Sunday, November 04, 2007 Quijano: Have fun, today is another TGIFS By Jingo Quijano Last Round
THAT’S for “Thank God It’s Fight Sunday”. Yesterday, the Last Round featured the Mikkel Kessler-Joe Calzaghe super middleweight unification clash, which to my mind is the more deserving fight for television coverage.
But the Juan Manuel Marquez-Rocky Juarez battle for the WBC super-featherweight title assumes paramount significance locally, as the winner is perceived to be a sure lock as Manny Pacquiao’s next opponent.
So let’s get down to the nitty-gritty.
Boxing ability: Even. Marquez is a boxer-counter puncher who likes to outwork and outlast his opponents. Ironically, his best work--which came against Pacquiao--netted him only a draw.
But the fact that he out-boxed one of the best pound-for-pound marvels in the sport for majority of the fight—in the process overhauling a staggering deficit in the scorecards due to three knockdowns--has earned him the respect and standing as one of the best in the division.
Olympic silver medalist Rocky Juarez likes to come forward behind a stiff left jab and pinpoint power punching. He scored a disputed decision win over the slick punching Zahir Raheem but was out-boxed twice by Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera.
Nevertheless, like Marquez, his stock rose despite those losses as the first one was highly disputed and in the second, it was Barrera who got flogged for refusing to engage the powerful Juarez.
Strength: Juarez. This tough Texan’s thrashing of Antonio Diaz was awarded 2004’s Knockout of the Year. His left hook is one of the best in the business. Barrera got a sampling of it in the first fight, and would have none of it in the second.
Speed: Marquez’s faster hands will be his main advantage over the more passive Juarez who likes to plod, stalk, and wait for openings.
Experience: Marquez made his professional debut way back in 1993. He is 47-3 with 35 KOs. He has fought the best, won some, lost a few. He’s seen it all and anything that Juarez brings to the table won’t be much of a surprise.
Chin/Defense: Juarez. None of these fighters are slick, defensive marvels. So expect both of them to find each other without difficulty. But Juarez appears to have a solid jaw, absorbing remarkably well Barrera’s bombs, in two outings.
Marquez, on the other hand, is quite chinny. Aside from the three knockdowns in the Pacquiao fight, Barrera also knocked him down with a right cross, though it was never counted as such.
EXPECT THE FIGHT TO BE: A chess match in the early rounds. Marquez’s jab and straight right hands will find their home early, but he will be quite wary of Juarez’ vaunted left hook.
The fight’s natural progression will find Marquez getting giddy and start trading with the smaller Juarez. But if Jimrex Jaca can find him with his clubbing blows, so will Juarez, and the fight’s complexion could change if the latter’s left hook lands regularly on Marquez’s chin.
ROCKY, ROCKY, ROCKY. My readers know I’ve always been a sucker for underdogs, and so I’m predicting Rocky Juarez to score an upset decision win.
The fight will be a nip and tuck affair, but Juarez will probably score a knockdown or two, and this will be the deciding factor in the scorecards.
Afterwards, they’ll finally be able to make another “Rocky” movie- this time based on Juarez’ life story- with yours truly as scriptwriter.
THE LAST ROUND. It’s on Atty. Carla Narvios-Tanco who celebrates her birthday today blessed with the love and warmth of loving husband Atty. Joseph Tanco and their three lovely daughters. Cheers!
