physical aggressive boxer-punchers that gave Pedroza problems, and most of them were against a version that had lost a step imo. Marquez is too textbook and technically minded to fight like a Lockridge.I see him getting turned and kept off-balance for long stretches while being picked off from the outside, faring best when they get into more extended exchanges. pedroza isn't a fighter you want to hang back and counter, especially when you don't have the better defence, or big power that can turn a fight quickly. Pedroza 10-5 or 11-4 on points for me.
