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