On July 18th we'll see the return of former pound for pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. when he takes on lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez at a catch weight of 144 pounds. Mayweather should benefit from the weight since it is only 3 pounds under his most recent weight division of choice - welterweight. For Marquez it is an increase of 9 pounds above his most recent weight division. Weight aside, Mayweather is coming off a long layoff of over 1.5 years and is sure to be a bit rusty. The big question is whether Marquez can test any rustiness that Mayweather might carry into the ring. Marquez is a slow starter based on his historical fights with Pacquiao and his most recent fight against Juan Diaz where he was knocked down early. If Mayweather can win the early rounds he should have enough to carry a decision through to the end. I suspect Marquez will struggle early while Mayweather uses his speed and accuracy to take advantage of Marquez' poor start. I predict that Marquez makes it close proving he is a warrior but still loses a decision to Mayweather. The key will be if Mayweather's speed holds against the lighter fighter and whether he has a power advantage.
Mayweather's layoff makes this fight difficult to predict as we don't know how ready he will be. Given the big payday waiting for him against Pacquiao you have to assume Mayweather does not want to lose against Marquez and will be ready.
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