By CompuBox
The crossroads fight is the most compelling of story lines and on Saturday two men who once were among the elite will seek to regain that status by meeting a second time.
Juan Manuel Marquez and Juan Diaz produced a Fight of the Year candidate and those promoting it hope the stylistic magic is still there. Is it? The oddsmakers don’t think so, making Marquez a 4-1 favorite. The CompuBox stats may provide a clue, as well as factors that may determine the result.
The first time around: Marquez’s KO overshadowed what had been an extremely competitive fight through the first six. Marquez, who had averaged 50 punches per round in his previous three, went blow-for-blow and came out ahead over the first six as he went 192 of 517 to Diaz’s 176 of 547. Moreover, Marquez out-landed Diaz 128-122 in power shots and was more accurate (44 percent to 33).
The fight turned in the seventh as Marquez landed 65 percent of his power shots (20 of 31) to Diaz’s 33 percent (17 of 52). Marquez went on to out-land Diaz 61-42 overall and 42-22 in power shots in the final two.
Diaz drew Marquez into his kind of fight (81 punches per round to Diaz’s 87) but Marquez’s more rounded skills prevailed. The results: Marquez out-landed Diaz 288-252, out-jabbed him 98-91 and out-powered him 190-161.
Recent form: Marquez’s only fight since was a lopsided decision loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. Marquez was reaching too far against a younger, faster, stronger, fresher and skilled natural welterweight and the huge gulf in numbers was telling. Mayweather landed 59 percent of his overall punches (290 of 493), jabs (185 of 316) and power shots (105 of 177). Meanwhile, Marquez landed 12 percent overall (69 of 583), seven percent of his jabs (21 of 288) and 16 percent of his power shots (48 of 295), a far cry from 35 percent (overall), 26 percent (jabs) and 41 percent (power) in 16 previous CompuBox-tracked fights.
Diaz has gone 1-1 since meeting Marquez, though most would argue he lost both fights to Paul Malignaggi. Diaz’s struggles were two-fold: First, Malignaggi’s mobility and activity prevented Diaz from finding his groove and second, Diaz’s volume was nowhere near what it was in his prime.
Malignaggi out-threw Diaz by nearly 24 punches per round in two fights (72.9 to 49.1) and out-performed him in total power connects (199-147 in two fights). In 14 CompuBox tracked fights Diaz averaged nearly 20 more punches per round (68.4).
Diaz without volume is like pizza without tomato sauce – bland and difficult to stomach. To win, Diaz must crank it up and defend better. Diaz was cut badly over the left eye in the Malignaggi rematch and in his loss to Campbell. His right eye was cut in the first Marquez fight.
Prediction: The nearly 37-year-old Marquez appears to have more left than his 26-year-old rival. For Marquez, the Mayweather fight was the result of “Money’s” talent rather than his own slippage and he will find Diaz’s aggression more to his liking. Also, the fight will be at a more agreeable 135 pounds. Just like the first time there will be action, there will be blood and Marquez will come out the winner.
