Juan Manuel Marquez vs Juan Diaz – Tale of the Tape and Keys to Victory
By Brandon Estrict, DoghouseBoxing.com (Feb 27, 2009)  
JUAN MANUEL MARQUEZ

AGE:
35

RECORD: 49-4-1 (36 KO)

LAST 5 FIGHTS: 4-1 (2 KO)

KEY WINS: CASAMAYOR(TKO 11), BARRERA(W12), PEDEN(TKO 10)
GAINER(TKO 7), JUAREZ(W12)

KEY LOSSES: PACQUIAO II(SD 12), CHRIS JOHN(UD12)
NORWOOD(UD 12)

CHAMPIONSHIPS: FEATHERWEIGHT(WBO NABO, NABF, USBA, IBF, WBA
WBO interim…SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT(WBC),
CURRENT RING LINEAL CHAMPION @ LIGHTWEIGHT

HEIGHT: 5’7”

REACH: 67

KEYS TO VICTORY

Marquez must control distance. If he’s able to keep the bigger Diaz at range, where his superior boxing ability would be best utilized, it should be enough to carry the day. The question is, at 35 and in a new weight class, will he possess the speed and strength necessary to do so? Also, in Juan Diaz’s lone professional defeat two fights ago to Nate Campbell, he was noticeably affected by body shots. Marquez should not forget to dig to the body early.

JUAN DIAZ

AGE:
25

RECORD: 34-1 (17 KO)

LAST 5 FIGHTS: 4-1 (2 KO)

KEY WINS: KATSIDIS(W12), FREITAS(TKO 8), JULIO DIAZ(TKO 9)
JOSE MIGUEL COTTO(W12)

KEY LOSSES: NATE CAMPBELL(SD 12)

CHAMPIONSHIPS: LIGHTWEIGHT(WBC WORLD YOUTH TITLE, WBA
WBO, IBF, CURRENT IBO CHAMPION

HEIGHT: 5’6”

REACH: 67

KEYS TO VICTORY

Volume, volume, volume. Two things are for certain when Juan Diaz fights, Golden Boy is promoting and Diaz MUST outwork his opponent. He’s a pressure fighter that relies on breaking his opponents will more than any one damaging signature punch. He gets his stoppages through an accumulation with sheer hustle as he fights at a non-stop, blistering pace from bell-to-bell. And to make this his fight, he must get inside on Marquez and keep the pressure on. He will look to close distance as quickly as possible and bury his head in Marquez’s chest as, with an accurate counter-puncher like JMM, the longer it takes him to get where he needs to be, the more susceptible he is to being pot-shot and circled. He must also look to land his short left hook over Marquez’s straight right, as it’s a punch that Marquez likes to throw.

MY PREDICTION:

Marquez will give away a couple of rounds early looking to get his distance and time Diaz coming in. He will begin to take control later in the bout with clean punching and will stop Diaz on his fight around the 11th round.

Send all thoughts and comments to Brandon at BEstrict@hotmail.com, or Myspace.com/BEstrictboxing
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