Juan Manuel Lopez vs Rafael Marquez Predictions

We're only hours away from fireworks in Vegas, with knockout punchers Juan Manuel Lopez (125 1/2) and Rafael Marquez (125 1/2) squaring off in tonight's Showtime main-event.

The Boxing Bulletin will be doing a live blog of tonight's action, including the Johnson/Green undercard and the HBO double-header as well, so make sure to check back in with us later on for round by round updates.

Let's check out some predictions for the featherweight showdown...

I'd be surprised if this fight is anything other than an all out war. Both boxers can bang and both can be hurt - with that in mind, I can't see the fight going past eight rounds. Marquez is a quick starter but at this stage of his career I doubt he can sustain a fast pace, whereas Lopez is coming into his prime and has less wear and tear.

It's not inconceivable that both boxers visit the canvas, and I wouldn't rule out an early knockout for either fighter, but I'm going with the fresher and slightly bigger Lopez to weather the storm before stopping Marquez around the sixth.

- Dave Oakes

I think Marquez gets to Lopez early, the way others have. Of course, Lopez has always made the proper adjustments to change the tide, but he hasn't faced anything like Marquez. Vazquez had a better chin than Lopez, and he showed a meaner streak than Lopez might be able to conjure for this type of fight. This is easily Lopez's biggest challenge. A loss won't derail his career. I'm picking Marquez in the upset by seventh-round KO.

- Joseph R. Holzer (check out Joe's full preview: Showtime Previews: Lopez vs Marquez - Johnson vs Green)

The fight may start out as a fencing contest, yet once the first big punch smashes home, the action will quicken. There’ll be two way exchanges and passionate retorts, the type of action that makes arena seating redundant. Lopez should win it. He’s the smoother of the two when up on his toes and with youth on his side and his ability to churn out streams of leather, he should have too much going for him here for Marquez to keep pace with him.

In a frenetic shootout, I’m looking for Lopez to prove he’s the new gun in town, landing one of his beautifully timed speeding bullets on the inside which will drop the old timer early and effectively curtail his evening’s work. Whilst Marquez will get up and fight on gamely (he knows no other way) he’ll only ever be one punch away from seeing the curtain fall. That moment should come sometime around the fifth.

- Andrew Harrison (Check out Safe Side of the Ropes for Andrew's full preview: The Shootist’s Last Stand: Marquez vs Lopez Preview & Prediction)

Like you guys, I wouldn't be surprised if this one ended in a round or two. Considering that, it's not a bad strategy to pick the guy who has the best shot at landing the first bomb. In my opinion, that's the younger, quicker Lopez, whose adrenaline will be at a maximum.

That said, I'll take Marquez because he's a proven great at this level and beyond. It seems to me that the old champion has more depth to his game, which will allow him to adjust if necessary. He and Nacho must have noticed JML doesn't move his head a whole lot whie exchanging often. Sometimes it looks like he has a steel pole for a spinal cord.

JML will gain fans, but I think he sleeps in 6 or so.

- Lee Payton

I think Marquez has the better all-around skills, but I don't think he has the legs anymore to get it done against a fighter like Lopez. While he hammered Vazquez last time out, he still got tagged way too easily by his faded rival, and against a fresher, bigger, heavy handed combination puncher, his inability to stay at longer range will not play out well for him. I think Lopez is going to get it done early. KO 3 for the Puerto Rican bomber.

- Andrew Fruman

The one thing we could take away from the small sample that was his last bout against Israel Vazquez is that Rafael Marquez isn't as limber as he once was, and can certainly be hit. A prime Marquez would likely feast on a bullish fighter like Lopez, but I don't think he has the agility to get out of the way and box at this point in his career.

Marquez has been hurt many times in his career, and while he has always had the amazing ability to recover, if you make enough mistakes and hit the canvas too many times, the fight is going to end whether you want it to or not. Unfortunately, he is going to be hit early and often by Lopez.

The future Hall-of-Famer still has the power to shock the world and knock Lopez out, but if I'm going with the best chances and most favorable odds, I'm taking Lopez in an early stoppage.

Lopez TKO 5.

- Corey Erdman

Lopez should win this fight. He's bigger, younger, faster, and fresher, and he can hit. It's a different fight, but maybe Rafa can make like his older brother, Juan Manuel, against the younger Juan Diaz and starch the hot shot upstart. I highly doubt it, though. I can hardly imagine that he has enough left. So, I'll go with the same prediction as Andrew: Lopez, TKO 3.

- Anthony Wilson

For me this fight comes down to what Marquez has left at this stage in his career. I honestly don't see an advantage for Lopez other than youth, but that may well be enough. I'm expecting JuanMa to start off fast and land big early, with Marquez getting his feet under him and firing back with picture perfect combinations. It will be nasty and violent, and I can't see it lasting too long.

If Marquez has 70% left in his tank, I think he has enough to get the job done.  They will probably both see the canvas but my money is on the old warrior being the last man standing. Marquez TKO4

- Mark Lyons (for more from Mark on the fight, check out the latest edition of One More Round)

While I think Marquez might be getting sold a bit short as far as his skills are concerned in this matchup, at the end of the day he'll still be at a size disadvantage, his chin isn't the best and Lopez can bang. But Rafa seems to have the type of "pound for pound" punching power that carries well through multiple weight classes and JuanMa may not have a great chin himself, aside from being prone to getting caught as he's punching. That said, I'm going with my heart on this one and saying Marquez by stoppage in 6 rounds after an excellent fight.

- Patrick Connor  (Violent Meditation)

More Predictions & Previews...

The Cruelest Sport - Old Trouble: Juan Manuel Lopez-Rafael Marquez Preview

Marquez has the edge in experience and smarts—two advantages the grizzled always cite to taunt young whippersnappers. Whether or not this spells trouble for Lopez remains to be seen. In the end, Marquez will get his chances, but capitalizing on them is another matter altogether. Look for Lopez to start slowly, increase the tempo round by round, and trample all over wisdom on the way to a late stoppage win.

- Carlos Acevedo

Bad Left Hook Fight Preview: Juan Manuel Lopez v. Rafael Marquez

There's a good chance this turns into a pier-six brawl and leaps into the Fight of the Year discussion. Both have that in them, and it's exactly what Marquez will probably try to bring out of Lopez. A tactical boxing affair would strongly favor the younger man, who is polished and when he does fight smart, does the job very well. I'm guessing we see Marquez go out on his shield in this one, and I don't think it lasts too long. It's been a long time since Marquez faced a guy as good as Lopez is now, and the lack of quality opposition since 2008 is a big factor to me. Lopez TKO-5

- Scott Christ

The Queensbury Rules - Previews And Predictions For Juan Manuel Lopez Vs. Rafael Marquez, Allan Green Vs. Glen Johnson And More

All things being equal, I see Lopez being a younger, bigger version of Marquez, down to the similar occasionally shaky chins and a determination to fight back when under duress. It's almost unfathomable that if one connects solidly on the other, a vicious brawl doesn't break out. And in that formulation, I'll take the bigger, 27-year-old clone over the smaller, 35-year-old one, by 6th round knockout. But it's that kind of fight where anything can happen. Those kind, you can't miss.

- Tim Starks

Fight Insight - Juan Manuel Lopez vs Rafael Marquez Prediction

In the end, Juan Manuel Lopez’s physical advantages in size and speed, coupled with his more dynamic ring generalship will produce an exciting, rousing technical knockout win over Rafael Marquez. I say that the bout lasts no more than 9 rounds.

- Ja Dawson