I love Juan Manuel Marquez. He fights hard, he takes risks, and he is never afraid to do battle with anyone. Not only that, I truly believe he is better than just about every other boxer that has fought around 135 pounds and below the past two decades. That includes Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Joel Casamayor, Diego Corrales, Jose Luis Castillo, and yes, even Manny Pacquiao. However, there is one boxer at that weight that is supremely better: Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

The details of tonight's Mayweather/Marquez showdown are intriguing. Floyd is coming off a two year "retirement." The bout is at 144 lbs, 9 lbs more than Marquez has ever fought. At the weigh-in, Mayweather came in 2 lbs over weight, costing him allegedly $600,000. Marquez came in at 142 lbs. Marquez is fighting for a chance to finally gain the recognition his fabulous career deserves. Mayweather is fighting for the money and to hopefully begin his assault on regaining his #1 pound-for-pound status.

My prediction: Floyd Mayweather by TKO11 after quickly figuring out and avoiding Marquez until his pinpoint attack hurts and bloodies his foe. This will be a corner stoppage.

Marquez is great fighter for what he is: a superb, upright couter-puncher with good boxing skills and tons of heart. However, his defense has holes, his power is less than spectacular, and he appears the much smaller man. Marquez has overcome numerous obstacles before but never has he faced an incomparably marvelous tactition with such an air tight defense as Mayweather. That and Mayweather's top-notch ring intelligence will spell doom for Marquez.

Don't get me wrong, it would be thrilling to see the long-unheralded but much deserving Marquez win the bout and finally earn the kudos he deserves. However, due to styles and cirumcumstances it seems a very long shot and one that if Marquez miraculously pulls off could have negative implications on future bouts.

Personally, I am tired of mis-matches and undeserving fighters getting breaks because of who manages them rather than how they have fared. Both Mayweather and Marquez are deserving, but only Mayweather has the ability and the clout in and around the weight class to bring clarity to boxing. I am rooting for him to win for that reason. However, I am predicting him to win because he has the defensive minded tactics and precision punching style to foil Marquez. To put it another way, Mayweather is simply better than Marquez, and tonight the world will once again see why he is the very best in boxing.