Title Fights Scheduled (Feb. 27-28)

A great weekend in boxing with 5 title fights on tap.

Friday night at the Rock (Prudential Center) in nearby Newark, NJ, the home of the NJ Devils. Poland's Tomasz Adamek [36(24)-1(0)-0] is back in the same ring where he captured his belts 2 months ago versus Steve Cunningham. He will defend his IBF and Ring Cruiserweight titles against the undefeated yet untested Detroit-native Johnathon Banks [20(14)-0(0)-0]. Adamek was an immovable force against the fleet-footed yet light-handed Cunningham. Banks is the complete opposite. The fight will be covered by Showtime at 11 pm ET.

Saturday night in Oaxaca, Mexico. Back-to-back title fights for the 105-pounders. Donnie Nietes [23(14)-1(0)-3] of the Philippines will defend his WBO Mini Flyweight title against #2 ranked Erik Ramirez [25(19)-5(3)-1] of Mexico. Ramirez fought more fights last year than Nietes' number of rounds. If Nietes loses his title it is most probably because of ring rust. Nietes stopped Eddy Castro in the 2nd last August while Ramirez went 4-0 with 3 KOs.

In the same card, Nicaragua's Roman Gonzalez [22(20)-0(0)-0] will defend his WBA Minimumweight title against Mexico's Francisco Rosas [20(12)-5(0)-2]. Gonzales is regarded as the best 105-pounder in the world. This is very likely a mismatch. That's 2 Mexicans challenging for world titles in their home country.

Then on HBO's World Championship Boxing at 10 pm ET from Houston, TX, 2 Houstonians will challenge for world titles. In the main supporting bout, Chris John [42(22)-0(0)-1] will finally defend his WBA Featherweight title outside the confines of Asia (and Australia) when he meets hard-luck Rocky Juarez [28(20)-4(0)-0]. This is the 4th world title attempt for Juarez. Lost twice to Marco Antonio Barrera in '06 and once to Juan Manuel Marquez late '07.

In the main event, Ring Lightweight champion and current #2 pound-for-pound fighter Juan Manuel Marquez [49(36)-4(0)-1] of Mexico will defend his title against former multi-titlist Juan Diaz [34(17)-1(0)-0]. Also at stake is the vacant WBO and WBA Lightweight titles. Marquez is ranked #2 and Diaz #3 by the WBO. The WBO and WBA sanctioned the fight after it was vacated by Nate Campbell when he did not make weight two weekends ago against Ali Funeka. Paulus Moses of Namibia is demoted back to "regular" champion since the winner will be be a unified titlist. Ironically, Diaz lost his belts to Campbell last year and has the opportunity to at least regain two back. A loss by Marquez will further diminish his chances of a blockbuster trilogy against Pacquiao.

My predictions:
Adamek by decision or late KO.
Nietes by stoppage in the late rounds.
Gonzales by early stoppage.
Juarez finally gets a belt and dethrones John by decision.
Marquez by decision, this one's tough to call but Marquez's savy counter punching will be more than enough against the constantly attacking Diaz.