Bowe & Holyfield, Barrera & Morales, Ward & Gotti, Ali & Frazier…
Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez — two names that will be linked forever through history because of their magnificent and brutal battles in the ring. Much like their three fight predecessors, the final battle of this confrontation will close one of the most thrilling trilogies in recent memory.
“This is a very important fight for boxing, but it is more important for my career and my legacy. This fight will go down in history,” says Israel Vazquez. “When they mention Marquez’ name, my name will be tied to him because of the legendary trilogy that we fought against each other.”
But for some reason, many casual boxing fans haven’t the slightest idea who either of these fighters making history are.
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Sure, the produced the 2007 “Fight of the Year” with a fireworks display that found fans gasping for their breath after each thudding blow. But the allure of the 122-pounder has been elusive to the casual boxing fans that equate their boxing knowledge to Heavyweights and Middleweights.
But for a Bantamweight title match-up which saw the opponent being stopped in dramatic fashion in both fights, there’s a reason for boxing purists and fight fans to yell “boxing isn’t dead” at the top of the mountains.
Before these two close the book on their epic this Saturday (you can check out the live round by round coverage complete with fight analysis here at HipHopDX.com) let’s give a brief look at these two Mexican warriors who will put their bodies on the line.
When Israel Vazquez met Rafael Marquez in their first meeting with the WBC Super Bantamweight championship on the line, many thought the fight had the opportunity to be a barn burner. Both fighters are made for each other – punches in bunches, little defense and high KO ratios. But regardless of the expectations, Vazquez Vs Marquez blew fans away with a dazzling display of resiliency, attrition and heart. Although Marquez started off strong with brilliant combinations, when Vazquez ripped a careless Marquez with a left hook in the third round, the landscape of the fight changed. Unfortunately for Vazquez, a broken nose in the 1st round spelled his doom as the champ had to quit because of breathing complications at the end of the 7th round. To many watching, fans were robbed of a thrilling finish in a great fight.
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Vazquez Vs Marquez II found the roles reversed as the newly crowned champ came to prove his worth against his bitter opponent. If Vazquez hadn’t quit on the stool in the 7th, round one of their August 2007 fight began like it was round eight of their first fight. The two continued at a frantic pace with Marquez throwing (and landing) often while it seemed like the challenger’s powerful left hook was slowly finding its mark. In a direct reflection of their first fight, Vazquez seemed to be behind when he uncoiled a left hook that put Marquez in danger yet again. But just like the first fight, Marquez would compose himself and bang away. The fight spawned both “Round of the Year” and “Fight of the Year” accolades with frenzied back and forth action. This time the result would be different as Vazquez retired the champion with a brutal series of punches (punctuated by his signature left hook) that caused referee Guadalupe Garcia to put a stop to the fight in the sixth round.
So here we are, just under 7 months removed from their last exchange. Vazquez and Marquez are ready to close out this war on March 1st 2008 at the Home Depot Center in Carson California. Chances are that we will not see this fight goes the distance and Israel Vazquez agrees with that assumption.
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“Deep down in my heart, I know and believe I am going to win by knockout Saturday night,”Vazquez said during the final press conference. “I have the utmost respect for Marquez – everybody knows that – but in the ring it is a totally different story. I have to win by knockout. There is no other option.”
For Marquez, this is an opportunity to correct the mistakes that led to Vazquez nearly stopping him in the first fight and toppling him in the second.
“I think I can control the tempo. I did it in the first fight,”Marquez says. “I just have to keep my rhythm and throw the right kind of combinations that I have been working on in camp.”
It’s going to be grueling, it’s going to be bloody, it’s going to be exciting, it’s going to be a fight – and that’s what boxing is all about.
“This week should belong to two Hall of Fame fighters, Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez, who have literally left their blood on the canvas in two prior fights, and are about to complete their amazingly exciting trilogy Saturday at the Home Depot Center on Showtime,” says promoter Gary Shaw.
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“Please don’t miss this fight. It is going to be a war,”Marquez pleaded with reporters and fight fans. “The first two fights were wars, and this is going to be a classic battle.”
A classic battle… who would have thought of that? In a sport where blood, sweat and tears aren’t optional, Vazquez Vs Marquez III looks to epitomize what boxing is. Don’t miss it for nothing.
Israel Vazquez (42-4 31KOs) Vs Rafael Marquez (37-4 33KOs) for the WBC Super Bantamweight championship takes place March 1st at the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA. It can be seen this Saturday evening on Showtime (check your local listings for times).
Don’t forget that HipHopDX will be delivering round by round analysis and coverage beginning at 6pm PST.
