The crossroads fight is the most compelling of story lines and on Saturday two men who once were among the elite will seek to regain that status by meeting a second time.

Juan Manuel Marquez and Juan Diaz produced a Fight of the Year candidate and those promoting it hope the stylistic magic is still there. Is it? The oddsmakers don’t think so, making Marquez a 4-1 favorite. The CompuBox stats may provide a clue, as well as factors that may determine the result.

The first time around: Marquez’s KO overshadowed what had been an extremely competitive fight through the first six. Marquez, who had averaged 50 punches per round in his previous three, went blow-for-blow and came out ahead over the first six as he went 192 of 517 to Diaz’s 176 of 547. Moreover, Marquez out-landed Diaz 128-122 in power shots and was more accurate (44 percent to 33).

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Miguel Cotto said before Saturday night’s fight against WBA junior middleweight champion Yuri Foreman that he wanted to recapture the Cotto of the past. In the end, the Puerto Rican star reached back into his past and dusted off a an old potent weapon – a searing hook to the body – to capture his third divisional title via ninth round TKO.

Meanwhile, the speedy Foreman proved he had the heart of a real fighter by refusing to yield to an old knee injury when it would have been convenient to do so. Instead, he fought on for nearly two more rounds before Cotto’s hook forced him to succumb, however unwillingly. By obeying this time-honored code, Foreman covered himself with glory – a peculiar brand perhaps, but glory nevertheless.