Juan Manuel Marquez vs Juan Diaz Lightweight Fight Preview

On Saturday, February 28, Juan Manuel Marquez will accept the challenge of former lightweight champion Juan Diaz. Marquez is looking to continue on his quest towards an eventual third fight with Manny Pacquiao. Diaz is looking to further prove himself in the lightweight ranks after his loss last year to Nate Campbell. The winner will be unanimously viewed as the top lightweight in the world.

Meet The Fighters

Juan Manuel Marquez

49 (36) – 4 – 1
Height: 5’7” Reach: 67”

At 35 years of age – a very high number for a small fighter – Marquez seems to be in the best form of his career. He lost two fights ago against undisputed pound for pound champion Manny Pacquiao. However, the majority of observers felt he won the fight. He then stopped a shopworn Joel Casamayor and is perched at the top of the lightweight ranks. Before his second fight with Pacquiao – the first was the famous draw several years ago, where Marquez was knocked down three times in the first round and rallied – he had a string of victories, including ones over Rocky Juarez and Marco Antonio Barrera.

 

Juan Diaz

34 (17) – 1
Height: 5’6” Reach: 67”

At just 25 years old, ten years junior of Marquez, it seems that Diaz has already been around forever. He first won a lightweight title over 4 and a half years ago. He defended that successfully 7 times, most notably over Julio Diaz and Acelino Freitas, gobbling up a combined 3 belts before all was said and done. In March of last year though, he met a determined Nate Campbell, who used his power and savvy to dominate the bout, handing the Baby Bull his first loss. Diaz has since stepped into the ring once, winning a split decision against Michael Katsidis.

 

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Marquez vs Diaz Prediction

Diaz is a fighter with a high work rate, who looks to smother his opponents and wear them down. With only 17 stoppages, he’s not known as a power puncher, and most of his shots are arm shots, without his full effort behind them. However, the accumulation of them can wear people down, as 34 men who have been on the losing side against Diaz have found out the hard way.

Marquez is the master counter puncher, and against Diaz he will have plenty of opportunities to fire off well timed counters. The question lies in whether Marquez will be able to keep his distance and control the range of the fight. If Diaz can work his way inside and stay there, he can throw off the timing and accuracy of Marquez’s strong counters. If Marquez can keep Diaz at a distance, Diaz will face a long and frustrating evening.

Unfortunately for Diaz, that’s exactly what he has in store. Marquez is one of the best tactical boxers currently plying his trade. He has unparalleled timing, and can masterfully set his opponents up with foot work and angles. To top off his skill set, he is an underappreciated power puncher. His power comes from his great technical form and his uncanny timing and pinpoint accuracy.

The fight will have plenty of back and forth, as Diaz’s punches in bunches style can win rounds and throw an opponent off his game. Marquez is not averse to mixing it up either. However, as his more powerful punches begin landing, Diaz will begin to slow down, making it even easier for Marquez to pick him apart. Diaz lasted the full 12 with Campbell, and he will survive to the final bell here. But Marquez’s hand will be raised as the victor, with a unanimous decision.

Will he finally get the third fight with Manny Pacquiao? It’s something that as boxing fans, we all must clamor for.

By Jake Emen
ProFighting-fans.com Staff Writer & Director of Boxing Content