Israel Vasquez vs Rafael Marquez Fight Preview
While the term “epic” might be thrown around too frequently to describe boxing matches, it’s hard to say that Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez have been involved in anything by an epic trilogy of fights over the past few years. In most cases, three fights between opponents would be enough (if not more than enough) action for fight fans, but the three bouts between Vazquez and Marquez have left fans wanting more.
Fans will get their wish on Saturday night at the Staples Center when the two warriors clash for a fourth time. While there will be no titles at stake, there will be a lot of pride on the line for both fighters. Marquez will be looking to even the record while Vazquez is hoping to put an emphatic exclamation point on the thrilling series of fights against Marquez.
The two boxers first met on March 3, 2007 at the Home Depot Center, around 20 miles south of the site for Saturday night’s fight. Marquez looked to have the fight in control through the first two rounds and appeared to have Vazquez hurt in the third round. However, he rushed in too aggressively and was decked by a left hook. However, it was Marquez’s jab that would prove to be the difference in the fight, as a series of sharp jabs in the fifth round broke Vazquez’s nose, causing him to quit after the seventh round because the injury left him unable to breathe.
The action and unusual ending of the fight left fans wanting a rematch, and that’s what happened on August 4, 2007 in Hidalgo, Texas. Unlike in the first fight, Marquez chose to trade power shots with Vazquez rather than using his jab and movement to set his opponent up. This lead to a variety of fierce exchanges throughout the fight, including several big blows landed in the third round (named “Round of the Year” by Ring Magazine). Marquez was bloodied and bruised during the round and began to wither under the force of Vazquez’s assault. The end came in the sixth round, when a right hook floored Marquez. He was able to continue but was badly hurt and the fight was stopped later in the round.
Most people felt that the third meeting between the two fighters on March 1, 2008 at the Home Depot Center would be the end of the rivalry. It was hard to imagine that the two could put on a bout that could match the heights of their first two meetings, but somehow they managed to meet if not surpass the first two fights. Unlike in the first two fights, it was Vazquez who established his jab early. However, he also had to rally from suffering a knockdown in the fourth round. He would return the favor and knock Marquez down in the 12th round - resulting in a 10-8 round that was likely the difference in him winning a split decision.
The three previous Vazquez vs. Marquez fights have shown that you can essentially throw the scouting reports out the window when they get together. Both fighters have shown the ability to work the jab and box on occasion, but the fights always seem to become out-and-out slugfests that are settled by heart and determination. However, there is a wild card factor in this fight: how much did the first three meetings take out of each fighter. Both men have only fought once since their last bout against each other and both took more than a year to recover before that fight.
Vazquez might hold a 2-1 lead in the series of fights to this point, but Marquez could be the better pick to win the fight. One reason is simply that he needs this fight more in order to cement his place in history. In addition, although he is 35 while Vazquez is only 32, Marquez has fought only 192 rounds in his career - 86 fewer rounds than Vazquez. That’s a lot of extra round and might be a signal that Vazquez is the more worn fighter.
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