Los Angeles, CA–Going into Saturday’s 4th part in an epic series of historic wars, Rafael Marquez promised everyone during the week build of the fight that he would make short work of Israel Vazquez and would do so via KO. The amount of damage dished out between the two had many in the industry ask “why one more battle?” Both fighters responded that they have had enough time to heal and the damage inflicted in past battles would have no outcome on this fight. For Israel Vazquez this would not ring true. The battered and beaten eyes from the left and right hands of his Mexican counterpart would ultimately come back to haunt him. Marquez stopped Vazquez in the third round in a mostly pro Marquez crowd at the Staples Center. The win was in part due to a huge gash over Vazquez’s left eye that was opened early on in the first round. It was the break Marquez needed as both fighters picked up where they last left, popping each other with jabs and hooks to end the first round. Marquez would land the more telling blows, as by round two Vazquez’s cut was so deep that doctors later said it was to the bone. It made it nearly impossible to see for Vazquez, but referee Raul Caiz Jr. would give him one more round knowing that he had been in a similar position before and won.
His corner felt the same, “ Vazquez landed a big punch that made Marquez move back. Israel can really punch and we wanted to give him a chance to see if he could land something big that would end the fight.”
“The cut affected me a lot. There was a lot of bleeding, but I didn’t know how big the cut was,” said Vazquez in the post fight press conference.
With tension running high and Marquez urging the referee to check the cut in between rounds, a well placed right hand to that very eye sent Vazquez to the canvas. The gutsy Mexican warrior stood up quickly and valiantly fought the advances of Marquez but it was just too much. Too much damage in four fights and just too many hits coming in that when the bout was halted at 1:33 of the third, many sighed in relief. It was an anticlimactic ending adding to a trilogy that certainly will go down in boxing history as one if not thee greatest to date.
“ I came well prepared and really the cuts played in my favor,” said Marquez “ The strategy was to throw a lot of punches in that area.” With the win Marquez is now 2-2 in four fights, but don’t expect a 5th fight to happen. “ I don’t want to see a 5th fight for Israel’s sake, just take a look at his eye, “ Said Marquez promoter Gary Shaw.
When asked of a 5th fight, Marquez seemed to have his mind set on other opponents, “I want to fight the best in this division. Juan Manuel Lopez is good.” Shaw hinted at a potential bout with Vic Darchinyan, but a fight with Juan Ma would be one that would make monetary sense. The thought of retirement for Vazquez did cross his mind, “I have to go back to my team and family to discuss if I will retire or what to do from here.” Seeing Vazquez’s past two outings and the amount of damage that has accumulated from four wars with Marquez, I would certainly urge him to retire now rather than risk permanent damage. Why run the risk of putting yourself and your family through such a thing? He has made himself enough money that he can retire healthy and comfortably and it would be a sad thing to witness once Vazquez gets into the hall of fame that the image we see isn’t that of a smiling elder man, but of a broken trembling one, caused by continuous damage of not knowing when to call it quits.
