Marquez vs. Vazquez Jr: Both guys with a lot to lose

By Boxing News - 08/19/2012 - Comments

By Dan Ambrose: Both Rafael Marquez (41-7, 37 KO’s) and former WBO super bantamweight champion Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. (21-2-1, 18 KO’s) have a great deal to lose in their fight on October 6th for the vacant WBO International super bantamweight title at the Coliseo Ruben Rodriguez, in Bayamon, Puerto Rico.

Marquez, 37, is now winning as often as he’s been losing in his last four fights, and he can’t afford to take another loss if he doesn’t want to be forgotten about. And Vazquez Jr, 28, is just as bad, having lost two out of his last three fights.

Vazquez Jr. badly needs a win in this fight in order to keep in range of IBF/WBO super bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire, who beat Vazquez Jr. by a 12 round split decision last February. Vazquez Jr. was beaten by Jorge Arce and Donaire recently. However, Vazquez Jr. actually didn’t look that bad in losing to Donaire, because he was able to really swell up Donaire’s face with his heavy jabs. What was missing from that fight was Vazquez’s ability to throw power shots. It seemed like he never really tried, as he stood on the outside for much of the fight taking few chances to get his offense going.

Marquez will have a good chance of winning this fight if he can land some big shots on the chin of Vazquez Jr. The smallish Arce was able to take out Vazquez Jr. last year in the 12th round.

Marquez hasn’t picked up a really big fight since he defeated Israel Vazquez in March 2007 when Marquez and Vazquez both were in their primes.



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