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03/02/2008 Archived Entry: "Vazquez Tops Marquez Over 12 In Year’s Best Fight"
Vazquez Tops Marquez Over 12 In Year’s Best Fight
By J.D. Vena
In what will likely prove to be 2007’s best fight, ‘El Magnifico’ Israel Vazquez, originally of Mexico City, won for the second time against his cross-time rival, two division champion Rafael Marquez, over 12 scintillating rounds last night at the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA.
Vazquez, 122, made a strong rally down the stretch of the final three rounds and was credited with a knockdown over Marquez, when the battered warrior stumbled into the ropes after a succession of hard and dogged right hands from Vazquez in the final seconds of the round. Referee Pat Russell correctly scored the incident as a knockdown as the mandatory 8-count finished up a memorable and perhaps the best of the three fights between these great boxers. It was the 12th round which sealed the deal in the final tally according to the official scorekeepers.
Judge Tom Kazmarek scored the close contest 114-111 while Max Deluca had the exact same score for Vazquez. Judge James Jen-Kin however, scored the bout 113-112 for Vazquez. Had Vazquez not have scored the knockdown, the fight may have ended in a draw though Vazquez still would have retained the WBC Super Bantamweight title he won back from Marquez last August. On this CBZ scorecard, Vazquez, now 43-4 with 31 knockouts, agreed with Deluca’s scorecard. It was difficult to favor Marquez however because of Vazquez’ dominating 12th round.
Going into the 10th round, Vazquez needed a late round surge on the scorecards to nullify Marquez’ excellent night’s work with his sharp and longer punches. Your writer had Marquez up going into the 10th but a point deduction from Marquez after what Russell ruled as his third low blow, initiated Vazquez’ path to victory, probably the most notable of his now illustrious career.
Vazquez needed the rally after Marquez had turned the tide in the fight with a knockdown in the 4th round. As he had in the first and second fights, Marquez had opened cuts over both of Vazquez’ eyes, with his jolting right hand counters. Marquez, 121 ½, also had done a very good job of finishing combinations, not allowing the aggressive Vazquez to counter as much as he needed in order to earn rounds.
Marquez, now 37-5 with 33 KOs, had the look of a winner after the 12 rounds and also felt he had won the match. But despite mask of blood worn by Vazquez, his 12th round finish may have earned him the fight without the knockdown. Though there was the same sense that either fighter could have ended the fight or changed the outcome as both had done in their previous two meetings, Vazquez heroic finish may have earned him more than being in the one-up column over his decorated compatriot. Marquez had no answer or defense of Vazquez’ vicious assault. Whenever Vazquez stopped punching Marquez would hold onto Vazquez until Russell would break them. It was the most convincing frame of the fight as Vazquez battered Marquez from pillar to post and it’s possible that even without the knockdown, the round could have been a 10-8 score for Vazquez..
What’s next could be a rarity, a possible 4th fight between these two gladiators. Last year's second fight was voted by many publications, including the voters of the CBZ, as Fight of the Year but last night's was unquestionably the best in this reporter's opinion. With their first three fights in this remarkable series already being perhaps the best rivalry in the sport’s history, the winner in their next meeting, regardless of what’s at stake for both champions will, in no doubt, be the fans.
