Rusty Rubin is a veteran boxing writer
Two hard to figure fights on HBO this weekend, both from Houston, Texas and at no charge to the viewer.
One features a tough fight between Juan Diaz and Juan Manuel Marquez, in the lightweight division. These two guys give as well as they get and figure to put on a great show.
This is a classic battle of youth via experience, as Diaz, a hungry fighter with just one loss on his record meets veteran Marquez, who wants this win for a variety of reasons.
This figures to be a fight that is decided by who wants it more, and I have to believe that gives a big edge to Marquez. I have to believe that if Marquez wins the bout, he may next take on the fighter who cost him his title in Indonesia.
As I understand it, his losing fight against Chris John in that land was a horrible decision. I didn’t see the bout, so I can’t comment on it any further.
Marquez by a close decision because he wants the re-match.
And, on the same card, the fighter that beat Marquez, WBA featherweight champ Chris John takes on hometown veteran Rocky Juarez in another intriguing match-up.
Juarez will get a lot of support from his hometown fans and that can influence the judges if it goes to the scorecards. Rocky has faced bigger punches, but that doesn’t mean John can’t punch, he can.
Juarez figures to have a difficult time with Jones and will want to find the big punch to end it early. He will be the aggressor in the early rounds.
So, does Marquez get the re-match he so dearly wants? I just don’t think so. Unless John can end it with a TKO, I can see no way he can win this fight. Of course, I said the same thing about his match with Marquez in Indonesia.
Anyhow, Rocky Juarez by a close and perhaps tainted decision.
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Rusty Rubin is the editor of Ringsports.com. He is also the author of three acclaimed boxing books! “Woozel, Boxing and Me”, “Off the Canvas” and “Billy Soose, the Champion Time Forgot” co-authored by Tom Donelson.
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