IF YOU?RE one of those early Sunday risers and you say your morning prayers long before those weekend warriors are up, then it?s probably not too much to ask of you to put in a good word with the Man up there for Donnie Nietes.
You see, Donnie (23-1, 14KOs) who holds the WBO minimum-weight belt is one of our few remaining world champions in boxing.
With Nonito Donaire Jr., Gerry Pe?alosa and Manny Pacquiao (who recently vacated the WBC lightweight belt) penciled to fight dangerous opponents in the next few months, the possibility that we might end up with a title drought (God forbid!) by the end of the year is a frightening but plausible prospect.
Finally, if you may be so kind as to make those prayers long and hard, please do so. As good as Donnie is, this soft-spoken Bacolod native will be donnybrooking with Mexican Erik Ramirez (25-5, 19KOs) at the Auditorio Guelaguetza in Oaxaca, Mexico.
May our prayers be answered.
TWO JUANS. It?s another TGIFS (thank God it?s fight Sunday) today and how! With Manny?s departure from the lightweight division, the Juan Manuel Marquez (49-4, 36KOs)-Juan Diaz (34-1, 17KOs) fight is a battle between the best lightweights today, with due apologies to Nate Campbell.
Let?s see how they stack up.
POWER. Although Marquez has stopped 36 opponents, very few of these stoppages have been of the one-punch knockout variety.
In his last fight, though, he stopped the normally durable Joel Casamayor despite being the smaller man moving up in weight, so Marquez might actually feel more comfortable in his new division.
Though Diaz grunts and groans as he gores, there?s not much pop in those gloves as he prefers to wear down his opponents round after round with his voluminous punching.
Advantage: Marquez
SPEED. This one is tough to call. In his two battles with Pacquiao, Marquez has shown spurts of blistering hand speed. On the other hand, Diaz?s success has hinged mostly on his ability to get off first and stun his opponents with his six-punch combos.
Advantage: Even
BOXING ABILITY. This is a classic match-up between a puncher and a counter-puncher. However, Diaz possesses remarkable ring smarts and is not your ordinary banger. He doesn?t punch mindlessly, but instead subscribes to the mantra that?s its better to be first always. How effective this strategy will be against a cunning ring veteran such as Marquez remains to be seen.
Advantage: Marquez
CHIN. This one?s easy. Marquez has been dropped several times while Diaz has taken the punches of some of the hardest hitters in the business, such as Acelino Freitas, Michael Katsidis and Julio Diaz.
Advantage: Diaz
AGE AND PHYSICAL EQUIPMENT. Diaz by a mile. He is younger and fresher than the battle-worn Marquez and has been fighting in the lightweight division for several years, making him very comfortable coming into this fight.
EXPECT THE FIGHT. To be a war from the get-go. Diaz doesn?t have reverse in his gear box, but Marquez will happily counter-punch him in the middle of the ring.
This will be a tough, grueling fight, but this writer believes that Marquez still has what it takes to get the nod via split decision due to his superior movement, which will shade him most of the rounds.
LAST ROUND. It?s on my brother Ramsey Quijano who scored an emphatic win to bag the presidency of the IBP Cebu Chapter (Province). Joining him are: Dindo Perez (Vice-President); Mundlyn Martin (Secretary); Gregorio Bacolod (Treasurer), Joselito Alo (PRO), Orvi Ortega (Auditor). The Board of Directors are Ricardo Amores, Ronnie Gocuan, Erwin Heyrosa, Gonzalo Malig-on Jr. and Ferdinand Pepito. Cheers!
