September 19th of last year was a humbling night for Juan Manuel Marquez. Putting everything on the line against a come backing Floyd Mayweather Jr., Marquez was dropped in the second round and virtually shut out by his braggadocios foe. Mayweather was simply too big, too quick, and too good for Marquez to cope with and it was the worst defeat of the Mexico City fighter?s career.
Following the defeat there were whispers that Marquez was on the downslide and perhaps those theories were within reason. After all Marquez was 36 years old and had been through his share of wars in the ring. Those question marks served as a subplot for Marquez? rematch with Juan Diaz last night at the Mandalay Bay but when the dust had settled the prideful fighter came away showing the boxing world that his days are far from numbered.
For the better part of twelve rounds Marquez would control his younger foe with his typical precision and counter punching. Diaz was game throughout but he found himself facing an uphill battle as he was picked apart with punishing blows on the inside and simply too slow to be able to out box Marquez from a distance. Scores of 118-110, 117-111, and 116-112 were all read in Marquez? favor and while the rematch wasn?t as thrilling as the first fight in which Marquez stopped Diaz in emphatic fashion in the ninth it was still a good show.
At this point there seem to be three ideal opponents for Juan Manuel Marquez. Manny Pacquiao is the fighter he desires most, Amir Khan is the man who he had been rumored to be in line to face if victorious, and Michael Katsidis is the mandatory to Marquez? WBO championship. All three fights would be must-see television but whatever happens form this point forward, the night of Saturday, July 31st belonged to Juan Manuel Marquez as he continues to defy father time and silence his doubters.
For a picture by picture look at the rematch between Juan Manuel Marquez and Juan Diaz please click on the collage or slideshow below?
