Marquez vs. Vazquez

By Tony Mouton: WBC super bantamweight champion Rafael Marquez (37-3, 33 KOs) will defend his newly won title on Saturday night against knockout artist Israel Vazquez (41-4, 30 KOs), with whom he stopped in between the seventh and eighth rounds four months ago on March 3rd, when Vasquez couldn’t continue fighting due to a busted nose that prevented him from breathing properly. The fight will take place at the Dodge Arena, in Hildago, Texas. On the undercard, Jorge Lacierva (32-6-6, 22 KOs) will take on Panama’s Celestino Caballero (26-2, 18 KOs) for Caballero’s WBA 122-pound title.

The first fight was an all-out battle from the opening bell, as both Marquez and Vazquez dispensed with any boxing niceties, going directly at each other with power shots with knockout intentions. However, it became immediately clear that Marquez’s jab, which was like a power punch, was inflicting terrible damage to Vazquez’s nose.

Adding to that, Marquez had an easy time landing both right and left hand shots that had Vazquez retreating. After the knockdown in the 3rd round, in which Marquez suddenly hit the deck after getting tagged by Vazquez, it seemed to motivate Marquez, who then stepped it up a gear and began to inflict tremendous damage to the face of Vazquez. Things will probably be no different this time around, as Vazquez probably realizes his only chance to win is by knockout.