At the start of 2009, there was no fight that sparked greater interest amongst Mexican fans than the encounter between lightweight titlists Juan Manuel Marquez, and Juan ‘Baby Bull’ Diaz. It was a fight that matched the best fighter from Mexico, Marquez (50-5-1 37 KOs) against the best Mexican-American fighter, Diaz (35-3-1 17 KOs). Needless to say, many Mexicanos were on the ropes as to which combatant they were picking. Either way, both sides knew that the fight between the crafty old veteran, and the hard charging Baby Bull would provide fireworks worthy of a Mexican Independence Day celebration.

   The two met on February 28, 2009 in Diaz’s hometown of Houston, Texas, in front of an overwhelmingly Mexican crowd. The fight started out at a fast and furious pace with the younger fighter applying tremendous pressure on his older rival. Diaz would go on to throw 104 punches in the opening stanza, much to the delight of his hometown fans. Diaz’s onslaught would continue up until the middle rounds. In round 4, the methodical master-Marquez would begin to find his groove by mounting an aggressive body attack. Back and forth action ensued until round 8, when a laser-like uppercut from Marquez found its mark over the right eye of Diaz, opening a nasty gash. The cut would go on to hamper Diaz, and Marquez would go on to capitalize- stopping him in the ninth round.

   The fight became an instant classic, and was voted fight of the year by the Boxing Writers Association of America. Shortly thereafter, both Marquez, and Diaz would move up in weight, but would be met with disappointing results. Marquez would go on to lose a high profile Welterweight matchup against Floyd Mayweather Jr. last September, while Diaz would go on to lose a Jr. Welterweight fight against Paulie Malignaggi last December. Now, with their backs against the wall both men return to the lightweight division where they have their sights set on recreating the magic of their epic first fight.

   The two met face-to-face last Saturday to formally announce their July 31 rematch which will take place at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. The scheduled 12-round bout will be for Marquez’s Ring Magazine, WBA, and WBO lightweight titles. “Our fight was the fight of the year in 2009 and it may be the fight of the year again in 2010” Marquez said. “I want to give the people a great fight, especially the Mexican people.” Despite the fact that he will be turning 37-years-old two weeks before the fight, Marquez says that his age will not be a factor in determining the outcome of the fight. “We Mexicans are always ready to die in the ring. I have already shown that age is not an issue with me. I am ready, I will prepare well and I am ready to show everyone what I can do.” Marquez, who foolishly moved up two weight classes to face Mayweather last year said that he is working closely with a doctor to help him get back down to the 135-pound lightweight limit.

   Unlike Marquez, Diaz, 26, will not have to cut much weight to return to his natural weight class. “I know that 140 is not my weight class, but it didn’t take anything away from me” Diaz said. Diaz realizes that a lot of people are casting doubts over him after being thoroughly out boxed by Paulie Malignaggi last year.  “I want to say to all the naysayers who say my destiny has been written, I am going to show them that I can become the undisputed lightweight world champion one more time.”

   Tickets for Marquez-Diaz II are on sale now and are priced at $350, $250, $150, $100 and $50 they can be purchased locally at any Ritmo Latino outlets.

World Boxing Council Boycotts Arizona

   In the wake of Arizona’s controversial immigration law, the World Boxing Council will not be scheduling fights involving Mexican fighters in Arizona. WBC president Don Jose Sulaiman has spoken out against the law calling it “Shameful, and discriminatory.” The ban went into effect this past Saturday May 1st.

Antonio Margarito returns tomorrow night in Aguascalientes

   Margarito will take on Roberto “Amenaza” Garcia in the main event of Latin Fury 14 this Saturday in a big pay-per-view card to be telecast live to the United States by Top Rank. “I feel good and I am ready to get back to work. It’s been a long time away from the ring and I am very happy to be back,” said Margarito, who has not fought since January of last year after losing to Shane Mosley and then been suspended for a year. The pay-per-view undercard will feature World Boxing Association (WBA) interim super featherweight champion Jorge Solis (38-2-2), of Guadalajara, Mexico, defending his title against top-10 contender and one-time world title challenger Mario Santiago (21-2-1, 14 KOs), of Ponce, Puerto Rico; top-five contenders Urbano Antillion (27-1, 20 KOs), of Maywood, Calif., and Rene “Super Chiroz” Gonzalez (27-1-1, 21 KOs), of Managua, Nicaragua, battle it out in a WBA lightweight  title elimination bout; and the pay-per-view debut of flyweight sensation Alfonso López (4-0, 2 KOs), of Mexico City, Mexico, the son of legendary world champion and Mexican icon Ricardo López.

   Pacquiao at the polls: Filipinos are gearing up for next week’s political elections where all eyes will be on the Sarangani province congressional race where seven- division champion Manny Pacquiao is campaigning for a seat in congress. Despite his popularity, Pacquiao is facing an uphill battle against 61-year-old Roy Chiongbian. Filled with political savvy, Chiongbian comes from a well established political family whose roots run deep in the province. Trailing in the polls, Pacquiao is hoping for a late rally at the polls. Pacquiao last ran for congress in 2007, but was defeated handedly.