Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez fight for Vazquez's super bantamweight championship on March 15 in Carson, CA. It's the rubber match in a brutal, but marvelous trilogy
On March 1 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, CA, Israel Vazquez defends his WBC super bantamweight title against Rafael Marquez. This will be the third time these warriors have met with Marquez having won the first fight in March, 2007 and Vazquez the rematch the following August.
Nose Injury Stops Vazquez
A nose injury--diagnosed as a metabolic blockage--halted Vazquez's progress in the first fight when he had to retire after the seventh round. His decision surprised most ringside observers as he had seemed to gain control of the fight and even had Marquez dazed on several occasions.
Vazquez Wins Rematch
In the rematch Vazquez once again displayed his superior power, this time his nose--which had been surgically repaired since the March fight--couldn't slow him or his left hooks down on his way to a TKO of Marquez at 1:15 of the sixth round.
The first fight, also at The Home Depot Center drew a disappointing crowd, but provided what many consider the fight of the year. The second fight, building on the merits of the first, packed the house in Hidalgo, Texas and may have been even better than the first. The third is virtually guaranteed to do big business back in Carson once again, but the fight, if Marquez has his way, won't be as good.
How Can Marquez Win
How can Marquez win? Marquez has an advantage in speed, and possibly even technique, but to this point has been hampered by Vazquez's superior power. The word from Marquez's camp is that their fighter has made adjustments and will use his considerable boxing smarts to avoid the Vazquez hook and reclaim the title he took from Vazquez in March.
What all that means is that Marquez intends to slow the pace of the fight, use his jab and circle to his left, thereby avoiding the Vazquez hook and piling up points for a decision win. to do that he has to suppress his instinct to stand and brawl and he needs to suppress that instinct for 12 rounds.
How Can Vazquez Win
How can Vazquez win? Vazquez will have to cut off the ring and force a fight. Vazquez's instincts will help the champion in that regard, but it may take several rounds before he can induce a meaningful exchange. Cuts are another factor. Vazquez cuts easily and had already developed deep gashes over each eye when he finished in Marquez in the sixth last August. Hence, a protracted night of walking into a Marquez jab could be disastrous for Vazquez.
Prediction:
Marquez wins the first half of the fight by slowing the pace and busting Vazquez up with the jab, but Vazquez's superior strength eventually catches up with Marquez and leads to a Vazquez victory by TKO in the championship rounds.
