Photo by Chris Farina/Top Rank
Timothy Bradley vs. Juan Manuel Marquez
Gabriel Rivas, Contributing Writer
Bradley claims to have gotten rid of the chip on his shoulder that nearly cost him his fight with Ruslan Provodnikov. Still, I feel he will still be dragged into a slugfest by the more experienced Juan Manuel Marquez. Marquez has proved that he can defeat younger fighters, although he gets hit a lot of times before the win. His fights with Juan Diaz are excellent examples. However, Bradley is faster and stronger than someone like Diaz. His war with Provodnikov and his disputed win with Pacquaio may also have him believing that he can both box and brawl, which may play in his favor. Bradley does have the skillset to defeat Marquez, but despite all of this, I still have Marquez winning. As his last fight showed, one can never rule out a tough Mexican like Marquez.
Prediction: Marquez
Rob Anthony, Contributing Writer
I think we will see a more cautious Tim Bradley. He has a chin of steel and a heart made out of granite, not to mention quick feet, great endurance, and very fast hands. This will make up for his lack of punching power. If he can move in and out, land his combinations while getting in two or three shots and getting hit once, that will be his formula to win. I think he will do just that, outworking Marquez to a split decision.
Prediction: Bradley
Lenin Acevedo, Photographer
Though not the most anticipated fight of the year, Timothy Bradley vs Juan Manuel Marquez will be a promising roller coaster bout. With both fighters coming off big wins, they’ll both be motivated to impose their styles on one another. Bradley’s speed and athleticism will surely dominate in the first rounds, but Dinamita’s ring IQ fueled with experience will eventually turn the fight around. I’m calling a decision win for the future hall of famer, Juan Manuel “Dinamita” Marquez.
Prediction: Marquez
Brendan Montenegro, Contributing Writer
This is going to be a good fight with Bradley being undefeated and Marquez coming off a huge win against Pacquiao. I see this fight being 12 rounds of hard-nosed boxing. Marquez will not be looking for a knockout knowing that Bradley’s chin is like stone. It will be hard to choose sides, but I will go with Marquez in 12 by SD.
Prediction: Marquez
Juan Carlos Burgos, Contributing Writer
This fight had me on the fence when it was first announced and little has changed. The ageless Mexican legend just keeps going and going and mysteriously–or maybe not–he seems to have added one punch KO power now in his golden years. In my opinion, Bradley holds the key to this fight and he has the ability to make this fight as easy or as hard on himself as he wants. After his highly questionable victory over the PacMan, it seems Bradley had to not only convince others he indeed beat Pacquiao, but he had to convince himself as well. In his subsequent bout with Ruslan Provodnikov he would go toe-to-toe in an all-out action bout with the rugged Russian. When he stood in front of Ruslan he would get himself in trouble time and time again, only to show a champions heart and will. In the middle rounds he somehow would get his legs back and moved better while letting his hands go. Although Bradley is not a classic boxer, he has the ability to stick and move and if we know anything about Marquez it is that those types of fighters give him fits. Marquez is one of the best counter punchers of his era. If Bradley want’s to stink it up I believe he would be able to make his life easier and win a comfortable decision. But seeing Bradley’s last fight and the way he has been talking and his overall instinct to trade at times leads me to believe he is not going to purely box Marquez, but he also can’t go to war. I think that Bradley’s youth will help him and he will employ just enough movement to throw off the future hall-of-famer in a close, close decision. If he decides to stand in front of Marquez and trade, lookout! But, I have Bradley in this one.
Prediction: Bradley
Alex Burgos, Contributing Writer
I think this fights outcome will depend on which version of Timothy Bradley shows up. Bradley has been seeking fan approval and praise throughout his career and he finally got it after his fight of the year candidate bout with Ruslan Provodnikov earlier this year. Will he be the crowd-pleasing fighter we saw against Provodnikov? To have a chance against Marquez, he better not be. Regardless, I think Marquez’s will and ability to counter will carry him to a close decision victory. We may see a few headbutts and or knockdowns before this one is all over and it may get sloppy, but I like the future hall-of-famer to hand Bradley his first defeat.
Prediction: Marquez
