Marquez-Diaz II: A Pay-Per-View WORTH paying for! RBR (and undercard) here, 7pm EST!

Juan Manuel Marquez vs. Juan Diaz II *** 1/2 - will be anywhere between "pretty good" and "very good". Some are expecting it to rival their first - myself not among them. Marquez is aging before our eyes, and Diaz's heart may just not be in it with his lucrative options outside the ring and coming off a gut-check loss to Malignaggi. These two are probably not capable of producing a bad fight, it just most likely won't live up to the expectations they set last time IMO. Which is why I thought it an unworthy PPV headliner, until realizing just how stacked the card is...

Jean Paul Mendy vs. Sakio Bika *** - two of the most mismanaged (and "who needs 'em?") super middleweights of the last decade in a crossroads fight. Expect both to be hungry in what is probably the last chance either has at setting up something "big". Both are master spoilers, Bika with his awkward physicality and Mendy with his erratic movement and countering ability. They're past-prime, but should make for a very intriguing styles clash, and seem pretty evenly matched all things considered.

Daniel Jacobs vs. Dimitri Pirog **** - the culling of the middleweight prospect herd begins. Men, over here - boys, take a seat over yonder. These two bring unblemished records and KO ratios in the 80's. Get ready to rumble!

Joel Casamayor vs. Robert Guerrero *** - very interesting fight, as the legendary but faded Casamayor wisely returns to his lightweight stomping grounds after appearing to have lost some reflexive speed in a short bid at welterweight. In perhaps his last big-stage opportunity he takes on fan-favorite and overachiever Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero, who has moved up comfortably after having secured titles at featherweight and super featherweight. It's slicks vs. smarts, experience vs. will - both have decent chins and decent pop. It should be good.

Jorge Linares vs. Rocky Juarez *** 1/2 - The once (and future?) Golden Boy is testing the waters at lightweight against the dangerous but skidding Houston native. Each has confidence issues to overcome; with Linares only one win and nine months removed from his shocking 1st round upset KO loss to Juan Carlos Salgado, and Juarez winless since 2008 and the loser of two in a row (and most feel he ought to have lost his draw with Chris John). Linares is supremely skilled - and Juarez can be outboxed. There is, however, the question of fragility surrounding Linares until he does get by someone this tough (getting by Francisco Lorenzo did not bring closure to this issue). Juarez is strong and talented in his own right, but a terrible finisher who lacks a "third gear".

I've sold myself on this one. The order's in. :good

 

Maybe because it was a really close and competitive fight before the knockout, and JMM who was already ring-worn at the time will be a year and a half older, perhaps leveling the playing field just a tiny bit? No controversy? So what??? Just because there happens to have been controversy involved going into some rematches over the years doesn't make it a prerequisite, or even something that's desirable.