By Robert Jackson: Tonights battle between Mexico’s Juan Manuel Marquez and Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather will be the first time in 20 months that ‘Dollar Bills’ has entered the squared ring. Many questions surround both men regarding the matchup. Is ‘Money’ only coming back for money to satisfy an IRS tax debt?? Is Marquez carrying too much weight to be successful at a weight 2-weight classes higher than his last bout?? Keep reading, these and other questions will be answered with a fair and honest breakdown presented, followed by a prediction..
To analyze and determine the pertinent factors that will lead to victory or concede defeat, trainers, training and conditioning, heart and courage, adaptability and intelligence must be examined for each fighter. Last but not least the physical aspects, and tactics must be spoken about.
When it comes to trainers, Nacho Beristain has over 40 years of training experience and admitted on HBO’s 24/7 mini-series to having trained 17 world champions, all of which he said brought something different to the ring. Beristain also stated that he believes that El Dinamita is the BEST of them all.
In Lil Floyd’s corner he has the former ‘Mexican Assassin’ Roger ‘Black Mamba’ Mayweather a former 130lb and 140lb world champion himself whose career record stands at 59 victories with 35 KO’s and 13 losses. Two losses that standout on Roger’s resume came courtesy of Mexico’s greatest, Julio Cesar Chavez. Assisting Roger in the corner may be none other than Floyd Mayweather Sr. one of the most sought after trainers today. Floyd Joy as he is known is also a former fighter and retired with a record of 29 wins and 6 losses. Notable names on Floyd Joy’s boxing resume include a loss by TKO to Sugar Ray Leonard and 2-losses to Marlon Starling both by points. It must be said that neither of these fighters lost to chumps.
Trainers: EVEN (a slight edge has to go to Beristain for his experience but with former fighters in his corner ‘Money’ evens out the argument)
Training has come down to Marquez bulking up close to the 147lb limit while also trying to gain strength and speed to go along with the weight gain. Additional cardio vascular conditioning will be necessary to fight on carrying this additional weight. Finding suitable sparring partners to emulate Mayweather also may have been detrimental because there aren’t many fighters of the Money Mayweather elk. Marquez will have to acclimate himself to Mayweather’s speed and quickness on fight night. Writers note: The sparring sessions between Money and Lamont Peterson have been well documented whatever the outcome, I believe that Peterson was the right sparring partner for Marquez.
Mayweather training is 9th wonder of the world, Roger and Floyd’s mitts routine is second to none and closely emulates actual fighting with its choreographed sequences. Mayweather then switches off and attacks the body of a large man wearing a body shield. Mayweathers jump rope routine is not just for show it’s for the development of quickness and speed which Lil floyd has plenty of. Floyd’s stamina has never been questioned nor has it been taxed. The missing element is witnessing Mayweathers sparring sessions to actually see what he’s got.
Training and conditioning: advantage Mayweather
In the area of heart and courage, Marquez is a standout having survived 3 knockdowns against Pacquiao in their first meeting and having recently withstood 8 tough rounds against Juan Diaz in their 135lb bout, before ending the fight by KO. Mayweather has been a virtuoso in most if not all of his fights and has barely lost a round or broke a sweat, so to many his heart hasn’t been tested.
Heart and Courage: Advantage Marquez
If I had a nickel for every time Money Mayweather adapted to his opponents style or fight tactics my pockets would jingle, Money NEVER fights an opponent the SAME way, and I believe he learned this from his 2 tough battles with Jose Luis Castillo. He attempted to fight Castillo the same way he successfully fought the much bigger Diego Corrales (RIP). Castillo had a good chin and was much bigger and stronger than Money May, so the only way PBF could win was using the ‘stick-and-move’ method (also classified as running by Cus D’Amato when referring to Muhammad Ali). Since those fights Mayweather has also gotten much stronger physically, supplementing his speed and quickness to deal with pressure fighters. Mayweather’s improvisational acumen was highlighted during his fights against Zab Judah and Ricky Hatton where both had the upper hand during the early rounds with Mayweather stealing the advantage from both later. These in-the-ring and out-of-the-ring adaptations and his ring intelligence make Floyd a formidable opponent for ANYONE. Juan Manuel Marquez also has a knack for the improbable. Recently against Juan Diaz who was beating him and almost had him down with his pressure attack, Marquez eloquently calmed himself, took a half step backwards to give himself punching room and stole the victory from the hands of defeat. As long as Diaz was in close he was doing damage and almost stopped Juan Manuel, creating a little distance made it possible for El Dinimita to be victorious.
Adaptability and Intelligence: EVEN
The Physical Aspects of the fight are these, the fight will be fought at welterweight at a ‘catch-weight’ 3 lbs below the welterweight limit. Mayweather not a huge welterweight walks around at 150lbs, stands 5’8” and has a 72 in reach. Marquez stands 5’6.5″ probably walks around at 145lbs and has a 67″ reach. Mayweather shouldn’t have much trouble making 144lbs, but Marquez has never fought at this weight. Punching speed favors Mayweather, but Marquez was able to time the speedy Pacquiao in their rematch and land his shots.
Physical aspects: Advantage Mayweather
Fight tactics for both men will depend on their ability to counterpunch, Mayweathers speed and Marquez’ ability to time that speed. We won’t see anything new from either man. Both will ad-lib as
necessary to get the victory. It will be a chess match from beginning to end and could be a boring affair, but I have a feeling it won’t be.
Tactics: EVEN
Prediction: After a slow start Mayweather will pick up the pace to test Marquez’ stamina with the added weight. Marquez will attempt to time Mayweather’s quick and speedy shots like he was able to do against Pacquiao. Unlike Pacquiao Mayweather ONLY throws shots that count and leaves nothing to chance with wild lunges or wild flurries which makes it harder for Mayweather to be countered. The added weight and Mayweather’s speed take their toll on the Mexico City native during the middle rounds and Mayweather increases his assault. The fight ends in round 7 with Mayweather winning by TKO.