John entered undefeated at 42-0-1 with 22 stoppages - Juarez arrived at 28-4, 20 KOs - and with it, we see John the slower out of the gate in the role of boxer, while Juarez quickly grabs the opening two stanzas behind a busy two-fisted body assault.

Finished taking notes, John begins sharp shooting behind the jab, and with quick in-out, coupled with effective lateral movement, he draws even after four candles - then a big round five sees Juarez cut along the left eye lid.

John would continue in control over numbers five through seven before Juarez can recover to grab eight and nine with strong flurries from both sides.

Entering stanza eleven the scoring had John up by two points and/or leading in rounds 6-4 - Juarez would then toss caution to the wind over the two final rounds with a “Katie bar the door” finish - and then it went to the scoring judges at ringside.

The official scoring mirrored my own at 114-114 in points and 6-6 under round by round method with John retaining the WBA strap.

Post Scripts:

• Chris John (43-0-1, 22 KO) ~ age 29 - easy to see off this first peek the guy is genuine - good size coupled with quickness, defensive skills, and a strong chin the bonus. If no Juarez return, the rest of the featherweight field no valid threat at this time.

• Rocky Juarez ( 28-5, 20 KO) ~ age 28 - still at prime time - in saving for the strong finish he takes foot off the gas and drops five straight stanzas - results in a standoff that could have been a victory. Still second best at 126. Stay tuned for rest of the story.

• Referee in charge Laurence Cole still a favorite son down Texas way, worked his usual “hands on” style that could well have screwed up a natural fan friendly boxer versus puncher affair.

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-Photos Courtesy of HBO-

 

The Marquez-Juan Diaz lightweight title fight proved icing on the cake for the HBO matchmakers, live fans in attendance, and magic-lantern viewers alike - this one had it all and more, in a non-stop blistering barn burner round after round.

Diaz grabs the opening two rounds by virtue of volume punching - Marquez grabs numero tres with good counters and then has the edge in action stanza four that sees both fighters having moments.

The “Baby Bull” then has a big round five  that sees Marquez cut alongside right eye - Diaz continues in control over stanzas six and seven - and then number eight a round  of hot exchanges and it’s a bloodied Diaz wobbled by a Marquez left hook.

Finally, the respective bloodletting comes to a close in stanza nine with Diaz down courtesy a right uppercut and again the right hand repeats and Diaz is down and out.

Time of ending 2:40 of number nine.

Closing comments:

• Juan Manuel Marquez (50-4-1, 37 KOs) age 35 - showed no signs of age in a war of attrition - looking ahead to winner of Hatton-Pacquiao. Might be wiser to remain at 135 where the opposition still looks beatable. Juan no longer has anything to prove - the resumé speaks for itself.

• Juan Diaz (34-2, 17 KOs) ~ age 25 the “Baby Bull” is still at prime time - one of my favorites from day one along with Miguel Cotto and Rocky Juarez. All three honest throwbacks in persona that leave the “hot dogs” at Nathans of Coney island fame instead of inside the ring.   

• Referee Rafael Ramos - unlike most today hacks Rafael worked this one by the yesterday textbook - let the fighters decide the outcome on their own - no verbal rat-tat-tat, grabbing, slapping, threatening. Earned himself five stars.

• HBO broadcast crew: Jim Lamphead directing traffic, introduces Maxie the hysterian as expert. Immediately I tense up much as I did awaiting the catheter for the first time, thinking next we’d hear silver tongued Jim to turn it over to Lennox the lummox Lewis - but the good news in hearing Emanuel Steward working color had me feeling relieved much as I did when the catheter was removed.During opening bout with John using the jab and counters Lamphead goes tutor by displaying “PunchStat” numbers every couple rounds - actually includes favorably the superior numbers John had thrown - the missed punches no less.

No surprise here only Steward had the fight close - one out of three in beizbol is .333 batting average. Seems here bunches of missed tosses is a negative not a positive. The judges concurred. Thus the 114-114 scoring.

 

GEL  -