Juan Manuel Marquez - taken for repeat victory.
MARQUEZ TO BE MATADOR AGAIN
By Derek Bilton
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HBO recently decreed that heavyweight champions Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko were not relevant enough to feature on their channel.
Yet despite that the cable giants televise a PPV card this weekend that is topped by two fighters who are coming off pretty comprehensive defeats.
Juan Diaz was last seen being unanimously outpointed by recent Amir Khan victim Paulie Malignaggi, while Juan Manuel Marquez came up well short in his last appearance in the squared circle against 'pound-for-pound' king Floyd Mayweather.
I'm not entirely sure that in these credit-crunch times Saturday's match should be a PPV attraction. However I'd much rather watch these two go at it that watch the 'Brothers Grim' mechanically beat down petrified opposition in Germany anytime soon.
Both Marquez and Diaz are renowned for their love of a tear-up and produced a Fight of the Year candidate when they met for the first time in February of last year.
That was in Texas and despite their return being moved to Vegas, fight fans will be hoping for more of the same.
Both men stand at a career crossroads after losing last time out so as well as world titles (WBO and WBA lightweight belts are on the line) they'll be fighting for their very futures at the sport's top level.
'Baby Bull' Diaz is just 26 but has already compiled a solid 35-3 (17) record and previously been a unified champion at the weight.
He's beaten good men such as Jose Miguel Cotto, Acelino Freitas, Julio Diaz and Michael Katsidis before now. The Texan is an aggressive box-puncher who also happens to have a Bachelors degree in political science.
He has ambitions of being a lawyer one day - but for now the courtroom can wait because there is no doubt that modern great Marquez will be itching to cross-examine him at the Mandalay Bay on Saturday.
Marquez is now considered the Grand Old Man of the lower divisions. A pro since 1993 the 36-year-old Mexico City native has had his hand raised 50 times in the past against just five defeats and one draw.
That draw came against fellow P4P elitist Manny Pacquiao in 2004 in a fight many people had him winning. This despite the fact he was knocked down heavily three times in the opening round of that one.
Since then he's lost a contentious return to Pacquiao and was soundly beaten by Mayweather last time out. But he's also beaten the likes of Marco Antonio Barrera and Joel Casamayor as well as stopping Diaz last year.
Diaz was very much in the fight when he was caught in round nine and eventually stopped. He's been campaigning for a return ever since and gets his chance here.
I was surprised to see Marquez chalked up as such a warm favourite (he's no bigger than 4/11) given his age and how close their first fight was.
The fans are anticipating another tear-up and Marquez knows it won't be easy.
Speaking at a recent press conference he had the following to say: "A lot of people are asking why Juan Diaz again? There are two reasons. Number one he is a great fighter and deserves a rematch. Number two, the people deserve a great fight like this."
He's right on both counts of course but I have a hunch the wily old veteran may change tactics in this one and instead of having it toe-to-toe he could choose to put on one of his counter-punching masterclasses.
In full flight Marquez, even at such an advanced age, is brilliant to watch and while Diaz is game he doesn't have the ring smarts of his Hispanic cousin.
So look for Juan Manuel to punch out a close but clear victory on the cards this time round.
Preview posted at 1010 BST on 29/07/2010.
