By Cliff Rold

Winning by decision over a man one has previously knocked out may not seem a more decisive victory in the imagination but it is what occurred last Saturday night in Las Vegas.  In February 2009, World Lightweight Champion Juan Manuel Marquez (51-5-1, 37 KO) had to dig deep to hold off younger challenger Juan Diaz (35-4, 17 KO), stopping him in round nine.

On Saturday, in the rematch, Marquez started strong and never looked back.  He didn’t win every round but, entering the late stages, had locked up a guaranteed need for a knockout from Diaz.  It was something Diaz, never a banger, was not up for the task for and something he didn’t seem inclined to seriously attempt.

The pre-fight review predicted it would again be a case of “a great fighter versus a fighter who has been pretty good.”  Diaz is still pretty good; just not good enough.

Let’s go to the report card.

Grades
Pre-Fight: Speed – Marquez B+; Diaz B+/Post: Same
Pre-Fight: Power – Marquez B; Diaz B-/Post: Same
Pre-Fight: Defense – Marquez B+; Diaz B/Post: Marquez B+; Diaz B-

Pre-Fight: Intangibles – Marquez A; Diaz B/Post: Same

From early on, it was clear that the accuracy Marquez used to stop Diaz the first time was still burned in Diaz’s brain.  It seemed unlikely Diaz would change the approach he’s had during the bulk of his career but the unlikely occurred.  Diaz boxed more, stayed at range more, and pressured less.  Unfortunately for him, it made his offense easier to predict and, the way it was employed, gave almost no chance for the upset.

It’s not to say Diaz didn’t have his moments.  Diaz worked hard in spots all night, and went out with a fiery final round, but there was never the feeling the first fight evoked.  It never felt like Diaz was going for broke, like he was insisting on victory.  Diaz has shown a decline in output and energy in each of his last two fights.  He may just need a rest.  It’s probably more than that, as will be discussed further below.  Diaz’s defense was largely focused on staying out of prolonged exchanges, not an upgrade on the first fight where he got hit as the nature of his offensive approach.

Marquez?  He did, as he usually does, insist on victory.  At 36, he is a marvel and, no matter that he went up the scale, showed how impressive his domination at the hands of Floyd Mayweather last year really was.  Marquez does not waste punches, and he doesn’t miss with his best stuff often.  There is a surgeon like quality to the Mexican veteran.  He is, in style, temper, and trainer, an answer for those who wonder what Strawweight legend Ricardo Lopez would have looked like in more notable classes had he been blessed with more size.

It was a watchable affair, and plenty entertaining, but fell short of the classic stature its predecessor is sure to enjoy.  The action did serve though as a valuable place to begin questions about what is to come.

Moving Forward

As noted in the aftermath of the fight, Marquez’s desires are clear.  He wants a third fight with Welterweight beltholder and pound-for-pound standout Manny Pacquiao.  Marquez’s promoters at Golden Boy want a showdown with Jr. Welterweight beltholder (and longer term investment) Amir Khan.  In discussing Khan-Marquez after the fight versus Marquez-Pacquiao III, Golden Boy’s Richard Schaefer reportedly stated, “there’s no sense in” calling Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum.  “I know what he’ll say. We all know it. I know the MGM would love to host a Pacquiao vs. Marquez fight. I think even Pacquiao would love it. But Bob likes to do everything in house.”

The reference is to the fact that Manny Pacquiao’s upcoming, and most recent, fights were against fellow Top Rank promoted fighters.  The humor of the statement is that Khan-Marquez would be just as in house in Golden Boy’s favor and a fight Khan and Schaefer seem far more interested in than Marquez.  Wake us when Khan (23-1, 17 KO) enters serious negotiations for a) a serious puncher again or b) Timothy Bradley or Devon Alexander at Jr. Welterweight.

That doesn’t mean Khan isn’t going to end up the wise choice.  Marquez could stay at Lightweight, and stay champion, for a while longer though his age is bound to catch up but the money isn’t there nor are truly notable foes.  The best at this point would probably be Michael Katsidis (27-2, 22 KO) for entertainment purposes but the check would be smaller than Khan.   

Diaz has less options.  He lost to Marquez both times and should have lost to Paulie Malignaggi twice instead of just once.  Had he, Diaz would be at 1-5 in his last six.  An exciting and honest fighter for most of the last ten years, Diaz is still only 26 and, as he discussed on HBO after the fight, has the LSATs to prepare for.  It’s not often a fighter can go from teenage phenom to unified titlist to law school all by the age of 30.

If such is the fate for the “Baby Bull,” all which can be said is God speed.  Boxing is littered with stories of fighters who leave their brains on the mat and whose futures didn’t end up as bright as their pasts.  Diaz can, and one should expect will, be the exception to cautionary tales and gave the sport some damn good fights along the way.

Diaz’s defeat on Saturday may well have, ironically, been the beginning of a happy ending.

Report Card Picks 2010: 17-10

Cliff Rold is a member of the Ring Magazine Ratings Advisory Panel and the Boxing Writers Association of America.  He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com