By Rick Reeno
The most intriguing fight of night, stylistically, will take place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Juan Manuel Marquez (48-4-1, 35 KOs) continues his hunt for Manny Pacquiao by moving up to the lightweight division to challenge Joel Casamayor (36-3-1, 22KOs). There are two big mysteries in the fight. Did Marquez lose anything with the jump in weight? Does Casamayor have enough left to win?
The staff of BoxingScene.com comes together to voice their opinions, strategies and predictions for the big fight.
Robert Morales - Joel Casamayor is not as good as Marquez from a pound-for-pound standpoint, but Marquez wasn't even a big junior lightweight. Now he is fighting a lightweight who is still good. Casamayor is also one of the more dirty fighters and it will be interesting to see how Marquez reacts to that. Casamayor via late-round stoppage.
Cliff Rold - Have to go against the grain on this one. Marquez may be fresher, but Casamayor showed against Katsidis he's not done. He's also naturally larger. This fight could get ugly, but Joel thrives in ugly and is willing to bend rules where Marquez might not. Look for one or both to hit the deck via knockdown or hip toss en route to a nail biter decision for the Cuban Casamayor.
Jake Donovan - Marquez by twelve-round split-decision over Casamayor. Type of fight where no matter who wins, the verdict will come across as controversial, or at the very least, debatable for years. No excuses of ring rust for Casa, who will be fighting for the 3rd time in 10 months, one of which was a bail-out knockout of Michael Katsidis earlier this year. Marquez has slowed a bit, but still among the game's very best, and shouldn't have much issue with adding 5 lb to his frame.
TK Stewart - Before Casamayor knocked out Michael Katsidis I said his legs were gone and that he was shot. The Katsidis fight almost convinced me I was wrong about him - almost. But looking at Katsidis for what he is I think Katsidis succeeded in making Casamayor look very, very, very good. I still say that Casamayor's legs are gone. Marquez is one of the top five fighters on the planet. What you have to watch for in this one is that Marquez cuts easily and Casamayor is the dirtiest fighter there is in boxing today. Casamyor uses his head and it is criminal what he does and can do with it. It's so subtle that the neophyte referees we have today don't even see it. I got to see it from ringside, up close and personal, when he fought Diego Corrales in their second fight. Marquez is a sneaky, sharp, quick puncher and I think he'll make Casamayor look stupid with the ease at which he can hit him. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Cuban hit the deck early in a flash knockdown. Whatever the case, in what could be a very, very, very boring fight between two counterpunchers, I like Marquez to win by technical decision. Joel will headbutt Marquez the first chance he gets, Marquez will spurt blood, the thing will go to the cards if it makes it four rounds - and Marquez will take the technical decision sometime around the sixth.
CompuBox/Bob Canobbio - Juan Manuel Marquez with a close unanimous decision.
James Blears - Superb technician and tactition that he is, Juan Manuel Marquez isn't anywhere near big enough to be swapping leather in the Lightweight Division. Unlike Manny Pacquiao who he's still chasing, Juan Manuel hasn't outgrown the Feathweight category, which he could still comfortably reach. Instead, he's had to eat the kitchen sink to reach this level which is too heavy for him. Juan will put up a superb display as always to hold off a bigger and stronger opponent, but lose a unanimous decision, and will suffer yet another nasty cut along the way.
Brent Matteo Alderson - "El Cepillo" has really been struggling lately and was lucky to win both fights with Cruz and Katsidis. Plus look at the bags under his eyes, he's really aged recently. I just think that Marquez looks so much fresher in and out of the ring and he has been a fighter at a higher level. I like Marquez to take it.
Dave Sholler - Marquez by technical knockout in four. The 37-year-old Casamayor has never been stopped in his 12-year career. That changes against Marquez. A poised, persistent Marquez will pressure Casamayor enough to land a series of fight-changing punches. Don't miss this fight. It could be better than expected.
Lyle Fitzsimmons - Juan Manuel Marquez winning a twelve-round decision over Joel Casamayor. Two stylists in what could be the dullest big-time fight in the last 20 years
Ernest Gabion - Joel Casamayor should take it by technical knockout in nine.
Shawn Krest - Like his first name, there's more to Casamayor than first meets the eye. He is a classic "trap" fighter, catching people looking ahead (or behind) at bigger names. Marquez just finished a long-awaited date with Manny Pacquiao. The bait is set. The difference is a mid-fight knockdown as Casamayor steals a 114-113 split-decision.
Michael Campbell - Juan Manuel Marquez by technical knockout in eight.
Paul Gallegos - Two classic boxers with everything to lose by fighting one another. Marquez fights the best and rises to any situation. Casamayor usually finds a way to win. This is going to be a good fight that will either end in a draw or some kind of a cut stopping the bout. I just see Marquez outhustling Casamayor. Marquez by unanimous decision or stoppage due to a cut.
Michael Doss - I'm going with Juan Manuel Marquez by unanimous decision or a late technical knockout.
Troy Ondrizek - This is easily the best fight of the night and the hardest to pick. If Michael Katsidis could find places to lay his hands on Casamayor, surely Marquez could do the same. But does Juan Manuel have the power to back Casamayor off or the chin to weather the return volleys? Im going to say no to both. That doesn't mean Marrquez loses this fight. His punches from several angles and intelligent aggresion with keep Casamayor at bay early, and once Joel realizes that Juan can't hurt him he will come on strong to the finish. Surviving a late knockdown, Marquez by split-decision.
Alexey Potapov - In my opinion, Juan Manuel Marquez's recent loss to Manny Pacquiao was not deserved and very disputable. Juan Manuel, I consider him to be one of the best boxers in the world, with very good technique in his punches and speed. Joel Casamayor is a very strong boxer. I think this fight will be very entertaining. It is very heavy to predict the winner, but I think that Juan Manuel Marquez will either stop Casamayor late, around rounds 8 to 11, or win a unanimous decision.
Alphonso Costello - Considering the events that unfolded in Joel Casamayor’s last two bouts, the 135-pound ancient relic is lucky to call himself Boxing’s Biblical Lightweight Champion. Casamayor’s strength and underhanded boxing prowess should be enough to defeat a smaller fighter that may be biting off more than he can chew by moving up in weight. On the other hand, Juan Manuel Marquez is a masterful boxing technician and fistic warrior. He could easily slice his way to victory using his crisp counter punching attack and stamina. Some fighters can easily make the jump in weight without a hitch, but Marquez may struggle at 135-pounds given Casamayor’s natural strength advantage.
In a fight too close to call Marquez defeats Casamayor by split decision.
John Hively - Joel Casamayor is past his best. So I like Marquez by decision. If this fight had occurred a few years ago, I might have picked Casamayor.
Rick Reeno - I've said it once, and I'll say it again - I refuse to go against the old man in this one. I refused to go against him in March, when he came from behind to stop Michael Katsidis. I refuse to go against him when he meets Juan Manuel Marquez on Saturday. I've always felt that Marquez was a small super featherweight. I think he's even smaller at 135-pounds. Casamayor stood toe to toe at times with Katsidis and gave as good as he got. I don't think Marquez will be able to back Casamayor up. During one of my last conversations with the late Diego Corrales, Chico told me that two things surprised him about Casamayor - his speed and his strength. He said Casamayor is very physically strong and you don't realize how strong he is until you get in close with him. Marquez keeps moving up in weight to chase Manny Pacquiao. I think this time he may have bit off more than he could chew. I like Casamayor by decision.