Boxing fight between Rafael Marquez Vs Israel Vazquez should not happen
After Saturday night’s four fight in the series between Rafael Marquez and Israel Vazquez at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, there was little doubt that the main emotion that fans felt while filing out of the arena was disappointment. Most people felt that the fight was stopped too early, when referee Raul Caez Jr. jumped in to stop the fight midway through the third round as Vasquez was taking a pounding on the ropes. Several fans thought that Caez stopped the fight partially because of cuts over both of Vazquez’s eyes, each one caused or opened further by head butts in the first two rounds.
The hue and cry after the fight spoke volumes about the expectations coming into the fourth fight of one of the most compelling and vicious rivalries of the modern era. Certainly the fight was living up to the hype before it was stopped, as both fighters were trading punches that stunned the other throughout the fight. The 3,500-fans at the Staples Center left wanting more, which in boxing usually means that there will be another rematch.
But should there be a Marquez vs. Vazquez IV? It makes sense on several levels. Certainly, the fans want to see the fight. A poll shown on Showtime before the fight showed that almost 80 percent of fans would be interested in a fifth fight between the two fighters if Marquez won. Since each fighter has now won two bouts in the series, there is also something to be said for one more bout to definitely settle the score.
However, there are just as many compelling reasons to end the series where it is. Most importantly is the fact that both fighters have taken a terrible amount of punishment throughout the first four fights. In particular, Vazquez has been cut badly several times during the series, and his skin in beginning to resemble transparent tracing paper more than flesh. Vazsquez’s face had several build-ups of scar tissue before the fight – the visible reminders of the wars that the two fighters have gone through in recent years.
Certainly, scar tissue cuts more easily than regular skin, and Vazquez was a bad cut waiting to happen. All it took was one good punch (and one light head butt soon after) to open a cut that stretched the length of his eyelid. So there is no reason to suspect that the same thing wouldn’t happen again in a future fight. Even though Vazquez hinted at having surgery to repair some of the damage to his face and remove some of the scar tissue that has built up, the reality is that surgery can only do so much. Once a fighter starts getting cut easily, it’s going to be a problem for the rest of his career.
While many fans were annoyed with the stoppage by Caez Jr., it was probably the right decision. A good referee doesn’t just take into account the current situation that a fighter is in but also outside factors like their past history. Five years ago, Caez Jr. might have left the fight continue and given Vazquez the chance to fight his way back. However, Vazquez has taken an enormous amount of punishment in his career, even in his two wins over Marquez. Certainly, Caez Jr. likely came into the bout knowing that he would have to be unafraid to jump in and stop the fight early if necessary in order to protect both fighters, even if it would be an unpopular decision with the losing fighter and the fans at the arena.
There’s no question that Rafael Marquez vs. Israel Vazquez is a once-in-a-lifetime match-up of two fighters whose styles and attitudes align for unbelievable fights. Unfortunately, the “never say die” attitudes that both fighters have might be obscuring them from seeing that four bouts is enough. Judging by post-fight comments, both fighters would be willing to fight for a fifth time, and certainly the money will be there. However, someone needs to jump in and ring the final bell on this rivalry before something very bad happens.
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