Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez capped their trilogy with a thrilling slugfest for the ages. The three classic battles between these two warriors rank this trilogy with greatest in boxing history. Marquez boxed effectively early in the fight but Vazquez kept pressing the action. Marquez dropped Vazquez with a flurry of punches in the fourth, but gave the extra point back in the tenth when he was penalized for repeated low blows. Vazquez came out in the twelfth round looking for a knockout and nearly got it. Marquez never hit the deck but referee Pat Russell correctly ruled a knockdown when Marquez stumbled back into the ropes shortly before the final bell.
A draw is not typically a satisfying decision but in this case it would have been fine as neither fighter deserved to lose. As it turns out, the knockdown in the final round earned Vazquez the decision. Two judges had it for Vazquez (114-111 and 113-112), while the third judge scored the fight for Marquez (114-111).
Vazquez retains the WBC super bantamweight belt with the split decision win. After the bout, both fighters said they'd be willing to meet for a fourth time. While fight fans would certainly welcome what would undoubtedly be another great match, both men deserve some time to rest and heal from the damage they've inflicted upon each other in the past year across 25 action-packed rounds.
Comments
I had it 113-112 for Marquez, very disappointed that last knockdown cost him. Still another very good fight but I want a 4th fight because I don’t want to keep a question floating in my head forever about who’s the better boxer. But agreed, both sure take at least 4-5 months off at the least if they fight another fighter but 6-7 if they fight each other again just because they’d be expecting another brutal battle.
I had Vasquez 114-111, and I can’t see the Vegas judge giving Marquez a three point edge after a legit take-away for four low blows and a knock down. Marquez did good work in the fight but Vasquez was backihg him up all night, had him in trouble several times. Effective aggression is supposed to be scored, not cuts. I would like to see a fourth fight, with Marquez having something in the tank for the last half next time.
There is alot of debate on this one. I had it even as the final knockdown saved Vazquez.
This was one heck of a fight as has been each of the meetings of these two very good boxers. I look at the Gatte/Ward fights as great as these. Certainly this will rank right up there as the fight of the year, and I did think Vazquez just got the victory later in the fight. I am not so hot for a fourth fight. These guys know each other so well that I think on any night either one can win, but also that they stand a greater risk of someone getting hurt really bad. I think it is time for them to heal and rest and move on.