Juan Manuel Marquez vs Juan Diaz Review

Marquez Knocks out Diaz in Thriller

Juan Manuel Marquez put on one of the classic boxing performances in recent memory, in his knockout win over former lightweight champion Juan Diaz. Marquez, a featherweight for most of his career, proved to be the harder puncher and the superior tactician in a brawl of a fight - and fight of the year candidate - in front of Diaz's hometown fans in Houston.

Marquez, known as a slow starter, had to overcome a ferocious Diaz onslaught in the early rounds to knock him out. It was his slow starts against Manny Pacquiao that were the cause of his loss and draw verdicts against the pound for pound champion. But this evening he would not be deterred.

Diaz is not a hard puncher, but uses his pressure and the accumulation of his punches to do damage. If he was to win the fight, it would have to have been a result of getting inside of Marquez's sharp counterpunches and pressuring him out of his game. In the first few rounds of the fight he was doing just that. He came out firing on all cylinders against Marquez and found success trapping him on the ropes.

His early determination set a scorching pace, which saw both men throw over 700 punches in less than nine rounds of action. It looked as if youth would be served, as despite Diaz's long title reign he is still only 25 years old. Meanwhile Marquez is 35, and has to be nearing the end of his miraculous career.

By the third round however, Marquez was the fighter landing the crisper, cleaner shots. With 37 knockouts in his now 50 career wins, Marquez is an underrated power puncher. After knocking out the previously once beaten Juan Diaz, a career lightweight, that certainly shouldn't be the case any longer.

The rounds ebbed and flowed; when Diaz was able to get Marquez on the ropes he would unleash damaging combinations and land solid left hooks to the head, and when Marquez was able to keep the fight in the center of the ring his pinpoint accuracy in between Diaz's flurries were more effective.

Going into the sixth round of the fight, the win and the championship belts (the fight was for the vacant WBA and WBO lightweight title belts) were still up for grabs. That round however saw Marquez for the first time dictate the pace of the fight. It would be the final turning point in this early fight of the year candidate.

Despite a crowd that loudly cheered each time Diaz plowed forward and threw punches, Marquez was able to land better, more subtle shots with his straighter punchers and cool-under-fire tactics. This is a man who stood toe to toe with Manny Pacquiao, even after being knocked down three times in the first round of their first meeting, so Juan Diaz would not intimidate him.

By the eighth round, Diaz was cut badly over his eye and seemed discouraged at the way the fight was going. The ninth round saw Marquez opening up more, while Diaz's punches seemed sloppier and wilder. Marquez landed a right hook and a left uppercut, followed by a straight right hand to send Diaz tumbling down. Marquez then picked his shots perfectly, lowering Diaz's guard with a thudding left hook to the body before landing a right uppercut that sent Diaz flying to the canvas, ending his night and ruining his title hopes.

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Marquez once again showed why he is one of the best fighters in the sport. Facing a younger and inexhaustible opponent, he was able to adjust his game plan and eventually wear Diaz out. The back and forth fight ended suddenly, seemingly as soon as Marquez decided it to be so. When Marquez unleashed his full arsenal with intense aggression, Diaz crumbled.

After the fight, Marquez announced his intentions for moving up from the lightweight ranks. After only two fights there the division was sufficiently and thoroughly conquered. Marquez called out retired fighter and pound for pound champion emeritus Floyd Mayweather, calling the potential contest a fight to determine who's the real pound for pound ruler. It was a shot at current pound for pound king Manny Pacquiao, who has so far denied the opportunity for a highly anticipated third meeting between the two.

Both fights are unfortunately unlikely to happen, at least in the near future. A fight against former lightweight champion and previous Diaz conqueror Nate Campbell, who is also moving up to 140 pounds may be a smaller event but a more realistic affair.

In earlier action, Rocky Juarez fell just short yet again, this time against Indonesian featherweight champion Chris John. The fight was scored a draw, although it seemed that John earned the decision. It was John's first fight in the states. He famously edged Marquez in a fight several years ago. Prospect Danny Garcia scored another win on the card, and is continuing his progression through the junior welterweight ranks.

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