The WBO Welterweight Belt will be on the line when reigning champion Timothy Bradley makes his second title defense against the four-division world champion Juan Manuel Marquez on October 12 in Las Vegas.
Odds to Win the WBO Welterweight Championship
Both fighters spurned a much more lucrative re-match with former #1 pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao, whom both fighters have recently defeated, in order to take this fight against one another.
Bradley is looking for a more definitive win after looking far from convincing in his last two bouts, while Marquez is out to make some boxing history for his country.
Juan Manuel Marquez (-150) vs. Timothy Bradley (+120)
One of the most decorated Mexican boxers in history, Juan Manuel Marquez will be gunning for a fifth world championship in five weight divisions, which would make him the first ever Mexican fighter with that distinction.
“Dinamita” is coming off his spectacular knock-out of Manny Pacquiao last August, which was dubbed the Knockout of the Year by The Ring magazine. Marquez finally exacted his revenge over the Filipino boxer, who handed the Mexican close decision losses in 2008 and most recently in 2011; his only other loss in 7 years was to Floyd Mayweather.
Despite his age, the 40-year old Marquez looked very muscular in his previous fight and with his knockout displayed that he still possesses significant power. However, Marquez is a more famed counterpuncher with the ability to pick Bradley apart with quick and accurate strikes.
The multiple-time title-holder Marquez will also have a decided edge in terms of experience over the relatively green champion. This is just one of the advantages which have made Marquez a -150 favorite to take Bradley’s belt and to place his name in the record books.
An undefeated 30-0 record and the WBO welterweight belt did not prevent Timothy Bradley from being a +120 underdog in his title bout against Juan Manuel Marquez.
Bradley won his title via controversial split decision against Manny Pacquiao in June last year. Despite breaking his foot in the fight, “Desert Storm” was able to soldier through and eventually managed to earn the dubious decision.
The champion was pushed to his limits in his very first title defense earlier this year against the Russian Ruslan Provodnikov. The usually more conservative Bradley came out punching and this aggressive style resulted in a slugfest. Bradley was knocked down twice, including one in the 12th round, but he survived the onslaught to retain his belt via unanimous decision.
Bradley absorbed a tremendous amount of punishment in that bout, which he felt the serious effects of later. While he showed great guile and determination to endure such a beating, he would be better served learning from experience and reverting to a more defensive strategy instead of getting into another war with Marquez. Bradley’s speed, youth and activity could come in crucial against his elderly but wily adversary.
