Rafael Marquez doesn't appear to be a weathered or haggard fighter, who's past his prime. Yet almost everyone who made a pick for tonight's fight between the 35-year-old Marquez and Juan Manuel Lopez, 27, mentioned the Mexican's age.
"I tell them that they're wrong," Marquez said. "As long as you take care of yourself and as long as you prepare well for a fight, that shouldn't be any problem. I think my brother proved that against Juan Diaz, who is 10 years younger than him."
If defying age is in the blood, Marquez (39-5, 35 KOs) has the right genetics. At 37, his older brother Juan Manuel is still on top of his game. There is one major difference betweeb Juan Manuel and Rafael. Robert Morales from the Long Beach Press-Telegram points out that baby brother has the wear and tear from four fights with Israel Vazquez. Three of those bouts came in a one-year period. His brother doesn't have anything like that on his long resume.
Marquez looks at the experience from those brawls as a positive. It's something Lopez (29-0, 26 KOs) has never been through. A lot can be learned from going 28 rounds with a vicious puncher like Vazquez.
""I've seen some videotape on (Lopez). I see how strong and powerful he is, but I also see his weaknesses," Marquez said. "I see that he has a weak chin. So we have to take advantage of that and put our punches together and use a lot of combinations."
Marquez thinks he has a chance and so does his promoter Gary Shaw. Las Vegas bettors aren't biting; Lopez is a minus-390 favorite.
Fight odds (Courtesy South Point Hotel, Casino and Spa):
Juan Manuel Lopez (-390) v. Rafael Marquez (-300) - Featherweight
Allan Green (+130) v. Glen Johnson (-160) - Super Middleweight
Yahoo! Sports' lead boxing writer Kevin Iole breaks down Johnson-Green fight and the current state of the Super Six.
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