Matt Christie

IT’S hard to say who came out of their first, thrilling, encounter in worse condition. Juan Manuel Marquez has only fought once since, but I’m inclined to lay less importance on his one-sided loss to Floyd Mayweather, than the two unimpressive Paulie Malignaggi contests that Juan Diaz has endured.

I have always had a feeling that Marquez would walk through Diaz in a rematch and little has changed my mind. Despite knowing this is his last chance, the knowledge that his opponent could take his best, and such durability was not reciprocated, will have left indelible marks in Juan’s psyche.

Marquez to withstand some early Diaz fury and halt his man in six.

Danny Flexen

I HATE to go against the grain but I really feel circumstances will conspire for Diaz to give Marquez an even closer run this time.

Diaz looked poor against Malignaggi but was fighting a naturally bigger, awkward guy. Amir Khan made beating Paulie look simple but his reach exceeded the New Yorker’s. People forget that Diaz was right in the first Marquez contest up untiul the finish when he took a shot that may have been the best Juan Manuel has ever thrown.

Diaz is back at his natural weight – both Malignaggi fights were at catchweight – whereas Marquez hasn’t made the lightweight championship limit since the first fight, a year and five months ago. At 36, getting his body down will not have got any easier. Marquez’s 10 months’ inactivity is also a factor and motivation could also play a part – he is fighting someone he has already beaten and coming off a loss to the one of the top two boxers in the sport. Realistically, what more can he achieve?

All that said, stylistically Diaz is good for Marquez but I expect the Texan to go the distance this time and come out on the short end of a split decision.

Nick Bond

I FULLY expect Marquez to repeat the trick. What does Diaz do differently this time? Outbox Marquez? I don’t think so. Marquez is a master technician.

Diaz’ flame burnt brightly a few years ago when he was beating the likes of Acelino Freitas and Julio Diaz, but they’re not on the level of a Marquez – even an ageing one.

Only the crème de la crème beat the great Mexican (Manny Pacquaio, Mayweather etc.) Diaz isn’t on that level.

I foresee a similar result as in their first fight, a late-round stoppage.