Inside Fights presents live coverage of tonight’s pay-per-view event headlined by the rematch of 2009’s Fight of the Year: Juan Manuel Marquez vs. Juan Diaz II. The round-by-round coverage will begin at 9pm ET. Refresh this page frequently for the latest updates.
And here we go.
Jorge Linares vs. Rocky Juarez
Referee: Russell Mora
Round 1
Linares circles the ring while Rocky tucks behind his gloves and stalks in the center of the ring. Linares has quicker punches but Rocky is working the body more. Linares is using his length to get to Rocky before he connects to the body. Linares was more active from the outside.
Linares 10-9
Round 2
Linares is timing Juarez well already. Every time Rocky gets close, Linares gets off first. He’s putting together combos as well. Linares is outboxing Rocky this round. Rocky is very inactive, as is his usual way in starting a fight. Easy round for Linares
Linares 10-9
Round 3
Rocky looked better this round but still not enough to carry the round. Linares is still boxing from the outside and connecting with crisp jabs. Linares is moving around like a gazelle while Juarez still stalks away from the center.
Linares 10-9
Round 4
The action picks up in the final 15 seconds of this round. Juarez has Linares’ back against the ropes and there is a heated give-and-take exchange. This is more up Juarez’s alley but it’s too late in the round. Plus Juarez is getting hit just as much as he is hitting.
Linares 10-9
Round 5
Linares is hitting his groove now. He’s moving around well. With 10 seconds left, Linares dropped Juarez with a left uppercut. Juarez staggered back and actually stayed upright for a second or two before his knees buckled and he went down.
Linares 10-8
Round 6
Rocky needs to pick up the aggression. Linares is picking Juarez apart from the outside with ease. Juarez can do nothing more than acknowledge Linares’ connects at this point with a nod of his head. Linares has enough points to win already. Linares just needs to ride out for a conservative win.
Linares 10-9
Round 7
Linares is taking advantage of his length as Rocky can’t get too close without getting nailed with jabs. And the jabs are setting up his left uppercuts. Juarez is reddening around his eyes. Linares still looks relaxed and wind doesn’t look like it will be an issue for him in the final rounds.
Linares 10-9
Round 8
Rocky continues to get beat up. He needs a knockout and it’s not coming at this rate, at least not for Juarez. Linares is landing combos. Pick any of the previous round recaps to find out what happened in this round. More of the same.
Linares 10-9
Round 9
Fun finish to the round. Juarez lands a straight right that slows Linares down. It leads to a nice exchange where Linares shuffles his feet to showboat. Linares starts to get a mouse under his right eye. Linares was still connecting at a higher rate prior to the flurry.
Linares 10-9
Round 10
Linares is coasting, trying to ease into the decision. Juarez is active and wins the round with activity but Linares remains on his feet so he’ll take the fight.
Juarez 10-9
Inside Fights has it 99-90 Linares
Official Decision: Jorge Linares by unanimous decision with scores of 99-90, 97-92, 99-90.
HBO PPV is having technical difficulties, so we’re left to watch the fights that took place on the off-TV undercard. Hopefully everything is resolved shortly.
They showed Sakio Bika’s bout with Jean Paul Mendy in which Bika had Mendy down on a knee and clocked him with a huge shot, which got him disqualified.
Lampley says they have regained power, so we are back.
Joel Casamayor vs. Robert Guerrero
Referee: Jay Nady
This fight is taking place at 140 pounds. Interestingly, Casamayor claims to have never fought a southpaw before.
Round 1
Guerrero with two glancing right hooks early. Good left hand by Guerrero as Casamayor looks tentative. Left hand by Guerrero seems to get Casamayor’s attention. Very uneventful first round goes to Guerrero.
10-9 Guerrero
Round 2
Casamayor lands a quick one-two. Casamayor slips after a left hand and catches a body shot on the way down, and Nady calls it a slip. Casamayor grabs onto Guerrero and drives him into the ropes, and Nady takes a point from him, citing it as the third warning. They trade left hands, and Casamayor takes the worst of it. Big right hook lands for Casamayor now, but Guerrero shakes it off. Now a big left hand by Guerrero hurts Casamayor, who freezes up. He again grabs Guerrero around the waist and goes down. Nady calls this one a knockdown, though Casamayor is up quickly. This is embarrassing for Casamayor right now.
10-7 Guerrero
Round 3
Casamayor lands a left hand. Guerrero steps in with a right hook. Casamayor lands a straight left to the chest. Casamayor clinches again, and Nady warns him as the crowd boos. Good left hand lands for Casamayor now. Guerrero hasn’t really stepped on the gas and walks into a glancing right hook from Joel, who landed some good shots when he let his hands go.
10-9 Guerrero
Round 4
Left hand lands for Guerrero. Casamayor cracks Guerrero with a big left hand. He’s getting Guerrero’s respect little by little because Guerrero isn’t going for the kill, just landing jabs. Casamayor lands a counter left hand as Guerrero comes in.
10-9 Casamayor
Round 5
Guerrero jabs the body. Guerrero lands a right hook but takes a left from Casamayor. Casamayor scores with a left hand. Guerrero lands a body shot but takes another left hand. Both men are fighting overly cautious as Guerrero lands a body shot. Another one lands for Guerrero. Guerrero bangs in a left hand now.
Round 6
Guerrero lands his left and comes back with a right hook. Body shot by Guerrero. Casamayor hits the canvas after getting tied up. Guerrero clocks him with a hard left hand, and Casamayor seems stunned by it. He tries to hold on, then changes his mind and lands a right hook in return.
10-9 Guerrero
Round 7
They trade jabs to the body. Nice left hand by Guerrero, and Casamayor is in retreat mode for the moment. Casamayor lands an uppercut but eats a left hand. Guerrero hammers home another big left hand, and Casamayor looks hurt once more. Guerrero presses, but Casamayor holds on. He gets hurt by every big punch Guerrero throws, but Guerrero is still holding back from really going after him.
10-9 Guerrero
Round 8
Guerrero lands a left hand. Good jab by Guerrero. Guerrero lands a right hook to end a round in which Casamayor may as well have not even shown up.
10-9 Guerrero
Round 9
Guerrero lands a body shot during an exchange, but he seems content to make it to the final bell with the decision win rather than become the second man to knock Casamayor out. Casamayor walks into a short left hand. The fans are booing now.
Round 10
Casamayor’s corner tells him he needs a knockout. They touch gloves to start the round. There’s too much respect being shown here for such a disparity in ability. Casamayor smashes in a big straight left with half a minute left. Then Casamayor cracks him with a counter right hook, and Guerrero hits the canvas for a five count! He’s grinning but really got caught there. They trade left hands and embrace at the bell as though they’re best friends. It looks like the mentor has passed the torch tonight but not before showing his pupil a thing or two in that last round.
10-8 Guerrero
That was the first knockdown of Guerrero’s career.
Inside Fights has it 97-90 for Guerrero.
The judges have it 98-89 twice and 97-90 for Guerrero by unanimous decision.
Casamayor and Guerrero continue to embrace and smile, proving they really are old friends.
WBO Middleweight Championship
Daniel Jacobs vs. Dmitry Pirog
Referee: Robert Byrd
Jacobs has dedicated this fight to his grandmother, who died last week from lung cancer. Her nickname was Lady Bird, which is printed on his robe.
Round 1
Jacobs lands a right hand right off the bat. Pirog lands a nice right hand moments later. Pirog jabs the body but catches a left hook. Pirog just misses with a right over the top. They trade jabs. Two body shots for Jacobs as well as a right to the head of Pirog. Jacobs turns southpaw and lands a left hand. Pirog lands a jab and sneaks in a right hand on Jacobs against the ropes. Good jab by Jacobs and a three-punch combo around the gloves to end the round.
10-9 Jacobs
Round 2
Pirog lands two body shots and buckles Jacobs’ legs with a right hand through the gloves. Jacobs somehow gets away from the ropes without going down, though both knees nearly hit the canvas. Pirog lands a right hand, and Jacobs has to get away to regroup. Pirog bangs shots into Jacobs’ guard and clean to the body. Jacobs is just covering up and trying to weather the storm for the moment but doesn’t appear hurt. Pirog lands an uppercut and some hard body shots. Jacobs lands a body shot now and adds another. Pirog scores with a right hand. Byrd calls for a break, but both guys keep punching and land. Jacobs lands a right hand, hooks Pirog around the head and bangs in two body shots before the bell. Pirog grins and shrugs as he heads to his corner. Great round for Pirog.
10-9 Pirog
Round 3
Jacobs with a right hand to start. Two more clean rights land for Jacobs. Jacobs with a stiff jab as he looks to be getting his rhythm back. Body shot for Jacobs. Jacobs lands a body shot and a right to the head. He’s boxing and moving well now. He turns southpaw again and shoots a nice straight left that snaps Pirog’s head back. Pirog lands a right hand. Jacobs catches him with a left hook. Big right hand by Jacobs just before the bell helps earn him a clear round.
10-9 Jacobs
Round 4
Jacobs with a body shot, but Pirog returns the favor. Jacobs goes southpaw again, which has worked well for him so far. Pirog lands a low blow and moves Jacobs back with a jab to the body. Pirog lands a clean right hand, and Jacobs holds on. Pirog spreads his arms and shakes his head but gets moved back by a body shot from Jacobs. Pirog keeps spreading his arms and absorbs another body shot. He grins and appears to be bleeding from the mouth. Jacobs lands a left and a right upstairs, followed by body shots. Pirog shakes his head. Jacobs lands a body shot. Two left hooks land for Jacobs to end another good round for him.
10-9 Jacobs
Round 5
Jacobs lands a left hook. They trade shots, and Jacobs offers to touch gloves, but Byrd stops them. And suddenly Pirog floors Jacobs with a huge right hand. He goes down on his side and lays flat on the canvas, and Byrd stops counting after three. Jacobs starts to get up, but Byrd shoves him back to the canvas, calling the fight.
Jacobs complains to Byrd about stopping the fight early, saying he’s fine. Pirog mounts the corner and flexes his arm, having pulled off an upset in the eyes of most American fight fans. Jacobs crashed hard, which is probably why Byrd thought he was finished.
Pirog TKO5 Jacobs
Lampley interviews Jacobs after the fight. Jacobs says he didn’t have the time to train with his grandmother’s passing. He urges fans to keep their faith in him and he would come back. Jacobs says Pirog threw a lot of shots he didn’t see, including the right hand. Jacobs vows to come back and “reclaim” his “throne,” despite never holding the title that Pirog now holds. Jacobs says family is more important than the sport and hopes he is still a superstar to his family. He apologizes to his family.
Juan Manuel Marquez vs. Juan Diaz
Referee: Vic Drakulich
Round 1
Both men meet in the center. Diaz working the body. Marquez working the jab. Crowd is getting loud, supporting Marquez. Marquez lands consecutive pinpoint left hooks. Diaz with a nice 1-2. Marquez landed the cleaner, more accurate punches.
Marquez 10-9
Round 2
Diaz is starting much more patiently as compared to the first fight. Perhaps he is trying better to pace himself this time around. Marquez is getting off first. These have been close rounds but Marquez is winning on clean and effective punches. By pacing himself for the later rounds, Diaz isn’t doing enough to win the early rounds.
Marquez 10-9
Round 3
There are signs of this tactical fight already slipping into the brawl we saw the first time around. Diaz is looking good but Marquez is looking better. As I say that, Diaz turns it on and lands plenty of quality punches. a fun scrap concludes the round that sees Marquez get the better of Diaz but it wasn’t enough to get the round.
Diaz 10-9
Round 4
Marquez hurts Diaz with 90 seconds to go in the round. Diaz stays up and away from Marquez, who doesn’t press as much as you would expect with his opponent hurt. Marquez and Diaz both seem to be fighting more tactically thus creating less of a hectic vibe. Hectic vibes are more fun.
Marquez 10-9
Round 5
They keep circling each other in the center of the ring. No clinching. no pressuring a man against the ropes. And this is all benefiting Marquez who is finding Diaz an easy target to hit. Marquez lands two big rights and Diaz is still trying to figure out the older Mexican.
Marquez 10-9
Round 6
Diaz needs to try to soften Marquez up for a later barrage for a knockout. This boxing from the outside is not working. Marquez is landing at an incredible rate, showing his offensive versatility. Marquez hurts Diaz late. Diaz avoids any more punishment until the bell.
Marquez 10-9
Round 7
Diaz is slowing down. Marquez is picking him apart. Diaz is starting to initiate more exchanges but Marquez is getting the better of them. Diaz lands a nice left, but he missed on three power punches prior. Marquez is landing much more. Marquez’s right eye is swelling.
Marquez 10-9
Round 8
It doesn’t seem to matter where Diaz puts his guard, Marquez finds an opening somewhere. Marquez is still throwing combinations while Diaz is starting to look lost in there. Marquez looks terrible with his eye but beautifully with his fists. Marquez takes another round with clean effective punching.
Marquez 10-9
Round 9
Diaz’s corner tells him to push it. Marquez is thriving against Diaz’s pressure. That sucks for Diaz. Marquez, sensing the desperation from Diaz, is beating Diaz to the punch. Marquez is putting his punches together very well.
Marquez 10-9
Round 10
Marquez is using good waist movement to evade the punches from Juan Diaz. Diaz can’t attack because Marquez is too sharp. For the same reason, he can’t sit back and let Marquez pick him apart. Marquez is winning in all phases of the fight. Diaz has a cut on his lip but his corner is doing a good job of keeping the flow of blood out of his mouth.
Marquez 10-9
Round 11
Diaz seized an opportunity with a more relaxed Marquez and landed a good left hook. Marquez appears to be taking the round off. Diaz is pushing the pace and working his jab. Diaz gets close and unloads on the body but Marquez blocks most of them. A spirited finale is forthcoming.
Diaz 10-9
Round 12
Marquez is being conservative here. Throwing just enough to keep Diaz honest and at a distance. Obviously, Diaz needs to storm in for the knockout. One minute to go. Marquez lands a good combo. Left hook from Diaz. One-two from Marquez. They UNLOAD in the final ten seconds, and even a few more seconds after the final bell. Great flurry of action that would have been nicer a few rounds ago when it meant more.
Marquez 10-9
Inside Fights scores it 118-110
Official Decision: Juan Manuel Marquez by unanimous decision with scores of 116-112, 118-110, 117-111.
Post-fight, Marquez says that a third fight with Manny Pacquiao trumps anything he can do in the lightweight division. Juan Diaz is preparing for the LSAT in October and said that retirement is an option.
That’s all for our live coverage. Thank you for joining us.
