A rematch of Ring Magazine's 2009 Fight of the Year carries with it a much anticipated HBO PPV undercard, even if the main event seems to have lost a bit of luster from both men losing at higher weights since the first go 'round.
Sure-footed young contender Danny Jacobs puts his 0 on the line against likewise undefeated contender, Russian Dmitry Pirog. While both fighters' records may seem impressive, neither man has a signature, eye-opening win. Jacobs, 20-0 (17), and Pirog, 16-0 (13), have also both had the luxury of being slightly bigger than their higher profile opponents
As Jacobs and Pirog prefer to counter-punch and set a slower pace, this matchup may wind up being one of the slower fights of the evening. Jacobs, who has fought at super middleweight a couple of times, should prove to be the larger and more talented fighter, and I expect him to outwork Pirog over the distance. Look for Jacobs to work an uppercut as Pirog leans his head in while trying to work.
VERDICT: Daniel Jacobs UD
Rocky Juarez finds himself in another crossroads battle against comebacking Venezuelan marksman Jorge Linares. These guys are in uncharted territory, both weighing in at 132 lbs. or above for the first time in their careers. Whether or not that will have much of an effect remains to be seen.
Juarez is 1-3-1 in his last 5 fights, 28-6-1 (20) overall. Rocky is reportedly training like a hungry fighter and sensing a cloud of urgency rolling over what could be the twilight of his career. Likewise, Linares, 28-1 (18), seems to understand that this is another step on his path to proving his first round KO loss to Juan Carlos Salgado last October in Japan, was just a fluke.
A problem for Linares could be his chin if Juarez can connect, but Juarez seems to have trouble with fighters able to move and use angles on him, which is exactly what Linares prefers. The Venezuelan may have more punching power than his record indicates, but he's a stylist first and foremost. Past that, Rocky has lost momentum and looks to be on a quick downslide. I expect Rocky to bleed a bit before the late rounds.
VERDICT: Linares UD
In another interesting matchup, Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero takes on Cuban veteran Joel Casamayor. In another "weighty" first, Guerrero scaled in at 138.5 lbs., a good 3 lbs. heavier than he's ever come in. Both guys are a solid division or two removed of where they should be, though that may be impossible for Casamayor at 39-years old.
At 26-1-1 (18) and 2 No Decisions, Guerrero has had a few underwhelming performances lately, and Casamayor's guile has proven to be difficult for better fighters than Guerrero to deal with. Still, Joel Casamayor, 37-4-1 (22), has been fighting at the world class level since the 1980's, and while Guerrero may not be all that good, Casamayor has had 4 fights in the last 3 years, and has struggled in all of them. That should prove to be more important than the gap in experience and class, but the fight will get dirty sooner or later.
VERDICT: Guerrero UD
Watching the replay of the first fight multiple times in the last few days, the pace Diaz set in the first fight was somehow surprising. More surprising was that Marquez eventually dealt with it and overcame it with sharp, hard punches in the exchanges.
There have been suggestions that Juan Diaz, 35-3 (17), will slow the pace down and work more with his jab. However that's a pace that Marquez, 50-5-1 (37), would probably prefer, since over a year has passed between the first fight and now. Diaz may have his best chance if he once again forces a dogfight and a busy pace, as that was what troubled Marquez over the first 2/3 of the initial meeting, which had Marquez stunned in the first round, and wobbled in the second.
The problem with Diaz swarming once more is that it backfired before, as Marquez eventually zero'd in and got the better of exchanges in the last 2 or 3 rounds, landing at a higher percentage.
Intangibles coming into play are Marquez' age and the fights both men have lost since the first fight. Both Marquez and Diaz lost to bigger men, Marquez to a much better fighter in Floyd Mayweather Jr.; Diaz' 1-1 split with Paul Malignaggi could easily be 0-2. None of these fights seemed particularly damaging to either guy, and they don't factor in much in terms of style. But at 36, Marquez is bound to hit the age wall sooner rather than later.
At the end of the day, a KO win in the first fight is a great mental edge in what should be another close, difficult fight. They say class shows over time, and Marquez is simply the better fighter.
VERDICT: Marquez TKO8
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