Mayweather-Marquez Undercard Live Blog

We're all set for Floyd Mayweather's return to the ring against Juan Manuel Marquez. There's a full slate of boxing action before we get to the main event, though, including a compelling rematch between Chris John and Rocky Juarez.

First up is a 10-round featherweight bout between Orlando Cruz and Cornelius Lock. Michael Buffer is in the ring for the introductions as usual.

Lock is 18-4-1 with 11 KOs but lost his last time out. Former Puerto Rican Olympian Cruz is 16-0-1 and is younger and heavier. Jim Lampley, Max Kellerman and Emanuel Steward are the announce team this evening.

Lock sends Cruz down with about 40 seconds left in the first round with a right hook followed by a left over the top. Cruz had to hold on for dear life to avoid another late knockdown.

Cruz seems like he has his legs back under him, and late in the second round he finally starts landing some of his own shots. A right hand early in the third round gets Lock's attention, and Cruz complains about some low shots as well. Both men are throwing some bombs for guys who don't have a lot of KOs on their records.

Harold Lederman has Lock up by four points through three rounds. Cruz has definitely settled in, but you wonder if he has given away too many points in a 10-round fight. Cruz is doing some nasty body work but is getting countered, and a right hook sends him down in the fifth. That's it for Cruz, as Lock wins by TKO at 2:08 in Round 5.

Video is shown of Floyd's arrival, and he showed up real early for tonight's card. Steward says he doubts we'll see any rust on him tonight. Steward gives his keys to victory for Mayweather: make Marquez lead, be physical and throw right hand leads down the stretch.

Now we see JMM coming into the arena, once again decked out with Rockstar energy drink apparel. Emanuel's keys for Marquez: start fast, cut off the ring, don't waste punches and finish strong.

I'll go round by round for Michael Katsidis and Vicente Escobedo. Both men weighed in right at the lightweight limit of 135 pounds.

Escobedo is 21-1 with 13 KOs. Katsidis is 25-2 with 21 KOs, but the Aussie has dropped two of his last four. The introductions are done, the instructions are given, and we are ready to go.

Round 1

Escobedo scores early with the jab. Katsidis digs in and comes forward. He doubles up on body shots and tries some shots upstairs. Escobedo settles himself and works off the jab again. As usual, Katsidis is swinging for the fences on the inside. Counter left by Katsidis, but he's already cut over his left eye. Escobedo covers up as Katsidis flurries. Nice action in the final 10 seconds.

Franchise: 10-9 Katsidis
Spartan117: 10-9 Katsidis

Round 2

Katsidis walks through jabs and tries to back Vicente into the ropes. He's bulling his way forward with his hands covering his head. The fight is definitely being contested at his distance right now. Nice right by Katsidis, and he tries three straight uppercuts. Escobedo tries a right and gets smacked right back. The announcers are impressed with the continuing development of Katsidis' defense.

Franchise: 10-9 Katsidis
Spartan117: 10-9 Escobedo

Round 3

Escobedo has a little more luck creating distance in the first minute of this round. Vicente steps into two straight one-two combos. Katsidis backs his man into the ropes and smothers him. He lands a hook and pushes Escobedo back. Vicente retreats and lands a few jabs. Escobedo does his best sustained work right before the bell.

Franchise: 10-9 Escobedo
Spartan117: 10-9 Katsidis

Round 4

Lederman has given every round to Katsidis, for what it's worth. He tries to hook his way inside as Escobedo lands more jabs. Right hand upstairs by Katsidis. He lets some shots go to the body as he leans in. Escobedo is doing a good job not getting trapped along the ropes. Right hand by Escobedo but he eats multiple shots in return. Katsidis' eye is streaming more blood. Left by Katsidis knocked Escobedo back a step, but Vicente gets fired up and throws his own punches down the stretch.

Franchise: 10-9 Katsidis
Spartan117: 10-9 Katsidis

Round 5

Katsidis unleashes about an eight-punch flurry downstairs. Escobedo stands his ground and scores with an uppercut. He reaches with a right hand to the head. Katsidis actually lands a few jabs, but Escobedo is keeping good distance right now. Katsidis chases him across the ring and misses some wild shots. Escobedo lands a one-two and Katsidis tries the body again. Escobedo is bouncing on his feet and scoring from the outside.

Franchise: 10-9 Escobedo
Spartan117: 10-9 Katsidis

Round 6

Escobedo really has to hustle to avoid some early trouble along the ropes. Katsidis is just relentless as far as trying to get in tight. Vicente lands an uppercut and pivots away from the ropes again. Lots of feinting and Katsidis grazes a big right. Escobedo works more jabs and stays mobile. Clubbing left hook to the head by Katsidis. The Aussie charges forward but doesn't land much cleanly. Escobedo is momentarily smothered but he's still letting his hands go.

Franchise: 10-9 Katsidis
Spartan117: 10-9 Katsidis

Round 7

It's going to be really interesting to see how the official judges have this right now. Katsidis almost runs out of his corner to start the round. He tries uppercuts and hooks as Escobedo covers up. Vicente tries body shots, which have been rare from him. His jab has been a weapon but he still needs more power shots behind it. Katsidis lands a right and then flurries along the ropes. Both men stand and throw in the center of the ring. Escobedo lands a quick combo and backs away.

Franchise: 10-9 Katsidis
Spartan117: 10-9 Katsidis

Round 8

Lederman has it 7-1 for Katsidis. He lands a left hook and lowers his head to move in. Escobedo dodges more big shots and circles back. The announcers wonder if Vicente is starting to get discouraged. The jab isn't stopping Katsidis from advancing, that's for sure. Rough stuff on the inside that favors Katsidis.

Franchise: 10-9 Katsidis
Spartan117: 10-9 Katsidis

Round 9

Nacho Beristain asked Escobedo if he wanted the fight stopped, but we move on. He comes out swinging, but Katsidis wades through and scores with two big shots upstairs. The ref calls a quick timeout for a low shot by Katsidis. A left snaps Escobedo's head back and the ref has to break up a clinch. Body shots connect for Katsidis and Escobedo has to lean on him to catch a breath. Vicente lands a right hand right before the bell.

Franchise: 10-9 Katsidis
Spartan117: 10-9 Katsidis

Round 10

CompuBox has Katsidis landing three times as many body shots, and they are starting to take their toll. Right hand by Katsidis and he tries to pour it on. Escobedo gets out of trouble but has to constantly keep moving backward. Katsidis is scoring as he rushes forward. The ref warns Katsidis about hitting behind the head, and an exchange breaks out when they resume fighting. Escobedo lands right at the last second, but it's too little, too late in this frame.

Franchise: 10-9 Katsidis
Spartan117: 10-9 Katsidis

Round 11

Escobedo is really dancing for all he's worth, trying to create an opening for himself. He's definitely in great shape to keep this up for this long. Escobedo keeps his gloves down as Katsidis tries flurrying to the body. Lots of wrestling, which works against Vicente. Both men seem content to stand and trade for the last 15 seconds.

Franchise: 10-9 Katsidis
Spartan117: 10-9 Katsidis

Round 12

Nacho asked Escobedo for uppercuts. Katsidis unloads a big uppercut, but Escobedo digs deep to keep firing. He deserves credit for fighting to the final bell. A left from Katsidis makes Escobedo's right eye bleed, but the Aussie's face is swelling badly on the right side too. Katsidis keeps the pressure up as Escobedo smacks him with a hard right.

Franchise: 10-9 Escobedo
Spartan117: 10-9 Katsidis

Franchise: 117-111
Spartan117: 119-109

The judges score it 116-112 Escobedo, 115-113 Katsidis and 118-110 Katsidis. The winner by split decision, Michael Katsidis.

They show Floyd in the locker room as Lampley wonders if tonight's fight is really about Manny Pacquiao. Mayweather, of course, says no. JMM paces in his room in his Remetee shirt.

We'll do a separate post for the co-feature between Chris John and Rocky Juarez. Lampley and Steward give us a quick walk back through their first meeting.

Posted by The Franchise