In the 12-round rematch of the “2009 Fight of the Year,” Ring Magazine WBA and WBO lightweight champion Juan Manuel “Dinamita” Marquez (50-5-1, 37KO), defends his strap against former lightweight champion Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz (35-3, 17KO). The fight is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Marquez Boxing Promotions and sponsored by Cerveza Tecate and AT&T and will be taking place this Saturday July 31, 2010, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nev. The championship altercation will be produced and distributed live on HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
This is one of the best Pay-Per-View fight cards in a long time and it is up to the hardcore boxing fans to purchase this event in order to see more undercards like the one on Saturday. In the co-main event, NABO and NABF middleweight champion and Brooklyn, NY, native Daniel the “Golden Child” Jacobs (20-0, 17KO), squares off against Russian Dmitry Pirog (16-0, 13KO). Both fighters are vying for their first world title as the vacant WBO middleweight crown will go to the winner. Pirog desires to make a name for himself as this will be his first venture across the pond while Jacobs looks to prove he’s all he’s cracked up to be after doubts have risen concerning his last couple fights.
In a junior welterweight match-up, former two-division titleholder Joel “El Cepillo” Casamayor (37-4-1, 22KO), of Cuba, takes on another former two-division title holder and Gilroy, CA, native Robert the “Ghost” Guerrero (26-1-1, 18KO), in a very important battle for both participants. Casamayor anticipates showing he still has plenty of gas in the tank and can make another run at a world title while the “Ghost” is expecting to take his career to the next level after tough personal issues have hampered his career the last few years.
To open the show, a lightweight battle between former two-division titlist Jorge “Nino de Oro” Linares (27-1, 18KO), versus year round title contender Ricardo “Rocky” Juarez (28-6-1, 20KO) will take place. Linares is looking to prove he can still be a top of the food chain fighter after getting obliterated in the first round by Mexican Juan Carlos Salgado. “Rocky” Juarez is at a crossroads and the under-achiever wants to prove that he has what it takes to win a world title after coming up short in his previous five attempts.
There has been a lot of complaining about Marquez-Diaz being on HBO Pay-Per-View, and if it were only Marquez-Diaz, I could understand the dissatisfaction but this card has the bang for it’s buck. Sure, when I first heard that Marquez and Diaz would be giving it another go, I was less then ecstatic, even less excited when I heard that it was on HBO Pay-Per-View. As the undercard formalized, I changed my tune (while I wouldn’t say I’m ecstatic for the card), I am very much looking forward to it and I would think all hardcore boxing fans would feel the same and be willing to spend their buck for a 90’s throwback Pay-Per-View card.
A couple weeks ago, Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer was quoted saying that if the Pay-Per-View did not sell well, fans shouldn’t expect more undercards like this. While many construed this to be a threat, the CEO of Golden Boy Promotions insist he meant it more as an inspiration and encouragement than any sort of threat.
After thinking on it, I believe the main-event could be much better than I first thought. While Marquez won the first duel convincingly, until the point of the knockout it was a very competitive and entertaining battle. Juan Diaz is an elite fighter and should be able to go to the drawing board and make a few minor adjustments to give himself a better chance at victory. Not to mention Diaz seemed to be affected by the cut he received in the first brawl and while it’s no excuse, the “Baby Bull” not getting cut in the re-match could have an impact. It won’t be Marquez-Diaz I but the fight could be interesting and very entertaining. Then when you add in the impressive three fight undercard, you have a worthy Pay-Per-View fight card, right? You have four good fights displaying eight world-class fighters which is something very rare these days. Really good overall fight cards are something of the past and if hardcore boxing fans want a perrenial taste of the past, they need to support this card otherwise we will keep getting the same garbage undercards we have been fed for the last decade.
I will be purchasing this card and if possible, so should you.
All Photos by Gene Blevins – Hoganphotos/GBP
Yes they are still working together. When Rafael and Nacho split Rafael stated that Nacho focused only on Juan Manuel, and that he virtually trained alone. Supposedly it was ammicable and probably for the best as there might have been some favortism, or atleast perceived favortism.
But Nacho is still creating the recipe for his whiz kid “Dinamita”
That’s a good question but I think nacho is still around and Marquez is still drinking his pee
Is Nacho Beristien still on the Marquez Team? I know he and Rafael Marquez went there seprate ways, did that affect his relationship with juan manuel?
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