Photo credit – Carlos Baeza – By Sam Gregory: In the main event on tonight’s Showtime Championship Boxing from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Ca WBC super bantamweight title holder Israel Vazquez 44-4 with 32 KO’s defends his title for the fourth time against Rafael Marquez 38-5 with 34 KO’s in a scheduled 12 round bout in the featherweight division.

This fight started out fast and furious when Vasquez came out landing a big right hand just after the opening bell. Midway through the first round both men were i0n the center of the ring exchanging punches; when Vasquez threw his jab, Marquez countered wi0th a combination to the head and body.

After the start of the second round both men were again in the center of the ring exchanging punches fast and furiously. Marquez soon had the better of the exchange when he got in close and dug to the body and head of Vasquez with brutal uppercuts. By the end of the round Vasquez had blood streaming down his face coming from the left eye.

Coming out in round three Marquez stood squarely in front of Vasquez teeing off with knockout intended punches; one of the punches connected and sent Vasquez to the canvas. As soon as the referee finished the eight count and signaled to resume fighting Marquez went for the kill digging deep to the body and head of Vasquez. Within seconds Vasquez stopped returning punches; the referee stepped in and called a halt to the bout at 1:33 of the third round.

Rafael Marquez was declared the winner by TKO improving his record to 39-5 with 35 KO’s. Israel Vasquez fell to 44-5 with 32 KO’s.

In this fourth fight between Marquez and Vasquez, the score is even two- fights a piece.