Written by Scott Swerbinsky

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Last night in Houston, Texas Juan Manuel Marquez broke the heart of nearly 15,000 Juan Diaz fans in what was an early candidate for fight of the year. This lightweight battle was everything fight fans were hoping for and much more. It was fast paced and extremely entertaining. There was no clinching or holding at any point of the fight. Two sluggers went toe to toe in one of the best fights we have seen in awhile. My cousin recaps the very entertaining fight.

Last night in Houston, Texas Juan Manuel Marquez broke the heart of nearly 15,000 Juan Diaz fans in what was an early candidate for fight of the year.

This lightweight battle was everything I was hoping for and much more. It was fast paced and extremely entertaining. There was no clinching or holding at any point of the fight. Two sluggers went toe to toe in one of the best fights we have seen in awhile.

Juan Manuel Marquez jumped to the top of my pound for pound list with a brilliant performance last night. He scored a picture perfect uppercut in the 9^th round that ended the night for Juan Diaz. It was the second knockdown of the round and put the exclamation point on a great showing yet again.

Juan Diaz was the more aggressive fighter but was unable to hurt Marquez. He landed some clean shots and kept coming and that is ultimately what got him beaten. I had Diaz winning the first three rounds and then Juan Manuel Marquez took over and dominated the rest of the way. His pin point counter punching was the key to the victory.

Marquez is the most technical fighter in the world right now. Every punch he throws is accurate. He hardly ever is off balance and he simply wears down his opponents with his grit and determination. Juan Diaz came to fight and put in a great effort but he wasn't beaten by the better man.

Both fighters were cut and beat up but Marquez was able to avoid the big shots and used his uppercuts to take control of the action. Once Diaz's eye was busted open, it clearly affected his vision. He couldn't see the attack of Marquez and made him a sitting target. A counter punch led to the first knockdown in the 9^th round. Diaz was up quick but soon after Marquez landed a vicious body shot and followed it up with another perfectly timed uppercut. Diaz dropped like a ton of bricks and the fight was over.

After his victory, Juan Manuel Marquez said he wants to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. to see who the real pound for pound king is. I don't see Floyd coming out of retirement for that fight but put me down as one fan who would pay to see it.

The fight on the undercard turned into a robbery. Houston's Rocky Juarez was dominated by Chris John and somehow all three judges scored the fight a draw. I scored the fight for Chris John with him winning eight out of the twelve rounds and he could have possibly won nine.  It was John's first fight in the United States and to me it was a horrible decision. He won the fight very handily.