WBC super featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez – who was scheduled to face Houston?s Rocky Juarez on Golden Boy Promotions? Mexican Independence Day weekend card in September, but was instead scratched from the show due to an infected hand suffered during training – received a reprieve for his late-2007 campaign when Showtime stepped in to televise the bout this Saturday at the Desert Diamond Casino in Tucson, Arizona.
Also feeling fortunate is Juarez, a 2000 Olympian who now gets his fourth world title shot against one of the best technical fighters in the world. Of course that could be a double-edged sword, as Juarez is coming off a rematch loss against Marco Antonio Barrera in a bout that saw Barrera?s jab commanding the action throughout the one sided unanimous decision loss, and Marquez arguably has a better jab than Barrera, whom the current champion defeated in March.
Following his handy injury, Marquez (47-3-1, 35 KOs) has had more than enough time to recoup and train, and he should be ready to go against the always plucky Juarez, who will once more need to pressure his way to the inside and try to attack the body and set up his powerful headshots if he has any chance at finally capturing the world title which has been so elusive for him thus far.
The best chance at winning for Juarez (27-3, 17 KOs) – who climbed up the world rankings after wins over Frankie Archuleta, David Murillo, Zahir Raheem, Guty Espadas Jr., and Juan Carlos Ramirez – would be if he started quick and inflicted enough damage to bust up Marquez?s increasingly frail skin.
Other than that though, Marquez who holds a height and reach advantage over his foe, should have more than enough firepower to get him a late stoppage win over a very game, but ultimately outgunned Juarez in what should be a barnburner for as long as it lasts.
And if Marquez – who sports an impressive resume with four world titles in two weight classes and wins over the likes of Manuel Medina, Derrick Gainer, Orlando Salido, Jimrex Jaca, and Barrera ? can get the win, it would put another feather on his cap, especially if he is able to stop the solid chinned Juarez. More importantly, an impressive win would put him in line for a highly anticipated rematch against Manny Pacquiao, whom Marquez fought to a draw in 2004.
But first things first, and that?s a meeting with Juarez on Saturday.
