LA PRENSA brings you a preview of tomorrow night’s highly anticipated Lightweight Championship matchup between Juan Manuel Marquez and Juan Diaz
By Steve Galindo III
The Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas will play host to the biggest fight of the summer tomorrow night when Juan Manuel Marquez (50-5, 37 KOs) battles Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz (35-3, 17 KOs) in a rematch of their 2009 Fight of the Year. The backdrop of the vibrant Vegas lights serve as a fitting destination for these two down on their luck fighters, that have much at stake. Both Marquez and Diaz enter tomorrow night’s pivotal matchup on the heels of two very disappointing loses (Marquez to Floyd Mayweather last September, and Diaz to Paulie Malignaggi last December), needless to say neither man can afford to leave Las Vegas with another defeat. It’s a battle for Lightweight supremacy with both the WBO, and WBA titles on the line, but titles mean very little when your career is on the line. That makes this bout all the more intriguing.
3 BIG questions for Marquez Diaz II
3. Can the Undercard live up to the hype?
Tomorrow night’s undercard which includes fights between Jr. Lightweights: Jorge Linares and Rocky Juarez, Lightweights: Robert Guerrero and Joel Casamayor, along with the Middleweight title fight between Daniel Jacob Dmitry Pirog is being touted as one of the best in recent memory, and with good reason. All three fights have the potential to steal the show, and provide the fireworks that will satisfy true Boxing fans. There are storylines galore in all three fights. In the case of Linares and Juarez, both are at a crossroads in their career and can ill afford another loss. Robert Guerrero will be making the move up to lightweight and will face the toughest test of his career when he meets tough Cuban veteran Joel Casamayor- in what should be a barnburner. And 23-year-old Daniel Jacobs will be looking to capture his first title against tough Russian champion Dimitry Pirog.
2. At 37, can Dinimita still deliver?
He’s coming off the worst loss of his 17-year career, but Juan Manuel Marquez insists that there is still plenty of fuel left in his tank. After trying his hand at Welterweight last year, Marquez is scaling back down to the Lightweight division. Many feel that the constant grind of moving and dropping weight has taken its toll on the veteran fighter. Despite his loss to Floyd Mayweather, Dinimita is still regarded as one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the game. That can all change with a loss to Juan Diaz tomorrow night. A loss to Diaz would prove to be devastating for Marquez. A loss would certainly take him out of the running for a future fight against his nemesis Manny Pacquiao, and would likely relegate Marquez to boxing’s senior circuit where he could look forward to bouts against fellow Mexican legends Marco Antonio Barrera, and Erik Morales.
1. Can the rematch top the first fight?
In terms of sequels, I consider this match to be The Godfather part II. Not only is it a title fight, but it’s also a crossroads fight with both warriors having much to prove. Despite being nearly 10 years apart in age, both fighters are out to prove that they still have what it takes to compete in this sport. The fun part will be to see what kind of game plans these two warriors come up with. Diaz’s game plan will most certainly be to fight with more caution, and more intelligence, but it will not be easy as Marquez has one of best minds in all of boxing.
Tough Talk: Marquez, Diaz speak….
On the significance of this fight:
Marquez: As far as this fight with Juan Diaz, he’s going to bring it. He’s trained very well. I’m trained very well and it’s going to be a very good fight and like I said it could be even better than the first one.
Diaz: This fight is going to prove to me- whether I have it or I don’t. This fight right here, is what’s going to take me to the top, and make me the superstar that I’ve been waiting to be in the Lightweight Division
On training:
Marquez: I get up every morning to run with the same enthusiasm as always to go to the gym to train. I’m motivated to defend my titles with a lot pride and to make everyone happy.
Diaz: I think that this is by far one of the best training camps yet, because I’m completely 100% focused. I’m listening to my cornerman, to my trainers; I’m doing whatever it takes to be successful this time around. It doesn’t matter what round it is, I’m going all out. I have the energy, from the start of the bell, to the end of the bell
On their first fight being named 2009 Fight of the year:
Marquez: It was very significant and it’s very motivating. But, keep in mind, in a fight, it takes two to tango and Juan Diaz deserves all the recognition as well. And, I think, come July 31 when we both bring it, it should be equal if not, better, than the first one.
Diaz: It’s definitely mixed emotions. On one part, I’m very happy that I was able to be in one of these fights. That had always been my dream to be in one of those all-out wars, but obviously in my dream, the outcome wasn’t the outcome that happened in 2009. (In my dream) I was the winner.
Marquez on what he must do differently in this fight:
I’m not thinking of any way I can be different or do anything differently. I’m coming with everything. I’m not going to be overconfident because I’ve beaten him, because I’ve knocked him out. I’m going in just like as it was the first fight, 100 percent ready to take care of business.
Diaz on the difficulties of facing a future Hall of Famer in Marquez:
When it comes to him throwing the punches, he’s very smart in connecting with the right punches. He kept hitting me in the same spot-over, and over again, and I didn’t open my eyes or use defense or make any adjustments to that.
Keys to victory
Marquez: What we are going to do to counter that is we’re going to do a great fight up in the ring with a lot of technical boxing, a lot of finesse, a lot of movement and angles and that’s how we will counter his aggressiveness this fight.
Diaz: Stay calm, under control, and be patient, those are the three main keys for this fight.
Fight Facts
The sports book at Caliente has Juan Manuel Marquez listed as a 4-1 betting favorite.
According to an online poll conducted by whorupicking.com, 70% of Boxing fans are predicting Juan Manuel Marquez to win.
According to Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaeffer, tomorrow’s night card will cost his company approximately $4 million to produce.
Juan Manuel Marquez drinks his own urine 2 times a day. Marquez believes that drinking his urine is the best way to keep the vitamins and nutrients that he consumes inside his body. “It’s good for you, and it’s free,” he says. Marquez gives new meaning to the phrase- potty mouth.
Local ticket agency Atlas tickets, is charging $1080 for one ringside seat for tomorrow night’s fight.
Gran Predicción: Many outlets are predicting a victory for Juan Manuel Marquez based on his spectacular ninth- round knockout of Juan Diaz in their first fight. I believe that the only way that Diaz can win this fight is if he paces himself and plans a more subdued attack. It Might be easier said than done, they don’t call him the “Baby Bull” for nothing. I believe that the fight will go the distance, but I don’t believe that Diaz can be patient with his punches. I feel that he will revert to his natural aggressive style which will prove to be his downfall: MARQUEZ by DECISION
EL GRAN CHISME
México vs. Puerto Rico: López vs. Márquez set for Sept. 18
Fireworks will fly during Mexican Independence Day weekend in Las Vegas, Nev., when two-division world champions JUAN MANUEL “JuanMa” LOPEZ and RAFAEL MARQUEZ collide for Lopez’s World Boxing Organization (WBO) featherweight title, Saturday, September 18, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The 12-round world title tilt will be televised live on SHOWTIME Championship Boxing. “To join the elite class of Mexican champions like Julio César Chávez, Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera, Fernando Montiel and my brother Juan Manuel, who have won world titles in three different weight divisions, has always been a goal of mine and now that opportunity has arrived, fighting for a third division world title as my country celebrates its Independence Day. Making it even more special is that Juan Manuel and I would be the only brothers to accomplish such a feat,” said Marquez. “This has become the most important fight of my career and I will train for it as if I were fighting for my life.”