I'm No Pundit, Just A Boxing Fan

Juan Manuel Marquez & Juan Diaz Univision Interviews

2009-02-26T16:18:00.000-08:00

Props to Libido Sanchez from the Boxingscene.com forum for doing the translation for both interviews.

Juan Manuel Marquez Interview

JMM: Right now I'm doing light training before the fight. It's a week before the fight, that's when you do light training and things are bit more relaxed. The hard, heavy training already happened. You want to go into the ring suitably rested.

UNI: Why fight Juan Diaz and how have you prepared differently for this fight?
JMM: I'm preparing myself differently. I'm not watching videos (of Diaz). My trainer Nacho Beristain is in charge of watching videos. He's the only one watching video. He's determining the style and he's preparing me, telling me how to fight this match. I prepare myself for anything that can happen in the ring. Because if you mentally [logically] prepare yourself watching video of your opponents and they switch up their style when you actually fight them, which can happen... that happened to me once before... that's why I decline to watch videos anymore. We've prepared ourselves for anything that can happen in the ring. We will decipher his style inside the ring.

UNI: You trained in Mexico. Where and why?
JMM: Like always, we trained here in Mexico City, here in Toluca for the high altitude. We're 15,000 feet above sea level. Why here? Because we have more oxygen, more red blood cells, more white blood cells. I've always had good results when training here. I feel strong and fast. Why change anything?

UNI: Let's talk about Pacquiao. Those are very important fights in your career. Your first fight was a draw, and many people thought you won the second fight, but unfortunately you lost on the scorecards. Do you think you won the second fight?
JMM: Well, the first fight was more close. It was a harder fight, there was 3 knockdowns and they called it a draw. After the fight I said I won, but it was a draw. The second was more of the same. It was also a hard fight, he knocked me down in the 3rd round. He surprised me as I was trying to deliver a hook to the body. But I thought we dominated the rest of the fight though. I saw a repeat of the fight and I thought I won.

UNI: Do you think there will be a third fight against Pacquiao?
JMM: Personally, I would love a third fight with Pacquiao. Why? Because the fans are demanding it. And the people are the best judges. They are in charge. They are the ones that buy tickets. They fill our pockets, so to speak. I don't know, for the third fight to happen the fans really need to apply pressure somehow. Me, personally, I would love a third fight to happen.

UNI: You're down with Golden Boy Promotions. For Oscar's fight with Pacquaio, which he lost, didn't he ask you for advice or did you give him any tips before the fight?
JMM: Actually no. I was there Wednesday before the fight and I was there for the training session in Manoplas. Out of respect, I wouldn't say anything to Oscar, but I told his brother Joel to tell Oscar to move his waist, to fight at the same rhythm and speed as Pacquiao, because that gives him problems. That's what I told his brother Joel. Out of respect for Oscar, I didn't say anything to him because they had been preparing a plan for the fight and if I come in and say something they're gonna look at me like, "This guy is crazy." But I did give some tips to his brother, but I don't know if he said anything to him. I was surprised [with the outcome of the fight]. [If it was me] I'd be so embarrassed that fire would come out of my ears. But I guess each person involved in the fight knows what happened. Only Oscar knows what happened.

UNI: What do you think about the Margarito handwrap scandal?
JMM: Well, I think if the CSAC and the people in charge of looking at the wraps already did their job and determined that there was an illegal substance in the wraps, I think that Margarito and his trainer knew what they were putting in the wraps. And if any manner they were at fault, they have to pay. Margarito says he doesn't know what they were putting in his wraps. Me, when Ignacio Beristain is wrapping my hands, I know what he's putting on my fists. I know how he's wrapping my hands. It's illogical that [Margarito] didn't know. At the end of the day, they found a substance that shouldn't have been on the wraps. I think that when you're found guilty, you have to pay, no?

UNI: Any shout outs?
JMM: Like always, I'd like to thank my family, my kids and my parents. Of course, all my fans, first and foremost, who allow me to box. Who shout "Marquez" and "Viva Mexico" [during my fights]. A big hug from Mexico City. And I hope you support me in Houston. I'll need it. It's gonna be a great fight.

Juan Diaz Interview

JD: Yeah, I've finished my training. I trained hard for 8 1/2 weeks. I thank God for getting me this far. There's one week left until the fight.

UNI: Juan Manuel Marquez is more experienced and you have youth on your side. Which do you think is more important, experience or youth?
JD: I think youth is gonna carry me to a victory for this fight. Yes, it's true that he has a lot of experience. But I have 16 years of experience of boxing and being in the gym. I've been boxing since I was 8 years old. As a professional, I've been crowned World Champion four times. I've shown in the ring that I have experience too. I think I have the advantage with my youth and my desire to be the greatest world champion of the new generation.

UNI: Are you going into the fight with a game plan or are you gonna wait to see what he does in the ring?
JD: I just don't have one strategy. I have 2 or 3 strategies in my mind. Depending on how he fights me, I'll adapt. Whatever strategy he brings, I'll have an answer for that strategy. That's helped me in the past and I think that's what's gonna help me in this fight. I'll be better in implementing my strategy than he will.

UNI: What do you think Marquez's weaknesses are?
JD: One thing is his chin. He's tasted the canvas a few times. That's the only thing I've seen. But I don't consider that a great advantage for me. As everybody knows, I'm not the kind of fighter that's gonna KO you with one punch. So I don't think his main weakness is to my advantage. Everybody knows I'm the type of fighter that wears you down with punches and beats you.

UNI: The fight is in Houston, your hometown. You have the home field advantage, but Marquez says that's not really an advantage because he's 100% Mexican and will have lots of Mexican fans there. What's your response?
JD: I don't take anything away from him. Yes, he's 100%
Mexican. And a lot of the fans that are coming to watch the fight will be Mexican. But one thing I want him to know, for him to think about, is yes, he's gonna have a lot of fans there, but those same fans have sons and nephews who were born in the U.S. just like me and they're gonna root for me. The Mexican fans that don't root for me would be like them not rooting for their own sons or nephews just because they were born in the U.S. I'm Mexican too. And a lot of Mexicans have children that were born and live here in the U.S. just like me.

UNI: I'm sure you want to show the world how good of a boxer you are.
JD: I know I'm gonna win on the 28th. For me to win those three belts before would have been hard, but now it's become a little easier. I already had 2 of those 3 belts.

Juan M. Marquez vs. Juan Diaz Feb 28th @ The Toyota Center Houston, Tx

2009-02-25T20:38:00.000-08:00

Juan Manuel Marquez 49(36) - 4 - 1 vs. Juan Diaz 34 (17) - 1

The number 2 pound for pound fighter in the world, Juan Manuel Marquez will battle it out with the young and hungry Houstonian, Juan "The Babybull" Diaz in a Lightweight clash set for February 28th (3 days from now). Marquez is coming off an impressive victory over Joel Casamayor (who had never been stopped) moving up from Super Featherweight to campaign as a Lightweight. Marquez wasn't the biggest Super Featherweight to begin with so many, including me, were curious to see how he would handle the extra weight. Not to mention that he was facing someone who is as experienced and crafty a boxer as Marquez is. Marquez's intellegence, patience and accuracy was the deciding factor in the fight as he did what was never done before, knock out Joel "El Cepillo" Casamayor winning the Ring Magazine Lightweight Championship belt.

Juan Diaz was also coming off an impressive decision victory over Michael Katsidis. It was a highly anticipated bout as both fighters are agressive, come forward boxers. Diaz didn't dissapoint the 20,000 + fans at The Toyota Center (thats a BIG ass crowd even for a boxing match) as he controlled the majority of the fight with his punch output throwing combinations from different angles at times circling the Aussie brawler. Katsidis (who was coming off a KO loss to Joel Casamayor) opted to box a lot which was kind of strange given his previous "no guts, no glory" preformances which had turned him into a fan favorite. He actually did best when he let his hands fly, but his cornerman seemed pleased with what he was doing and the flow of the fight and even felt they won the fight. Unfortunately for Katisidis and his corner, they were the ONLY ones who thought they won the fight. Even Max "Owl Eyes" Kellerman gave Kat's trainer the bizz during the post fight ring interview as the Houston crowd booed in the background at Kat's corner delusional perspective of how the fight played out.

Diaz was considered the best Lightweight for a minute until he met 328 year old Grandpa Nate Campbell (36 yrs old really) on March 8 2008 in Cancun Mexico. Nate flipped the scrip on Diaz fighting the Baby Bull's fight bullying him around in the ring. The fight was close up until Diaz was cut over the left eye mid fight. It was pretty apparent, in my eyes at least, that Diaz's lack of experience in fighting with a cut hugely affected his game. He didn't seem to know how to react and protect his gash at times allowing Nate to rub up on the injury with the side of his head. This was Campbell's night, though, as he used every trick in the veteran playbook to win a clear decision victory. It was one of the biggest upsets of 2008 and The Baby Bull's first loss of his career. Nate won Diaz's IBF, WBO, WBA belts, but recently lost them on Feb 14th as he failed to make weight for his fight with Ali Funeka (Campbell won a decision).

Which brings me to this ironic twist, the WBO and WBA belts Nate lost will be added to the Marquez/Diaz fight a long with Marquez's Ring belt. This will provide an opportunity for Diaz to regain what was once his and then some. The plot thickens in an already suspensful potential thriller. I wish I had some kind of plug in that would play some dramatic ass music at this point of the post. Anyway...

Who Will Win This Fight?

I'm a big fan of both Marquez and Diaz. As much as I love this fight, I hate it. One of these warriors will be leaving The Toyota Center with another loss on their record and bigger hill to climb. But, that's the game.

The general consensus among the boxing community seems to be that Marquez's experience and counterpunching skills will be the deciding factor in this fight. While I agree with this to a certain extent, the type of agression and size that Diaz will be presenting is something Marquez has never encountered.

Some point to both Marquez/Manny Pacquiao fights (which many feel Marquez won) as an example of how Marquez will handle the Baby Bull's agression. The difference between Pacquiao and Diaz is Pacquiao's combination punching comes from a distance. Pacquiao is not an in fighter, he doesn't fight in close quarters. As quickly as he darts in, he bounces out of danger. This space that he created allowed Marquez to counterpunch without getting his punches smothered. Diaz on the other hand is a great in fighter. He leans forwardwith his gloves covering his face and head placing his weight on his opponents who then have to react with footwork so they can stay balanced, therefore, given them more to think about than just attacking. This also smothers punch output and as soon as Diaz feels ready, he will unload a 4-5 punch combination.

If Marquez allows himself to be bullied around by Diaz, his counterpunches will be smothered by Diaz's consistant invasion of personal space and relentless combinations. I really don't see Diaz utilizing any other game plan other than what has worked best for him. He can't outbox a master boxer. At the same time, Marquez has never really been the backpeddling, defensively slick boxer so it will be interesting to see how he avoids being pushed around by Diaz's weight and avoid being sucked into Diaz's combinations. But hey, Marquez has pulled some pretty incredible shit before so it wouldn't be a surprise.

Diaz? Well, all Diaz has to do is be The Baby Bull. He will HAVE to get in as close as possible to Marquez because fighting from a distance will only get him countered. Marquez's accuracy can be enough to cause cuts so in fighting is Diaz's best gameplan. Follow Marquez around and get close enough to push him around and overwhelm him with combinations that he wouldn't be able to successfully counter. Diaz is NOT a power puncher. This is something even he admits, but he is a volume puncher who has made world class fighters such as Acelino Freitas and Julio Diaz quit on their stool. If he can fustrate Marquez, his chances of winning will be much higher.

All in all, I'll have to go with my boy Marquez. Like the majority, I feel Marquez will be able to adjust to Diaz's agression and physical game plan. But unlike the majority, I don't think it will be a comfortable win. This may be one of Marquez's hardest earned victories. Here are career highlights from both fighters as presented by HBO. Enjoy.

F.Y.I.

2009-02-25T20:29:00.000-08:00

Alright, first entry for this "boxing blog". Straight up, I'm not a writer, I'm not a journalist, I'm not an analyst, I'm just a fan. There will be misspelled words, run on sentences, and even incoherent ramblings which indicate I have gotten distracted mid sentence or paragraph.

Mission statement? Just to hit yall up with some of the latest news I feel is relevant to the world of boxing. Hopefully, I will have the opportunity to interview fighters and provide more than just news and current events. Anyway, one of my favorite Family Guy episodes is on so I'm already having trouble concentrating.