Tucsan, AZ - Saturday night at the Desert Diamond Casino in Tucson, Arizona, WBC Super Featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez (48-3-1, 35 KO`s) successfully defended his belt by outclassing challenger Rocky Juarez (27-4, 19 KO`s) over twelve rounds to win via unanimous decision. The win definitely sets up a rematch with Manny Pacquiao for 2008.

The speed advantage for Marquez was evident early as the champion quickly shot 1-2 combinations, catching Juarez with crisp jabs to the face. Juarez stalked forward but appeared reluctant to throw more than one punch, and was easily countered by Marquez who landed a beautiful counter double left hook combination to the body and head of Juarez. During the first stanza, the fighters clashed heads which resulted in a bloody gash over Juarez` left eye, a cut which would bleed profusely throughout the twelve rounds.

Marquez continued utilizing pinpoint combinations in the second round, seemingly scoring at will, landing double jab after double jab, countering over Juarez own jabs. Juarez was active, pressing forward, but was content on only throwing one punch at a time, and was not effective enough to prevent Marquez from clearly winning the early rounds. Amazingly, Marquez stepped up his output in the third round, firing off three-piece combinations: Jab, jab, and right hand. Juarez continued his forward attack, landing jabs infrequently, and eating double left hooks, left-right combinations, and perfectly timed counter punches. (Note: The fourth round of this fight was cut short as the time keeper erringly rang the bell at the two minute mark.)

By the fifth round, with blood spilling down his face, Juarez finally appeared to listen to Ronnie Shields who had been imploring Juarez to throw punches, and would land a piston-like double jab followed up with a solid left hook to the body of Marquez. Juarez gained some momentum on the inside, where he began scoring more frequently to the body and head. Marquez, refusing to yield to the aggressiveness of Juarez, continued firing return salvos, landing with a short uppercut followed by a straight right hand, which backed Juarez off. Although losing the round, Juarez appeared to be back in the fight.

The sixth round picked up where the fifth ended, as Juarez stalked Marquez, again throwing combinations and working his way inside. As the fighters squared off, Juarez landed a solid left hook, which Marquez quickly countered with a straight right hand. Marquez, reminiscent to many a great Mexican warrior displayed amazing boxing skills, throwing AND landing a triple left hook: body, body and head! Juarez, not to be outdone, followed through with his own double left hook to the body of Marquez. During the last minute of the round Marquez utilized his greater speed and skill, landing counter punches at will on the game Juarez.

Juarez came back in the seventh round working hard to get inside, walking through Marquez` jabs, landing body shots and quick, short uppercuts. Juarez applied pressure, and began to land more effectively...more so than in any previous round, but it was still not enough to win the round as Marquez countered with two piece combos. Marquez again landed a triple left hook in the 8th round, and followed up with a heavy left hook to the head of the challenger. Juarez, displaying heart and grit, forced his way back inside, landed a thunderous left hook which checked the chin of Marquez...but to Juarez` dismay, Marquez appeared to walk through the punch. Juarez increased connections had Marquez`right eye showing signs of swelling. At :16 of the round Juarez caught Marquez with a short left hook which momentarily backed up Marquez, but the champion gathered himself, and both fighters "threw" down in the waning seconds of round 8.

The action continued in round nine, with Juarez coming on strong, landing several body shots with the left hook, firing combinations to the body and head, and occasionally popping a jab. Marquez countered with lefts on the inside, and great two-way action commenced down the stretch. Juarez seemed way behind on the scorecards, and with the horrific gash over his left eye, was given an ample excuse to pack it in, but the warrior`s heart of the challenger shined brightly, and fought bravely in the championship rounds.

By the tenth round Marquez` eye was visible swollen, a testament to Juarez` having picked up his offensive output, effectively landing several jabs early. The champion turned momentum back in his favor, digging thudding left hooks to the body of Juarez, stopping the forward movement of Juarez. Fighting from a distance the fight was damn near unfair, as Marquez fired three piece combinations (jab, jab, straight right hand), left uppercuts, left hooks and believe it or not, threw a six piece combination scoring with the majority of the punches. As the bell sounded to end the round, Juarez` right eye was swelling shut.

Juarez tried to muscle Marquez into the ropes as the eleventh round began, but Marquez with pinpoint accuracy, systematically landed several right hands on the swollen right eye of Juarez. Bullying forward, still trying to wage war on the inside, Juarez` was no match for the champion, as Marquez continued to counter Juarez for the last six minutes of the fight. With the fight in hand, Marquez did not back away in the 12th, and continued to face the challenger, exchanging punches until the final bell sounded.

The judges all scored the fight in favor of Juan Manuel Marquez by scores of 118-110, 117-111 and 120-108. TTR scored the fight in favor of the champion 118-110.



A brilliant display of boxing by the champion, highlighted by his ability to throw quick two and three-piece combinations, precision counter punches, and a good chin. The boxing public should now demand a rematch between Marquez and Manny Pacquiao. Juarez, showing determination and strong will, was outclassed in the bout, and even though he never appeared hurt in this fight, was unable to do much damage to the champion. Perhaps a return trip to the Featherweight division should be in store for Rocky Juarez, and hopefully a successful fifth shot for a championship belt.

On the televised under card, Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero (21-1-1, 14 KOs) defended his IBF Featherweight title with a crushing first round knockout of Martin "El Brochas" Honorio (24-4-1, 12 KOs). The fight began, as most fights do, cautiously, with both fighters attempting to measure each other. But as Honorio threw a jab, Guerrero countered with a text book straight left, catching Honorio right on the chin which immediately dropped him to the canvas. Honorio weakly attempted to continue, made the count of eight, but Referee Tony Weeks had seen enough and waived the fight over at the :56 mark of round number 1.

 

In other action, undefeated 20 year old Junior Middleweight Gabriel Martinez (16-0-1, 8 KOs) defeated Juan Pablo Montes de Oca (9-13-2, 6 KOs) via SD 6; In Welter Weight action, Jesus Selig (5-0-1, 3 KOs) won via unanimous decision over Daniel Gonzalez (7-11-2, 2 KOs) in four rounds; Undefeated Cruiserweight Carlos Durate (8-0, 6 KOs) knocked out Terrance Smith (4-5-1, KOs) in the fourth round (TKO 4); and Middleweight Joshua Renteria (15-2-0, 9 KOs) defeated Abdias Castillo (10-22-1, 7) via TKO 3.