By Ruben Anguiano, Marquez vs. Diaz. On Saturday night February 28th, hometown hero Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz (34-1, 17 KO’s) will face the Ring magazine lightweight champion Juan Manuel “Dinamita” Marquez (49-4-1, 36 KO’s) for the IBO, WBA, and WBO championship. Both coming from dominant victories in 2008, Juan Diaz punished Michael Katsidis in 12 rounds and Marquez giving Joel Casamayor his first knock out loss in 41 bouts.
With Manny Pacquiao moving up in weight, this fight will define if Diaz has what it takes to be the king in the lightweight division. Marquez will be the biggest opponent in Diaz’s young career. Diaz must prove to the world he has what it takes to beat down a legend and possibly make Marquez think about hanging his gloves once and for all.
The keys to victory for Diaz will be his speed and stamina, which he proved in his last fight in which he went 12 rounds. Diaz’s right hook and uppercut will be a huge factor in the fight if he manages a way to land it on the speedy Marquez. Diaz will have most of the crowd on his side at Houston’s Toyota Center, which can both work for him or against him. He could feel comfortable or heavily pressured in front of his hometown in this being his biggest fight ever.
On the opposite corner Marquez will put his 10 extra years of age and experience out to work. Marquez has been in the big stage many times so the crowd will not affect him at all. After seeing last month’s fight between the 30-year-old Antonio “The Tijuana Tornado” Margarito and the 37-year-old “Sugar” Shane Mosley I don’t see age being a factor in this fight. I see age as an advantage for Marquez giving him more experience inside the ropes. He also brings huge power and speed; I see the fight going for Marquez way late in the rounds with a possible knockout.
In recent years Marquez has been able to manage fast fighters. Marquez and Erik “El Terrible” Morales have been the only two fighters to give Pacquiao a difficult night at work. Marquez has lost once in his last 6 fights beating great fighters such as Rocky Juarez, Marco Antonio Barrera, and Joel Casamayor. At this moment Marquez is currently one of the best if not the best fighter from Mexico. His last defeat came from a controversial split decision against the current pound for pound champion Manny Pacquiao. Marquez and his team (which includes the legendary trainer Ignacio “Nacho” Beristain) strongly believe they were victorious against the Filipino fighter, others believe the fight was a draw.
Victorious or not Marquez is now the king in the lightweight division. It will not be an easy night for Diaz but he definitely has what it takes to beat Marquez. Expect a great fight between these two Mexican warriors. Saturday night will not only give us a winner but it will define whether it is time to move on with a young fighter like Juan Diaz or stick to an experienced older fighter like Juan Manuel Marquez to represent the Lightweight Division.
Written by Ruben Anguiano
Note: On Friday (02-27-09) Boxing fans are invited to attend the official weight in at 1:00 PM CT -TOYOTA CENTER – Main Entrance 1510 Polk Street Houston, TX 77002
Photos by Tom Hogan/GBP
this was an awesome fight… marquez messed diaz up!!! BAD!! =]
HBO2 will replay this great fight tomorrow Tuesday 3rd @ 8:30 PM
thanks for posting tese fight
i didn’t get to see the fight but my friend CAMARIN…AKA DOBLE CALSON said it was a really good fight.
Well It happened 30 seconds before the 10th, Exactly what I though it was gonna happen happened a very good fight with Diaz pressuring in the early rounds but the experience and good preparation of Marquez made him grow into the later rounds and he finish Diaz of like a true Champion.
What a fight, if you miss this catch it tomorrow morning on HBO, this is what boxing is all about.
need to know a website I can get live update round by round on the fight Marquez Diaz
Marquez by KO in the 10th
You’re right, after seeing Margarito and Shane last fight…age is not a factor… but I think Marquez will win… we’ll see this saturday…
This article is wack! the writer was definitely NOT READY!
Diaz and Marquez are Ready!! Im ready! cant wait to see this fight..
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