Marquez vs. Ramos

Tonight Juan Manuel Marquez fights Colombian Likar Ramos at 140 lbs.

The fight's a tune-up for the Pacquiao match in November.  Marquez will be fighting above 135 pounds for only the second time ever, the first being in his notorious lopsided loss to Floyd Mayweather, Jr.  This fight will be telling of how Marquez deals with the added weight.

Problem is, if Marquez loses tonight, the fight with Pacquiao is off.

He shouldn't lose.  Ramos is lightly regarded and nowhere near the class of Marquez.  Then again, so was James "Buster" Douglas when he fought Mike Tyson, and we all know what happened then.

The fight streams on www.toprank.tv at 9 pm ET.  This is an important fight, and as with all Marquez fights, it's a must-watch.

JD's Prediction
Marquez by TKO in 5.

Update
Marquez KO'd Ramos in the first round.  Seemed like it could have been fake.  It came off of a powerful straight right hand to the chin, but not powerful enough.

Hate to say it--it could have been a setup.  Marquez may get heat for this one.

-JD

More on Marquez-Pacquiao

Since it's become official I have yet to discuss it: in case you hadn't heard, Marquez-Pacquiao III is on for November 2011.

Marquez vs. Pacquiao III

Looks like Pac-man will be taking on Juan Manuel Marquez for a third time in November 2011, according to recent reports from Bob Arum.  Very exciting match up, if indeed it does happen.

'Cause Marquez can beat Pacquiao.

Marquez is one of the only boxers who's proven to consistently be able to neutralize Pacquiao

Watch the fights.  Or just keep reading.  [Warning: Spoiler Alert]

In Fight #1, Pacquiao floors Marquez three times in the first round.  From the second round on, Marquez, with a broken nose, works his way back into the fight, neutralizing Pacquiao's attack and landing bombs.  The fight is declared a draw, controversially, as one of the judges mis-scored the first round, leaving off one of the knock downs that Pacquiao scored.  The proper scoring would have made it a split decision win for Pacquiao.

In Fight #2, Marquez and Pacquiao display back-and-forth toe-to-toe action.  Both punish the other.  Both get severely cut on their right eyes.  Pacquiao knocks Marquez down in the third round, which creates the one point difference on the score-cards between the two, giving Pacquiao a split decision win.  Another controversial decision, as CompuBox had Marquez landing more punches of any kind and at a higher percentage than Pacquiao, and many saw this fight going to Marquez.

Either way, these were two extraordinarily close fights.  Skill-for-skill they're pretty much tied.  And there's no evidence that either has lost some of his competitive edge since their last fight; Pacquiao's destruction of Antonio Margarito and Marquez's TKO of Michael Katsidis both suggest that these two are still fighting at their best.  Marquez will have the advantage though.  He's wanted this win since their first fight in 2004.  The Marquez that shows up to Pacquiao-Marquez III will probably be the most mentally and physically prepared Marquez we've ever seen.  Pacquiao, on the other hand, has been saying recently that he is satisfied with his boxing career, that his only goal at this point is to give fans an enjoyable fight.  This attitude certainly hasn't held him up against the likes of Antonio Margarito and Joshua Clottey, but we'll see how far it takes him against a determined Juan Manuel Marquez.

Marquez after the Katsidis fight in November

JD's prediction: Another blood bath.  Pacquiao has the weight advantage; Marquez has the vengeance.  Ultimately, Marquez wins by majority decision.

-JD