Juan Manuel Marquez will defeat Juan Diaz in a classic. That’s what I said on February 22, 2009. And that’s what I am saying on July 
18, 2010. The only thing that has changed is 1) when the fight takes place and 2) how long the fight will last.
As history has shown us in recent Fight of the Year-worthy bouts, the winner of the first fight usually wins the rematch. And in most cases, the second win comes even easier.
Given the fact that Juan Diaz (35-3 17 KOs) has "lost (judges awarded Diaz a dubious decision in his hometown in their first fight)" his two fights to Paulie Malignaggi after his bout with Marquez, conventional wisdom stands to reason here.
Diaz backers would counter that Juan Manuel Marquez (50-5-1 37 KOs) hasn’t looked that good most recently either. More specifically, he was totally dominated by Floyd Mayweather in his latest bout. That is true. But I think getting dominated by, arguably, the greatest boxer on the planet is not the same as getting spanked by the light-hitting Malignaggi. And I say that with all due respect to "Paulie Maggs."
When it’s all said and done, Marquez is still the better boxer. He’s still the harder puncher. And, most importantly, he knows how to beat Juan Diaz. That’s too much to ignore.
JUAN MANUAL MARQUEZ WILL STOP JUAN DIAZ IN ROUND 8, IN MORE DOMINANT FASHION THAN THE PREQUEL.
You know Ja, this fight could be a tougher pic than you may think. First of all, a lot depends on where Juan Diaz is mentally, like many other potentially exceptional Diaz seems to fight with a certain “I’m gonna do this for now “attitude, it’s no secret that Diaz wants to first become an attorney and then move on to become the mayor of Houston (a very admirable aspiration I add), the problem is however, he has misfortune or good fortune(depending on how you look at it) to be participating in the most demanding sport there is. Speaking as a guy who boxed,held a full-time job, and went to college, not to mention being a extremely young dad, that’s tough! Diaz had the natural raw talent to be one of the greats, what’s required however is that he gets focused Juan is very young a have been blessed with a seed of greatness which he must either use or lose. i we see the boxing, case-trying, Honorable Juan Diaz he will surely lose this fight however, if we see a lean mean fully focused on the business at hand Juan Diaz, he’ll easily beat-up the aging Juan Manuel Marquez. we shall see.
@jorge I just don’t see this fight being that competitive. I mean, I am sure that it will be exciting while it lasts but Juan is simply out-gunned, like he was the first time. This time, even more so, because he know seems to even easier to stun/hurt. I mean, c’mon — Paulie Malignaggi buzzed him Jorge!
All that stated, he’s definitely a stand-up, good guy for the sport. But I honestly do not feel that he’s that naturally-talented. His decent skill, combined with his ridiculous will and work ethic have made him a champion. That’s not a knock on him, but it also means that when he faces fighters with comparable will, who also have skill like a Marquez, he doesn’t stand much of a chance.
At least that’s how I see it.
good argument Ja, I do think Diaz has been easier to hit as late but you have to take the variables into account, listen you have valid point in stats but if you really reflect on the first fight it Diaz really brought it to em’ until his lost of focus caught up with him. @Ja Dawson:
@jorge His focus was there but his chin was not willing as the harder-hitting Marquez pummelled him. 🙂 I thought Diaz fought VERY well in the first fight — his biggest problem was his lack of firepower. His size and weight clearly were factors early on BUT Marquez’s class, faster and heavier hands should win out every time J.