Boxing Odds: Juan Manuel Marquez vs. Juan Diaz

Juan Diaz, left, and Juan Manuel Marquez staged an epic fight in February 2009, with Marquez winning via ninth-round knockout. (AP Images)

Arguably the fight of the year in 2009 was between Juan Manuel Marquez and Juan Diaz, that coming on Feb. 28 in Diaz’s hometown of Houston. Marquez ended it with a huge right uppercut in the ninth round, knocking out Diaz. The Boxing Writers Association of America did vote it 2009's Fight of the Year. The rematch comes Saturday night in Las Vegas with Marquez expected to be the crowd favorite this time as he defends his WBA/WBO lightweight championship – Marquez is the -450 favorite on Bodog’s boxing odds, and that line hasn’t moved at all in recent weeks.

Diaz (35-3, 17 KOs) may well retire to pursue a legal career if he loses again. The 26-year-old recently graduated from the University of Houston and plans on attending law school. Diaz has fought twice since that Marquez bout and both came against Paul Malignaggi. Diaz won a unanimous decision in August of last year but then lost by UD in December.

The 36-year-old Marquez (50-5-1, 37 KOs) hasn’t fought since last September when he was beaten soundly by Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a non-title bout. Marquez was actually dominated by Diaz for the first six rounds or so in the first meeting, but the momentum swung when Marquez opened a cut over Diaz's right eye. One judge had Diaz ahead on the scorecards, one had Marquez ahead and one had it even when the knockout occurred.

"I lost because I committed some dumb mistakes on my behalf, mistakes I normally wouldn't make," Diaz said, adding he's made the proper adjustments. "I was too excited, too pumped up for the fight. I didn't control my emotions like I should have."

Diaz’s fight style is to simply come straight ahead at opponents (some would say he’s one-dimensional) while Marquez is a great counter-puncher. Thus this fight should again be wildly entertaining and rather unlikely to go the distance. The under 11.5 rounds is favored on Bodog’s boxing odds. Marquez is hoping a win leads to a third fight with Manny Pacquiao. But first it’s more likely Marquez would step up to junior welterweight for a December fight vs. title-holder Amir Khan of England.

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