Marquez Stops Diaz in A Thriller, John and Juarez Fight To A Draw

Posted by Igor Frank on 03.01.2009

Igor Frank reports ringside from the Toyota Center in Houston on two incredible fights, Diaz vs. Marquez and Juarez vs. John.


Photos by Will Hart / HBO

HOUSTON, TX -- Juan Manuel Marquez made history with a spectacular 9th round stoppage of Juan Baby Bull Diaz. Even though Marquez won the fight in an incredible fashion and proved once again why he is one of the top pounds for pound fighters, he literally had to go through hell to get the victory. " I am 35 years old and I am at the peak of my career," said Mexican champion: " I only want to fight the best now."

The first round of the main event between Juan Manuel Marquez and a local favorite Juan Baby Bull Diaz had everyone on their feet in hysteria from the fierce action in the ring. This was a prelude for things to come. Brave combatants kept firing bombs at each with force and determination and with intermittent success going into the ninth round even on the judge's scorecards. In the fourth Diaz cut Marquez and in the 8th Marquez cut Diaz and then he hurt him with a combination that had Diaz trying to find his legs. Diaz came back strong in the ninth and was winning the round when he run-in into a sharp combination and found himself going down face first. Diaz got up on shaky legs, but Marquez turned on the heat and put his adversary down once again. The referee Rafael Ramos did not bother to count and stopped the fight. It is really hard to describe the action in the ring of this fight. My boss texted me with one simple word "Wow!!"


A sizzling fight with an exciting turn

I know it is only February but I have to call it a fight of the year.

In the semi main event of the evening Olympic silver medalist from Houston, Texas Rocky Juarez challenged undefeated featherweight champion from Indonesia Chris John for his WBA title. A passionate crowd at the Toyota Center in Houston cheered in anticipation of Rocky entering the ring and booed as Chris John's entrance was announced while "Rocky "song was played over the loudspeaker.

Even though the first round was tactical, Rocky was more aggressive. The pace picked up in the second stanza with both fighters unleashing lethal combinations. Rocky seized the initiative in the fourth stanza with a couple of heavy body shots that seemed to hurt the champion. Rocky got a deep cut on the left side of his eye from a right hand in the fifth and the champion tried to take advantage of the cut in the six and seemingly took over the momentum of the fight and won rounds 6 and 7. Rocky reasserted himself in the 8th with a huge left hook and a few very telling body blows, but it was very competitive round as John fired back in bunches. Many rounds were very close and hard to score with John being busier and Juarez landing the more telling blows. In the eleventh Rocky landed some very devastating combinations that hurt the champion. Going into the 12th round it looked like Rocky took over the momentum of the fight but the final stanza showed that both warriors decided to leave it all in the ring. This great title bout that left no one disappointed except for the decision had a fitting ending with all three judges scoring the fight the same 114-114. Looking at the judges scorecards Rocky needed to win the last two rounds to pull out a draw and he did just that. Even though Rocky did not win the fight, he fought like a true champion. I personally scored the fight for Juarez because I felt that in professional boxing we need to score damage , not activity, but on the other hand I can not argue with the judges looking at disparity in punch count.

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