Juan Manuel Marquez looks past Pacquiao for Mayweather

By Robert Cassidy

Juan Manuel Marquez has essentially said, “Who needs Manny Pacquiao?’

While Marquez and Pacquiao have waged a pair of compelling fights, Pac Man has moved on to bigger and better things. And while pundits try to line up Pacquiao’s fight schedule, few have been calling for a third match with Marquez.

That may change now.

On Saturday night, Marquez gave away 10 years to Juan Diaz and still flattened him in his hometown of Houston. It was an exciting fight, one that it seemed the 25-year-old Diaz would win. He carried the early rounds with pressure and combination punching. But Marquez, 35 and now a three-division champ, weathered the early attack to score a dramatic ninth-round knockout. It was a thrilling finish to a fight with “Fight of the Year,” potential.

Marquez has fought Pac Man twice, losing a split decision in March of 2008 and holding the Filippino to a draw in May of 2004. He called for an immediate rematch after their bout last year, but Pac Man moved up and shocked Oscar De La Hoya. Pac Man is next scheduled to fight Ricky Hatton in May and many experts are calling for him to fight Miguel Cotto in November. Both are high-profile names — which translates into big money — but they may not be as deservering a date with Manny.

Marquez was clearly frustrated with his inability to get a third fight with Pacquiao. And though a third JMM-Pac Man fight may come in time, immediately after he disposed of Diaz, Marquez looked in another direction. He called for Floyd Mayweather Jr. to come out of retirement and fight. read more

Filed under: David Diaz, joel casamayor, juan diaz, Juan Manuel Marquez, Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao, Manny Pacquiao, Oscar de la Hoya, Ricky Hatton

Mastery never gets old: Marquez starches Diaz in nine

by Bart Barry

HOUSTON – Wow. Just when he had become too old, too spent and too easily imposed upon, Mexico City’s Juan Manuel Marquez summoned the remains of his exceptional class, in defiance of his empty legs, and stopped Houstonian Juan Diaz in one of the most unexpected knockouts in years.

Unexpected because of the way the fight started Saturday, not because of who Marquez is. Before the match, experts all agreed that Marquez’s skills were unmatched. But he looked every bit of his 35 years early – while Diaz looked younger than 25. And then, in an instant, Marquez had cut Diaz, staggered him, dropped him and changed the fight altogether. read more

Filed under: Floyd Mayweather, joel casamayor, juan diaz, Juan Manuel Marquez, Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao

Juan Manuel Marquez knocks out Juan Diaz

By Lance Pugmire

Juan Manuel Marquez claimed two vacant world lightweight belts tonight by rallying to knock out Texas’ Juan Diaz at Houston’s Toyota Center, according to Internet reports.

Marquez had wanted a quick rematch with Manny Pacquiao after their narrow March 2008 decision in a super-featherweight battle. read more

Filed under: Floyd Mayweather, joel casamayor, juan diaz, Juan Manuel Marquez, Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao

Marquez proves he’s the man, Win over Diaz solidifies Marquez’s position as one of the world’s top fighters

By Dan Rafael

HOUSTON — Juan Manuel Marquez has suffered many disappointments in his career.

Naseem Hamed outright ducked him for years when the Prince was at the top of the featherweight division.

Marquez also never got to fight a prime Erik Morales or Marco Antonio Barrera, the two great Mexican countrymen of his era, although he did eventually beat a faded Barrera.

He suffered a controversial draw against Manny Pacquiao in their first fight and then lost a split decision in the rematch a few years later. Legions believe — and believe strongly — that Marquez won both fights.

For one fight, Marquez went to Chris John’s home country of Indonesia for a featherweight title bout and lost what many believe was a hometown decision. read more

Filed under: Golden Boy, HBO, joel casamayor, juan diaz, Juan Manuel Marquez, Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao, pacmonster

Ratings Update: Campbell’s exit shakes up lightweights

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By THE RING Editors

Nate Campbell’s failure to make the 135-pound weight limit for his lightweight title match with Ali Funeka and his subsequent victory over the talented South African on Saturday caused major repercussions within THE RING’s divisional ratings.

Campbell, who came in three pounds over the lightweight limit last Friday, announced before and after his hard-fought majority decision over Funeka that he would campaign in the 140-pound division immediately after the fight. read more

Filed under: Ali Funeka, David Diaz, Joan Guzman, joel casamayor, juan diaz, Juan Manuel Marquez, Julio Diaz, Kermit Cintron, Nate Campbell, Ricky Hatton

CASAMAYOR ON JULIO DIAZ: "IF I DON’T STOP HIM, THAT MEANS I BEAT THE SH*T OUT OF HIM!"

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By G. Leon

GL: It’s been a while since we’ve had you on Boxingtalk. We recently broke the news about your fight with Julio Diaz on the HBO pay-per-view April 4th. Can you give us some thoughts on the bout and tell us what we can expect to see from you against Diaz on fight night?

Joel Casamayor: “I’m very excited. It’s a great fight and we’re both top five contenders in the division. I think beating a guy like Julio Diaz puts me right back in position to fight the winner of Marquez-Diaz or Nate Campbell. There’s also Edwin Valero who’s moving up to lightweight on that night. But you’re going to see Cepillo back in action. I’m making my comeback with my original trainer Israel Salas, who was my original trainer back in Cuba when I was a kid. I plan on making my last run with him and now you’re going to see me doing some of the old things I was doing when I was a kid.” read more

Filed under: edwin valero, joel casamayor, juan diaz, Juan Manuel Marquez, Julio Diaz, Nate Campbell, pacman, pacmonster

Lightweight tournament set

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By Michael Rosenthal

A lightweight tournament involving some of the most-recognizable names in the sport has been finalized by Golden Boy Promotions.

Four bouts matching 135-pound contenders will kick off the tournament – called “Lightweight Lightning” – on April 4 in Texas (in either Austin or San Antonio) on HBO pay-per-view, Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer said.

The matches are: Edwin Valero-Antonio Pitalua (for the interim WBC lightweight title); Michael Katsidis-Jesus Chavez; Jorge Barrios-Carlos Hernandez and Joel Casamayor-Julio Diaz. read more

Filed under: Battle of East and West, edwin valero, Golden Boy, joel casamayor, juan diaz, Juan Manuel Marquez, Manny Pacquiao, Oscar de la Hoya, Ricky Hatton, top rank promotions

The pressure is on for Marquez-Diaz (Juan Manuel Marquez vs. Juan Diaz)

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By Brandon Estrict

For Juan Manuel Marquez, the stakes couldn’t be any higher. Although he put on a masterful performance in his lightweight debut against the division’s recognized champion in becoming the first man to stop Cuban great Joel Casamayor, he isn’t getting any younger, or faster for that matter. And his upcoming encore to that bout proves the old theory, “no rest for the weary” as he takes on the man formerly considered by many to be the class of the division in “The Baby Bull” Juan Diaz. read more

Filed under: Battle of East and West, joel casamayor, juan diaz, Juan Manuel Marquez, Manny Pacquiao