by James Slater – While the September showdown between pound-for-pound entrants (either past or present) Floyd Mayweather Junior and Juan Manuel Marquez is intriguing enough by itself, the MGM Grand, Las Vegas card now looks even better; what with the postponed rematch between featherweights Chris John and Rocky Juarez being added to the show.
This potentially thrilling rematch, with the Zab Judah-Matthew Hatton fight thrown in for good measure, makes the September 19th Pay-Per-View bill all that much better value for money. Challenging for John’s WBA featherweight crown back in February of this year, Juarez held the unbeaten Indonesian star to a draw that many saw as controversial.. Now, while “Money” Mayweather” and “Dinamia” Marquez will be busy warming up for their welterweight clash, the two 126-pound rivals will be busy settling their score in ring centre.
In the first fight, 29-year-old Juarez of Houston, Texas, 28-4-1(20) gave away too many of the early rounds, as he let the classy champion dictate the action. Playing catch up as a result, Rocky really let it all hang out in the bout’s final three or four rounds. Was the effort the gutsy warrior made enough to have gotten the draw he was rewarded with? Some felt it was, others strongly disagreed with such thinking.
John, also 29-years-old and currently 42-0-2(22), asked for a return almost immediately; saying he’d do it just as long as fight-two was not in Houston. It’s not, it’s in Las Vegas, and in what will be just his second fight on US soil, the man known as “The Dragon” has the opportunity to prove he is superior to Juarez once and for all.
Fight one, fought at a fast pace, may have taken a lot out of both men long term. Both guys got hit hard and had to suck it up. The action was so good a return would probably have been welcomed even if the debatable draw had not occurred. John boxed beautifully at times, but Juarez’s sheer determination and aggression served to take the champion out of his rhythm/game-plan. The question does arise; will John be able to win as many early rounds this time around, or will Juarez come out blazing so as to make sure of a victory this time?
Looking like being another top quality 12-rounder that will be crammed full of classy boxing and hard-fought intensity, John-Juarez II might even prove to be a better fight than the evening’s main event!
Look for another very close affair, with John again retaining; this time with a win.