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JUAN MANUEL LOPEZ VS. RAFAEL MARQUEZ
Can it get any better than this? Rafael Marquez is one of the more intelligent fighters in
the game today. His credentials and achievements in the sport speak for themselves.
Juan Manuel Lopez may be the next Puerto Rican legend. Ring the bell already!
Record
JUAN MANUEL LOPEZ: Record is an outstanding 29-0 with 26 knockouts. Only
Rogers Mtagwa has gone the distance with Lopez in the past three years. Won the
WBO super bantamweight title in 2008 and the WBO featherweight title in 2010.
Turned pro in January of 2005.
RAFAEL MARQUEZ: Is 39-5 with 35 knockouts. Marquez turned pro in
September of 1995. Won the IBF bantamweight title in 2003 with an upset victory
over Tim Austin. Made seven title defenses before defeating Israel Vazquez for the
WBC super bantamweight belt. Lost to Vazquez in two subsequent rematches before
finally turning the trick in their fourth and final meeting.
Age and physical equipment
JUAN MANUEL LOPEZ: Is 27 years old and stands 5’7” with a 69” inch reach.
Lopez’ chin is not rock solid which makes for some entertaining encounters. Faded in
the final rounds against Rogers Mtagwa and looked one punch away from being
stopped.
RAFAEL MARQUEZ: Is 35 years old. Stands 5’5” with a 68” inch reach. Does not
have the sturdiest of chins. Has been stopped four times but early in his career. Has
one of the best trainers in the business in Nacho Beristain. Looks to be a well-
preserved 35 year old in a division where that age is considered ancient.
Previous fight
JUAN MANUEL LOPEZ: Stopped Filipino Bernabe Concepcion in two rounds in a
brief but explosive thriller. Both fighters hit the canvas in round one but Lopez finished
off his foe in the second round. In less than two rounds, JuanMa showed why he is a
rising star.
RAFAEL MARQUEZ: In the fourth installment of his epic rivalry with Israel
Vazquez, Marquez literally ripped his opponent’s eye to shreds en route to a very
bloody third round stoppage. Marquez’ defense and punches were tight throughout. It
was apparent he would not leave the ring that night without a victory.
Best weapons
JUAN MANUEL LOPEZ: Pick one. Throws every punch in the book with precision
and power. His favored power punch seems to be the overhand left but possesses a
hard right hook as well. He mixes these two power shots well in combinations. Can
overwhelm opponents with a physical strength that belies his slight build.
RAFAEL MARQUEZ: An educated jab. Marquez uses his jab to set up
combinations which lower his opponent’s defense over the course of the bout. His
intelligence and ring generalship are par excellence.
Quality of opposition
JUAN MANUEL LOPEZ: What is most impressive about Lopez’ knockout
percentage is that it has come against quality opposition. He ripped through the tough
as nails Ponce De Leon in two rounds and stopped the durable as leather Gerry
Penalosa in ten. Stepping up in weight, he handled the established champion Steven
Luevano in seven one sided rounds.
RAFAEL MARQUEZ: Has fought Israel Vazquez four times and that automatically
gives him an “A” in regards to experience. Has defeated the better bantamweights and
junior featherweights in the past decade in Tim Austin, Mark “Too Sharp” Johnson and
Silence Mabuza.
Defense
JUAN MANUEL LOPEZ: Keeps a high guard and uses his legs to backtrack out of
trouble. Is constantly throwing power punches and sometimes leaves himself open for
counters. His offense is his defense. Defensive technique goes out the window when he
has his opponent in trouble.
RAFAEL MARQUEZ: Uses a textbook boxing defense. Moves in and out with his
hands held high. His chin can be breached and some of his early stoppage losses are
testament to a fiberglass jaw.
Style
JUAN MANUEL LOPEZ: A seek and destroy power puncher. Darts in throwing
right hooks and straight lefts. Owns excellent foot and hand speed. Gives his opponents
no quarter and literally tries to take their head off. Punches to the body only sparingly.
One of the hardest hitters in the sport today.
RAFAEL MARQUEZ: Smooth boxer/puncher. Marquez, like his brother Juan
Manuel, is a heady fighter and disdains the stereotypical in your face approach of the
average Mexican boxer. He boxes intelligently from the outside and picks his shots. He
typically does not score early stoppages but dissects his opponents by the middle
rounds. The quintessential matador, he is at his best when facing an aggressive
opponent and counters them to pieces.
The Questions
JUAN MANUEL LOPEZ: Will he be outmaneuvered by the craftier Marquez? Will
he suffer a late round fade like he did against Mtagwa? Can he take Marquez’ punch?
RAFAEL MARQUEZ: Is he simply too old to face a young lion like Lopez? Have
the Vazquez bouts camouflaged the fact that he is past his prime? Can he handle
Lopez’ power?
Outcome
While researching this bout, the key piece of footage I found was the eighth round of
the Marquez-Tim Austin bout from 2003. Marquez was facing a power punching
southpaw in Austin and was rocked in the eighth round by the southpaw's left cross.
But Austin was already out on his feet and could not press the issue. I see a similar
scenario here. Both of these fighters are fast starters and it is going to be high noon the
moment the bell rings. This fast pace will suit Lopez more so than Marquez. He may
get caught but I see Lopez hitting and hurting Marquez early and often en route to an
impressive early-mid rounds knockout. Lopez will further cement his position as one of
boxing's pound for pound best...
Can it get any better than this? Rafael Marquez is one of the more intelligent fighters in
the game today. His credentials and achievements in the sport speak for themselves.
Juan Manuel Lopez may be the next Puerto Rican legend. Ring the bell already!
Record
JUAN MANUEL LOPEZ: Record is an outstanding 29-0 with 26 knockouts. Only
Rogers Mtagwa has gone the distance with Lopez in the past three years. Won the
WBO super bantamweight title in 2008 and the WBO featherweight title in 2010.
Turned pro in January of 2005.
RAFAEL MARQUEZ: Is 39-5 with 35 knockouts. Marquez turned pro in
September of 1995. Won the IBF bantamweight title in 2003 with an upset victory
over Tim Austin. Made seven title defenses before defeating Israel Vazquez for the
WBC super bantamweight belt. Lost to Vazquez in two subsequent rematches before
finally turning the trick in their fourth and final meeting.
Age and physical equipment
JUAN MANUEL LOPEZ: Is 27 years old and stands 5’7” with a 69” inch reach.
Lopez’ chin is not rock solid which makes for some entertaining encounters. Faded in
the final rounds against Rogers Mtagwa and looked one punch away from being
stopped.
RAFAEL MARQUEZ: Is 35 years old. Stands 5’5” with a 68” inch reach. Does not
have the sturdiest of chins. Has been stopped four times but early in his career. Has
one of the best trainers in the business in Nacho Beristain. Looks to be a well-
preserved 35 year old in a division where that age is considered ancient.
Previous fight
JUAN MANUEL LOPEZ: Stopped Filipino Bernabe Concepcion in two rounds in a
brief but explosive thriller. Both fighters hit the canvas in round one but Lopez finished
off his foe in the second round. In less than two rounds, JuanMa showed why he is a
rising star.
RAFAEL MARQUEZ: In the fourth installment of his epic rivalry with Israel
Vazquez, Marquez literally ripped his opponent’s eye to shreds en route to a very
bloody third round stoppage. Marquez’ defense and punches were tight throughout. It
was apparent he would not leave the ring that night without a victory.
Best weapons
JUAN MANUEL LOPEZ: Pick one. Throws every punch in the book with precision
and power. His favored power punch seems to be the overhand left but possesses a
hard right hook as well. He mixes these two power shots well in combinations. Can
overwhelm opponents with a physical strength that belies his slight build.
RAFAEL MARQUEZ: An educated jab. Marquez uses his jab to set up
combinations which lower his opponent’s defense over the course of the bout. His
intelligence and ring generalship are par excellence.
Quality of opposition
JUAN MANUEL LOPEZ: What is most impressive about Lopez’ knockout
percentage is that it has come against quality opposition. He ripped through the tough
as nails Ponce De Leon in two rounds and stopped the durable as leather Gerry
Penalosa in ten. Stepping up in weight, he handled the established champion Steven
Luevano in seven one sided rounds.
RAFAEL MARQUEZ: Has fought Israel Vazquez four times and that automatically
gives him an “A” in regards to experience. Has defeated the better bantamweights and
junior featherweights in the past decade in Tim Austin, Mark “Too Sharp” Johnson and
Silence Mabuza.
Defense
JUAN MANUEL LOPEZ: Keeps a high guard and uses his legs to backtrack out of
trouble. Is constantly throwing power punches and sometimes leaves himself open for
counters. His offense is his defense. Defensive technique goes out the window when he
has his opponent in trouble.
RAFAEL MARQUEZ: Uses a textbook boxing defense. Moves in and out with his
hands held high. His chin can be breached and some of his early stoppage losses are
testament to a fiberglass jaw.
Style
JUAN MANUEL LOPEZ: A seek and destroy power puncher. Darts in throwing
right hooks and straight lefts. Owns excellent foot and hand speed. Gives his opponents
no quarter and literally tries to take their head off. Punches to the body only sparingly.
One of the hardest hitters in the sport today.
RAFAEL MARQUEZ: Smooth boxer/puncher. Marquez, like his brother Juan
Manuel, is a heady fighter and disdains the stereotypical in your face approach of the
average Mexican boxer. He boxes intelligently from the outside and picks his shots. He
typically does not score early stoppages but dissects his opponents by the middle
rounds. The quintessential matador, he is at his best when facing an aggressive
opponent and counters them to pieces.
The Questions
JUAN MANUEL LOPEZ: Will he be outmaneuvered by the craftier Marquez? Will
he suffer a late round fade like he did against Mtagwa? Can he take Marquez’ punch?
RAFAEL MARQUEZ: Is he simply too old to face a young lion like Lopez? Have
the Vazquez bouts camouflaged the fact that he is past his prime? Can he handle
Lopez’ power?
Outcome
While researching this bout, the key piece of footage I found was the eighth round of
the Marquez-Tim Austin bout from 2003. Marquez was facing a power punching
southpaw in Austin and was rocked in the eighth round by the southpaw's left cross.
But Austin was already out on his feet and could not press the issue. I see a similar
scenario here. Both of these fighters are fast starters and it is going to be high noon the
moment the bell rings. This fast pace will suit Lopez more so than Marquez. He may
get caught but I see Lopez hitting and hurting Marquez early and often en route to an
impressive early-mid rounds knockout. Lopez will further cement his position as one of
boxing's pound for pound best...
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