Israel Vazquez vs Rafael Marquez 2: A Look Back
Commentary on the Second Fight of a Classic Trilogy
Dec 17, 2008
While virtually all of the pre-fight attention was on Vazquez’s previously injured proboscis, which caused him to relinquish his title after the seventh round of his previous meeting with Marquez, the Mexico City native soon turned everyone’s attention to Marquez’s chin with a left hook in the third round that he staggered the champion, then he floored him with another sizzling hook to open the decisive sixth. Vazquez improved his record to 42-4 (31) while Marquez dropped to 37-4 (33).
The opening round revealed slight tactical changes from both fighters as the each seemed more conscious of keeping their gloves high than they did in the first fight, though both men continued to land frequently. Marquez (32) showed better speed as he jabbed effectively and cracked Vazquez with hard, straight rights. At one point, after receiving a sharp right square on his infamous snoot, Vazquez grinned at Marquez, obviously recognizing the potential implications of such a shot.
In the second round Vasquez (29) began to jab in earnest, often backing up his quicker, but naturally smaller opponent. Two hard left hooks by Vazquez were the dominant punches of the round, though Marquez landed with frequency.
By the third round Vazquez’s left eye had a deep gash and his right brow was swollen. Both men landed virtually at will, but Vazquez’s punches seemed to do more damage. A streaking left hook rocked Marquez who backed to the ropes and immediately clinched when Vazquez stepped in to try and finish him. Vazquez cut Marquez under the left eye with a straight right.
Marquez attacked the body in the fourth round, but Vazquez continued to press. Vazquez’s eye was, by this time, bleeding badly. Marquez landed a hard right-left to punctuate an even round.
By the fifth round, Vazquez was bleeding over both eyes. The fighters exchanged in the middle of the ring. Vazquez hurtled a combination to Marquez’s head, backing the champion up, then slipped to the canvas, possibly saving Marquez from further punishment. Marquez’s shots had Vazquez bleeding profusely.
Vazquez’s corner struggled to stop the bleeding between rounds, still, he came out firing in the sixth. Vazquez stabbed the champion with a right to the body then whistled a left hook to Marquez’s chin, sending him to the canvas. Up quickly, Marquez was met by a relentless challenger who launched punch after punch through ever decreasing return fire. Marquez stumbled backward along the ropes as Vazquez continued his onslaught. Marquez, his punches too infrequent, with too little conviction, protested mildly as referee Guadalupe Garcia stepped in to stop the fight.
Vasquez vs. Marquez III
After the fight, both boxers stood arm in arm with each holding up three fingers, indicating they would agree to a third fight, a welcome sight to the packed crowd at Dodge arena in Hidalgo, Texas and, if a third fight is signed, surely a day that should get marked on the calendar of even the most casual boxing fan.
Given the severity of Vazquez’s cuts, if (when) Vazquez vs. Marquez III is signed, it probably won’t happen until early 2008. And considering the volatile in the ring chemistry of the fighters, and that the first two brutal fights ended in seven and six rounds respectively, scheduling the threequel for 12 rounds seems pointless.
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