Recap of last Rocky Juarez Match
We have not recapped any Jorge Barrios matches. However, here is a copy of the original recap of Rocky Juarez' last match:
Showtime Championship Boxing Recap
November 3, 2007
Desert Diamond Casino-Tucson, Arizona
WBC Super Featherweight (130 pounds) 12 Round Championship Match:
Juan Manuel Marquez (47-3-1, 35 KO's, 128 pounds) (c) vs. Rocky Juarez (27-3, 19 KO's, 129 pounds)
Marquez won this title via unanimous decision over Marco Antonio Barrera on March 17, 2007 at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. This is Marquez' first defense of this title.
The champion was scheduled to make his first title defense on September 15 against Jorge Rodrigo Barrios, but Barrios withdrew due to injury leading to this match.
Marquez is the son of a former pro boxer Rafael Marquez, and brother of The Ring magazine number 7 pound-for-pound boxer Rafael Marquez, Jr. The younger Marquez brother had a distinguished amateur career going 32-1, before turning pro at 19-years-old.
The champion was scheduled to make his first title defense on September 15 against Jorge Rodrigo Barrios, but Barrios withdrew due to injury leading to this match.
Marquez has also had two recent injuries. The champion had an infected right hand, which he said is fine now. The more problematic injury may be that Marquez was in an auto accident in April, and suffered a cut on his forehead when his head hit the steering wheel. Marquez says the scar tissue will not open up during the match. However, he still has a huge scar on his forehead over 6 months later that looks like it could open up easily.
The native of Mexico City, now residing in Anaheim, California's last match was the victory over Barrera. That match was very exciting, but marred by a blown knockdown call by the referee that hurt Barrera. Marquez offered Barrera a rematch, however Barrera took a bigger money match with Manny Pacquiao (Barrera lost that match and retired).
Marquez is ranked by The Ring magazine as the number 2 contender at 130 pounds to their vacant championship at that weight class, behind only Pacquiao. The champion is also, rated by the publication as the number 3 pound-for-pound boxer behind number 1, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Pacquiao.
Juarez has an outstanding amateur pedigree. He compiled a 145-17 amateur record, that included a 68 match winning streak. Representing the United States at the 2000 Sydney Summer Olympiad, Juarez won the silver medal in boxing at 125 pounds.
The Houston native's last match was a 12 round unanimous decision win to capture the WBA Fedelatin Championship at 126 pounds over Jose Andres Hernandez on the undercard of Oscar de la Hoya-Mayweather on May 5, 2007 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Juarez scored a first round knockdown then, become very inactive making the match boring to watch. Juarez has a history of not being active enough in matches, and losing because of it. He won by a surprisingly wide margin on the official cards, but Harold Lederman and my scorecard had him winning by the point from the knockdown. Juarez threw 400 fewer punches then his opponent in that match. However, that victory earned Juarez an immediate title shot at the WBA Champion at 126, John, in Indonesia. However, it was a bad match up for a foreigner facing potentially hostile judging and a bad paycheck. Therefore, Juarez bypassed the match.
Juarez is unranked by The Ring Magazine at 130 pounds, but is currently the number 10 ranked boxer at 130 pounds by boxrec.com.
Juarez has the age advantage at 27-years-old, compared to the 34-year-old Marquez. Marquez has the height advantage standing 5' 5" tall, while the Houstonian stands 5' 4" tall. The champion has a slight reach advantage with a 67.5" wingspan, and the challenger has a 67" wingspan. Neither boxers' official weights approaching match time are available. Both boxers will employ the orthodox stance.
The unified rules of boxing are in effect for this match. The referee is Robert Ferrara. The judges are from Arizona, Nevada, and France.
Juarez comes out to the classic Queen song, "Another One Bites the Dust". The challenger is booed when introduced in the ring, but not coming out to that music. No one can boo Queen.
Before the match began, the referee had to force the boxers to touch gloves. That is odd, because there was no perceived dislike between the boxers headed into the match. Also, both are perceived as classy boxers unaccustomed to that type of poor sportsmanship.
With about 1 minute to go in round 1, there is a cut around the left eye of Juarez that is impeding his vision. The cut was caused by a punch. The cut is bleeding significantly, and Marquez is aiming his punches for the cut. The ruling from the doctor is that the cut is the result of an accidental clash of heads. However, it did not appear the boxers were close enough for a clash of heads during the round. Marquez wins round 1, 10-9. On replay it shows that the cut was indeed caused by a clash of heads. Marquez wins round 2, 10-9. The announcers point out that at this point it would be in Juarez' interest to get the match stopped, because of the cut. If the cut causes a stoppage before the end of round 4, Juarez will escape with a draw. Juarez is throwing single punches that are not landing. Marquez is throwing hard combinations, and landing them to any part of Juarez he chooses. Marquez wins round 3, 10-9, and leads after 3 rounds on my scorecard, 30-27.
After round 3, de la Hoya is shown sitting in the stands on the screen, and receives the loudest boos of the night from the capacity crowd. It earns a hearty laugh and wave at the camera from de la Hoya. He is getting a share of the gate from the fans who booed him.
The time keeper made a mistake and made round 4 only 2 minutes long, instead of 3 minutes. However, that makes this match official. Juarez may have won that round, 10-9. The timekeeper realized his mistake, and signaled to the referee to restart the action. It was too late, though, because the boxers were already on their stools. All three journalists scoring the match unofficially from ringside for Showtime have it after 4 rounds for Marquez, 40-36. Bernstein and I have Marquez winning after 4 rounds, 39-37. Bernstein gave round 1 to Juarez. Marquez wins round 5, 10-9. Continued combinations and strong body work win Marquez round 6, 10-9. Marquez leads on my scorecard after 6 rounds, 59-55. All of the press row scoring after round 6 has Marquez winning, 60-54.
The crowd begins to boo this match, which they have done sporadically, in round 7. This match is not that exciting, but not worth booing either. Marquez is doing a great job offensively and defensively. Marquez shows great hand speed winning round 7, 10-9. Juarez is semi-effective on the inside, but none of his punches are hurting Marquez. The challenger is beginning to bleed from his right ear with over 1 minute to go in round 8. Marquez wins round 8, 10-9. Unofficial press row scoring after 8 rounds, all have Marquez winning, 80-72. After 8 rounds, Bernstein and I have Marquez winning, 79-73. Marquez wins round 9, 10-9. Towards the end of round 9, blood appeared on the face of Marquez, but it is probably Juarez'. After 9 rounds, Marquez is winning on my scorecard, 89-82.
Marquez' right eye is beginning to close as round 10 begins, because Juarez has opened up his offense more in the last 2 rounds and landed some good punches. Marquez wins round 10, 10-9. The right eye of Juarez is beginning to close as round 10 ends. The cut over Juarez' left eye has not stopped bleeding, since round 1 and his vision has been impaired the entire match. Marquez wins round 11, 10-9. This match should be stopped. Juarez has no chance of scoring the come from behind knockout, and is still taking many hard punches from Marquez. The commentators believe it should have been stopped after round 10. Arguments could have been made for an even earlier stoppage. Marquez let off the gas in round 12, and gave Juarez a chance to win the round. Marquez still probably won round 12, 10-9. Marquez wins the match on my scorecard, 119-109.
The official decision as read by "Classy" Jimmy Lennon, Jr.: 118-110, 117-111, 120-108, all for the winner by unanimous decision, and still WBC Super Featherweight Champion of the World, Juan Manuel Marquez. The win moves Marquez to 48-3-1, with 35 of those wins coming by way of knockout.
Marquez says in his post match interview that he wants Pacquiao.
Juarez said in his post match interview that the cut effected him during the match, and he wants a rematch.
Oddly, then de la Hoya, who was recently named promoter of the year, was brought in for a post match interview. de la Hoya said he wants to make Marquez-Pacquiao. de la Hoya was asked if he was going to face Pacquiao. de la Hoya said that right now he has no intention of acing Pacquiao, but instead of making the Marquez-Pacquiao rematch. In the first quarter of 2008, de la Hoya will announce his next opponent. (My guess is still Ricky Hatton, who recently joined the Golden Boy Promotions stable. That is regardless of the outcome of Hatton's match on December 8 with Mayweather.)
Marquez should get his rematch of a controversial draw with Pacquiao after his performance in this match. The champion could not have performed any better in this match.
Juarez is boxing at the wrong weight class. He needs to move down to 126 pounds. The Showtime broadcasters speculated that Juarez should move down, and take his originally scheduled match with Guerrero. There is no reason for Juarez to get a rematch with Marquez. If Juarez had unimpaired vision in a match with Marquez, it is unlikely the result would be different.

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