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Former two-weight world champion Rafael Marquez is back in action this evening as the Mexican bomber challenges Japan’s WBC super bantam titlist Toshiaki Nishioka at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, NV.
Last November, ex-WBC super bantam and IBF bantam champion Marquez followed up his legendary four fight series with Israel Vasquez by challenging WBO featherweight kingpin Juan Manuel Lopez in a genuine firefight that saw Lopez nearly toppled before Marquez failed to come out for the ninth round.
After a sixth round tune up victory at featherweight in July, Marquez, 40-6 (36), returns to the super bantam class for the first time since March, 2008, posing a challenge to the title reign of Tokyo southpaw Nishioka.
Nishioka, 38-4-3 (24), won the title in January, 2009 with a twelfth round stoppage over Genaro Garcia and has since retained on five occasions, stopping current WBC feather titlist Jhonny Gonzalez and outpointing European champion Rendall Munroe, among others.
Marquez, at 36 and Nishioka, 35, are both experienced veterans who are likely in the twilight of their careers, which should provide all the incentive needed for an excellent clash.
Nishioka likes to come forward and look for openings for his lead left hand but doesn’t always jab his way in. The champion also goes to the body and will likely use this strategy to wear down Marquez, who has had his share of grueling matches during his career.
But to defeat Marquez, Nishioka will have to show he can take the Mexican’s prodigious punching power from either hand and put the challenger on the back foot in a long, drawn out affair.
Marquez is very patient and accurate, however, and will punish Nishioka for any mistakes committed, especially in the early rounds.
If Marquez can counter Nishioka’s forward progress with the right hand and effectively counter the champion, we could see the WBC title change hands.
But if all the wars have caught up with Marquez and he can’t control the pace of the bout, Nishioka will likely retain his crown over 12 rounds.
Chief support is being provided by a WBA light flyweight title bout featuring reigning champion Roman Gonzalez, 29-0 (24) and challenger Omar Soto, 22-7-2 (15).
Mexico’s Soto, the current WBC Fecarbox flyweight strapholder, is coming down in weight to meet Gonzalez and brings much experience to the table.
The 31 year old has faced Omar Andres Narvaez, Brian Viloria and Gilberto Keb Baas in losing efforts over the last five years and will likely experience the same outcome against Gonzalez.
Gonzalez, at 24 years of age, is in his prime and with solid boxing skills coupled with big punching power, the undefeated former WBA minimumweight king from Nicaragua will be a very difficult man to beat.
