Juan Manuel Marquez wins the IBO lightweight title by KO of Juan Diaz at 2:42 of the 9th.

Final punchstats:

Marquez 732 punches thrown, 288 landed = 39%
Diaz 781 punches thrown, 252 landed = 32%

Through 8 rounds:

Ref Duane Ford: 77-75 Marquez
Ref Max De Luca: 77-75 Diaz
Ref Levi Martinez: 76-76 even
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Round 9: Sorry - lost connectivity. Diaz was dominating the action as he picked up the pace. He walked into a JMM right and down he went. He got up by the count and was greeted by a JMM left that caused him to collapse in the center of the ring. Referee Ramos immediately waived off the bout. Wow! What a fight.
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Round 8: Close fight heading into the 8th. What a great night of fights. Diaz is now cut in the right eye. JMM rips Diaz with a right. JMM wings hooks to the body. Diaz fires back and lands his own. Diaz is a bloody mess. JMM lands an uppercut. Diaz chases JMM to the ropes and unleashes a flurry of hooks. JMM works off the ropes and goes back to the jab. JMM feints and lands aleft. Diaz is wobbled. JMM senses the danger and goes in for the kill. Diaz isn't done just yet! JMM 10-9.
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Round 7: JMM is breathing through his mouth. Diaz is urged forward by the crowd. JMM lands a counter right. Diaz lands a hook when JMM is pressed against the ropes. JMM hooks to the body. Diaz follows his jab as he pushes ahead. JMM lands a nice 4 punch combination. Diaz lands a hook when JMM is against the ropes. The blood flows from JMM. The fight fought at this pace favors JMM. JMM cracks Diaz with a right. The men exchange to the bell. JMM 10-9.
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Round 6: Every time JMM goes to the ropes he pays the price. Diaz lands a left hook. The blood is flowing from JMM. JMM fires a combination. JMM fires a few hooks that miss. The pace has slowed in the 6th. JMM throws a right that drives Diaz off him. JMM flicks the jab. Diaz charges in wildly and pays for it on the way in. JMM lands a three punch combination. JMM 10-9.
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Round 5: Diaz lands first. Both men are working behind the jab. JMM opens with a three punch combo that stings. Diaz traps JMM against the ropes and flurries. Diaz does his best work when he traps JMM. JMM is cutting Diaz up when they are in the center of the ring. This fight is so close. Diaz lands a left hook inside that forces JMM to retreat. JMM pumps a triple jab. Diaz bobs and weaves. JMM digs to the body. Diaz lands the best punch of the round. JMM has a small cut at the corner of the right eye. Diaz 10-9.
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Round 4: JMM scores with the jab. JMM lands a strong 1-2. Diaz' hook is on target as he lands two in a row. JMM lands his own hook and staggers Diaz. Diaz comes right back with his own flurry. JMM jabs to the body. Both men hook to the body but Diaz may be busier. Diaz lands flush to the face; JMM answers with his own right. Diaz comes back tit-for-tat. Neither man is willing to get bested. JMM eats a Diaz jab then fires a combination that lands. Diaz 10-9.
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Round 3: A jabbing contest to open the 3rd. Both men fire their jab. JMM is sharp with a right cross that scores. Diaz digs to the body and follows with a hook to the head. JMM is studying Diaz, looking for the opening. JMM fires and misses. JMM flicks the jab. JMM counters and lands. Diaz lands a flush 1-2. Diaz runs into a stinging right hand. JMM lands a good combination, and another. JMM hooks to the body and scores. JMM 10-9.
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Round 2: Diaz races to the center of the ring. Diaz presses the action and JMM against the ropes. Diaz wings his hook to the body. Diaz lands a jab. JMM counters with a right upstairs. Diaz cracks JMM in the corner. Diaz is landing shots to the head and body. A left hook has JMM in trouble. JMM wobbles. "Diaz, Diaz" chants the crowd. JMM lands a right to slow the tide. Diaz fires a four punch combination. Diaz lands a left to the body and JMM counters with a right to the head. JMM finishes strong but the round belongs to Diaz. Diaz 10-9.
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Round 1: The men exchange jabs to start the contest. A Diaz hook lands to the body. Diaz rips a right upstairs, and another. He traps JMM against the ropes and fires in combination. Diaz lands a jab. Diaz is off to a fast start against the traditionally slow starting JMM. Diaz lands another jab. JMM retreats and fires. Diaz punishes JMM against the ropes. JMM fires back and lands his own. The crowd is in a frenzy. Wow! Diaz 10-9.
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Michael Buffer is set for his call...and the action is about to begin.

The referee is Rafael Ramos.

Juan Manuel Marquez is greeted by a chorus of boos from the partisan crowd.

Juan Diaz has made his way to the ring. The crowd erupts to greet their fighter.

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All three judges scored the bout a draw: 114-114. Chris John retains the WBA featherweight title.

Final Punchstats:

John 1190 punches thrown, 344 connected = 29%
Juarez 797 punches thrown, 206 connected = 26%

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Round 12: Rocky is going for the knockout in front of the hometown crowd. They are on their feet. A Rocky hook lands flush. John is letting his hands go but he can't keep Rocky off him. Rocky wings a hook to the body. The fighters fight through the bell. A great fight. Rocky 10-9.
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Round 11: Sorry - we lost connectivity. The 11th was riveting action. Rocky dominated the round and punctuated it with a strong right at the bell. Rocky 10-9.
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Round 10: Jab, jab starts John. Hook, hook answers Rocky. This is a barn burner. Rocky rips John with a right. Rocky rips a left hook upstairs. Strong jab by Rocky lands flush. John fires the jab and lands. Rocky is focused on the prize tonight. John fires a combination that lands. Rocky 10-9.
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Round 9: Its anyone's fight as we enter the 9th. Rocky is tenacious chasing John to the corner. John stays on his feet circling left while pumping the jab. Rocky momentarily traps John in the corner but John escapes after absorbing little damage. Rocky lands an overhand right. John lands a combination inside. Rocky lands a clean right. John is killing Rocky with the jab and it shows on his face. Rocky 10-9.
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Round 8: John fires and moves, fires and moves. Rocky lands the best left hook of the night. John shakes it off and pumps the jab. Rocky's face is swelling from the John jab. John fires a jab. Rocky hooks to the body. Rocky pushes ahead and wings his hooks. John fires back and lands his own. Rocky jabs John to the corner and lands a right. The fight is furious. Rocky 10-9.
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Round 7: triple jab by Rocky. John pumps his jab and lands. A Rocky right snaps John's head. John fires a scoring 1-2. John is the busier fighter, keeping Juarez on the defense. Another John jab, and another. The jab is keeping Rocky on the outside where he is not as effective. John has found a rhythm and a key to victory. John 10-9.
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Round 6: "Rocky, Rocky" the crowd urges Juarez. Rocky lands a stiff jab. Rocky lands a short left hook to the jaw. John is holding Rocky. John lands a big right and another. John lands a hook, and another. Rocky lands a jab. John's taking advantage of his length this round by keeping Rocky at bay. John 10-9.
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Round 5: John is still on his toes as we open the 5th. Rocky hooks to the body. John is warned for holding behind the head. John pushes the jab but is hitting air. Rocky lands a hook to the body. The men exchange rights and both land. John throws a 1-2 that is blocked by Rocky. Rocky is cut by the left eye by a right hand from John. Close round. Rocky 10-9.
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Round 4: Rocky's jab is effective against John. A good body shot by Rocky is countered by a right hook by John. Rocky is pressuring John, forcing him to fight every second. Rocky lands a 1-2. John lands a jab after missing with a right. Rocky lands a stiff right that caught John's attention. Rocky looks determined tonight and is letting his hands go. Rocky 10-9.
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Round 3: Rocky fires a double jab followed by a body shot. The crowd is in it. John fires a one-two that Rocky ducks under. John towers over Rocky and punches down against his shorter foe. Rocky pushes ahead and is caught by an uppercut on the way in. Rocky unleashes his hooks as John is trapped against the ropes. The pace is fast in an action packed round 3. John has a long jab but shoots it over Rocky's head. Rocky 10-9.
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Round 2: John comes out a little more aggressively in the 2nd behind a quick double jab. Rocky trudges forward, working behind his own jab. Rocky lands to the body. Rocky fires a right over the top that lands. The crowd is loving it. John lands a clean right - the best punch of the fight through two rounds. The men exchange body blows and Coles warns Rocky. Rocky fires hooks into John. John lands a straight right. Rocky 10-9.
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Round 1: Both fighters fight from the conventional stance. The crowd chants "Rocky, Rocky". John flicks the jab. John keeps his hands high as he jabs to the body. Rocky has set up shop in the center of the ring. John circles left and flicks the jab. John is a little busier thus far. Rocky lands a jab. John lands a right to the body. Rocky pumps the jab, two, three, four times. A feeling out first round. John 10-9.
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Referee Laurence Cole is in charge of the action for the John v. Juarez WBA featherweight championship.

Chris John enters the ring to the theme from Rocky in a clever twist of showmanship.

Rocky Juarez has made his way to the ring. The near capacity crowd is in a frenzy as Rocky acknowledges his legions.

Fight fans, we're awaiting the combatants. The crowd is ready to root on their hometown hero, Rocky Juarez. Juarez brings to the ring a record of 28-4 with 20 KOs. In facing champion Chris John he is taking on an undefeated fighter from Semarang, Indonesia. Chris John first won the WBA featherweight belt in 2003 and has successfully defended it 10 times. John's record is 42-0-1 with 22 KOs. This will be John's first fight in the United States.

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Early fight results:

Danny Garcia 8 round UD over Cristian Favela - welterweights

Daniel Jacobs first round KO of Jose Cruz - super middleweights

Hylon Williams TKO stoppage of Edgar Partillo (retired after 5) - lightweights

Jermell Charlo 4 round UD victory against Juan Serrano - jr. middleweights

Ramon Flores KO at 2:55 of the first over Hector Vazquez - jr. welterweights

Michael Anderson KO in the first over Oscar Rosales - jr. middleweights

Darryl Hayes 4 round UD against Garardo Carillo - jr. welterweights
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Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz is not a big puncher. Over his career Diaz has stopped less than half of his opponents. Diaz does not possess terribly fast hands. In his only professional loss Diaz was repeatedly beat to the punch by then 36 year old Nate Campbell. And, Diaz gets hit a lot; perhaps too much. His best defense is his offense. So how does a fighter with limited pop, average hand speed and a suspect defense win a world title by the age of 20? In football parlance, the man can really get after it.

A defensive lineman who lines up snap after snap and pressures the quarterback on every play is said to have a motor that doesn’t stop. Juan Diaz can answer the bell, round after round, and get after the man standing in front of him. Former world champion Acelino Freitas can attest. After eight grueling rounds Diaz beat the fight out of Freitas who retired on his stool. Former world champion Julio Diaz can also attest. Pressure caused Julio Diaz to abandon his stick and move game plan and simply fight. Julio couldn’t match Juan’s intensity and was stopped in the ninth. Australian action fighter Michael Katsidis also lost out on a championship at the busy hands of Diaz. When Diaz is at his best he pumps the jab and lets his hands go.

Juan Manuel Marquez is a precision instrument. He’s a scalpel sharpened to dissect; a laser beamed to cut; a counter-puncher poised to strike. For years Marquez was avoided by the biggest names in his division. Fighting him was considered too much risk and not enough reward. Unable to secure fights against his countrymen, Marquez’ first mega bout came against hard charging Manny “Pac Man” Pacquiao. (Pacquiao was everyone’s darling having dominated Marco Antonio Barrera six months earlier.) The Pacquiao-Marquez fight was an instant classic and made both men household names. Pacquiao was lauded for his explosive punching power; Marquez for countering Pacquiao’s aggression and working his way back into the fight. When Marquez is at his best he feeds off his opponent’s frenzy and counters him to death.

On Saturday, February 28, Juan Manuel Marquez will face another charging bull in Juan Diaz at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. Can the 35 year old master technician set traps for Diaz and pick him apart? Or, will the 25 year old Diaz overwhelm the career featherweight with a stampede of punches to earn the victory? Find out here as TSS will be ringside in Houston to bring you the action beginning at 9 PM ET / 6 PM PT.