Israel Vazquez vs. Rafael Marquez this Saturday: Does anyone care?
May 18th, 2010
By Jim Dower: Rafael Marquez (38-5, 34 KO’s) and Israel Vazquez (44-4, 32 KO’s) will fight for the 4th title this Saturday night at the Staples Center, in Los Angeles, California. Despite the excitement of their three previous fights with one another, boxing fans have pretty much ignored this fight altogether. The fighters haven’t helped themselves in that they’ve only fought two times a piece in the past three years and haven’t stayed in the public eye due to this inactivity. Their previous three fights took a lot out of both fighters with both of them taking a massive amount of punishment in the bouts, especially Vazquez.
Vazquez defeated Angel Antonio Priolo by a 9th round stoppage last October but took a lot of punishment in that fight and looked slow. This was someone that Vazquez should have been able to blast apart if he was fighting in his prime, but he really struggled against him and had a lot of swelling around both eyes by the end of the fight. For his part, Marquez defeated Jose Francisco Mendoza by a 3rd round stoppage last year in May, but didn’t show the speed that he once had.
At this point, it’s hard to see either Marquez or Vazquez being able to win a major title in the junior featherweight or featherweight divisions. The divisions are stacked with talented younger fighters who have a lot in the tank and it’s likely that they would both be beaten if they tried their hands at winning another title at this point in their careers. Marquez is 35, and Vazquez is 32, but both of them have taken a massive amount of punishment in their three fights.
I expect this Saturday’s fight to be more of the same, and I don’t think it’s going to go 12 rounds. Vazquez could end up getting beaten again. He just looks a lot slower than he used to and he’s got a great deal of scar tissue around both of his eyes. His nose, which has been broken in the past, is also a problem for him. This may be the best option for both fighters at this stage of their careers. I’d hate to see what would happen if they were to take on Juan Manuel Lopez or Cellestino Caballero right now. I think it would be a slaughter with both Marquez and Vazquez taking a beating.
Tags: 30 Responses to “Israel Vazquez vs. Rafael Marquez this Saturday: Does anyone care?”
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Q: Does anyone care?
A: Yes just about every boxing fan.
You are saying why bother about what is certain to be a Fight of the Year candidate. We get mismatch after mismatch and when we finally get an extremely competative fight this so-called “boxing writer” asks if it is worth it!?! Do you even watch boxing?
Abner Mares v Yonnhy Perez will also be a great fight since it’s far from being your average mismatched undercard fight.
What are you talking about? The fight is almost a sell out at Staples Center which is a Huge arena!
Just take your pick on the winner and have fun watching pugalism.
lol is this a pinoy writer? i mean they have put out some of the best matchs in history and ur trying to question if this is gonna be good? really omg you suck my friend but what can we say, thats what u get when u dont pay writers pure bs.
It will be a good fight no matter what happens. They might as well do best of 7.
ISRAEL CUOLD GET HURT, IN HIS LAST FIGHT HE LOOKED BAD, HE DOESNT HAVE IT ANYMORE.
aint these guys heard of best out of three. what if marquez wins, are they gonna then have a #5 as a rubber match? crazy if you ask me.
How stupid can you be! All true boxing fans know that this fight will be the fight of the year if not runner up!
Every time they fight you get your money worth!!!
This fight will be the tell-all of the trilogy, the last bout was so close and may have been given to Marquez if the so called low-blow point deduction was not taken..This is a great way to end their carrer’s..full of heart..Plus the undercard is going to be exiting..Of course we boxing fans r pleased..unlike these other fans only interested in seeing 1 fight..Mayweather will not allow Pacman to make it a brawl.. el terrible was the one to get it done once b4..Finnally “Juan MA” look out Antonio Escalante will make his way…
WTF?!!! WHAY ARE PEOPLE MENTIONING FLOYD?
ANYWAY ANYBODY THAT IS A BOXING FAN SHOULD BE WATCHING THIS ONE. THEIR 1ST 3 FIGHTS WERE CRAZY. I’M SURE THIS ONE WON’T BE AS IMPRESSIVE SINCE BOTH ARE AGING, BUT SHOULD STILL BE A REAL GOOD FIGHT. BUT LIKE VRODS SAID, WHAT IF MARQUEZ WINS?
This fight will be the tell all of the trilogy..The final bout was so close and possibly could have gone to marquez if the point for the so called low-blow had not been deducted.. NOn- the less both fighters have alotta heart and r willing to lay it all out on the line… This would be a great way to end their carrer’s.. And as for the featherweight division look out Juan Ma # 3 ranked Antonio Escalane
It’s funny how no matter what the issue, these Pacquiao fans can’t keep themselves from mentioning Floyd.
Are you kidding me with that title? This is a great fight even before it happens.
of course!! must watch!. its gonna be great. who cares that theyre not fighting others, they are gonna put on a great show unlike other like maywheather and his boring style
I think both guys are great boxers and im a fan of both but i could care less for this fight. I mean what are they going to do if marquez wins and they go 2 and 2, have a fith fight?????? Are they going to fight each other for the rest of their careers??? I think they should both go elsewhere and fight other guys.
Hell Yeah we care…we are tired of seeing “boxers” run circles in the ring and not stand and fight!!!
Two great fighters, that are willing to die in the ring…. not like the pretty boys: Mayweather, Khan, Ortiz…. you get my point.
thsts retarded what kind of question is that? of course we boxing fans care did you saw there 3 fights stupid question
Rafael Marquez loves to fight the same opponent, he´s fought 4 opponents multiple times, 4 fights with the same guy is pretty ridiculous in this day and age.
It should be a good fight although it´s significance is obviously less after 3 previous fights.
I can’t wait I loved the last 3 so if this one is just anywhere near that standard then it’ll be great
@lebron
where you gonna play next year? You need to get out of that dump Cleveland and head to the Big Apple.
Honestly, if (after the Trilogy) these guys would have both went on to dominate everyone they faced and built the momentum/need for this fight up, then yes, I would be excited. But they’re only after a payday. I know that back in the day guys used to fight each other twenty times, but that day is long gone. Once someone goes up 2-1, why not just move on (unless both are dominating the rest of their competition)?
if anyone is a real boxing fan and dont just care about watching pacman your probably really excited for this fight.
Annette, are you drunk already? If you want to watch a mindless brawl, why don’t you drive around town and pay a couple of bums to tee off on each other?
I saw the three fights yesterday and i was pretty amazed by these two fighters, they fight with all their hearth and both of them are amazing fighters
ill be watching this fight, its going to be a real good fight like the other three fights. an all out brawl, something we havent seen this year in boxing. two even match fighters, that are going to brawl intel the finish.
I am looking forward to the fight. I was lucky enough to be able to see the first three fights. These two are incredible. As far as I’m concerned, these two represent what boxing is supposed to be. They are both solid technical fighters and they can brawl. I would rather spend my money watching this fight and that d-bag Mayweather. All he does is dance around and run the whole time followed by a quick flurry of little jabs. How he beat Oscar De La Hoya is beyond me. The punch stats were so lop sided…
this is going to be a great fight.. someone is going to get knocked out thats for sure.
The undercard- Perez vs Mares is going to ge good too.
I will be singing Karaoke at the ESPN ZONE across the street from staples after the fight people. so come see me the great Manny Pacquiao sing KARAOKE only 1 dollar to get in!
Definetely a must watch…will be a great fight. CAN’T WAIT!!!
I for one am looking forward to the Once and 4 All fight night with Vazquez and Marquez because even though they ARE in their 30s you know exactly what you’re going to get. Two men fighting with every fibre of their being, holding nothing back. They won’t be dancing like a lot of younger fighters sacred of losing their looks. The Abner Mares v Yonnhy Perez match up looks great too.