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Showtime Championship Boxing Recap

August 4, 2007

Dodge Arena-Hidalgo, Texas

Hidalgo is a town on the Mexican border with the United States. Therefore, the theme of tonight's show is featuring boxers born, and in some cases still living south of the United States border.

WBC Super Bantamweight (122 pounds) 12 Round Championship Match:

Rafael Marquez (37-3, 33 KO's, 121 pounds) (c) vs. Israel Vazquez (41-4, 30 KO's, 121 pounds)

Marquez won this title from Vazquez in an action packed match on March 3, 2007 from the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.

Marquez is the son of a former boxer, who had the champion take up the sport at 6-years-old. The champion turned pro at the age of 20-years-old, after a 59-1 amateur career. Marquez' pro debut in 1995, at 118 pounds, was a decision loss Victor Rabanales, who held a world championship at that weight in 1993.

The champion has been known to be too methodical in the ring and not push the pace. His last match was the victory over Vazquez and Marquez showed a furious workrate. Marquez broke Vazquez' nose in round 1, forcing the then champion to quit on his stool after round 7. Medical tests after the match, revealed Vazquez had only 10% air flow through his shattered nose. In a potential match of the year candidate, Marquez won round 2 before being knocked down for only the third time in his career in round 3. When the match was stopped, two judges had it for Marquez, 67-65, and the other had it a draw 66-66. There was an immediate promise of a rematch made and this is it.

Marquez is 9-0 in world championship matches. In rematches he is 4-0, winning all of the matches by knockout. Marquez has not lost November 12, 2000.

Since the defeat of Vazquez, Marquez has been listed by Ring Magazine as the Champion at 122 pounds. Having boxed the majority of his career at a lower weight, this has also landed the boxer born and still living in Mexico City, Mexico, the number 3 ranking from Ring Magazine on the best pound-for-pound boxers list.The champion's older brother, Juan Manuel Marquez, is the number 4 ranked pound-for-pound boxer according to Ring Magazine. Ahead of the brothers is only number 1, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and number 2, Manny Pacquiao.

Vazquez had surgery 4 months ago to repair his nose, but many people are questioning if it is safe for him to step beck in the ring this quickly after that bad an injury. The challenger was trained by Freddie Roach for the first match, and Roach believes it is too dangerous for Vazquez to get in the ring to compete this soon. Roach believes Vazquez needs to take at least a year off after the surgery and the most frightening thing of all is that Roach believes Vazquez is beginning to slur his words. Roach who has been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease (and there is some belief that repeated blows to the head from boxing can increase the likelihood of getting the condition) should not be lightly ignored. Roach will not be cornering Vazquez for this match, and is now listed as the challengers former trainer.

There were questions about Vazquez' heart after he stopped the last match, with some people saying he quit on the match when he was still able to compete.E ven though, it was clear he could not breath and post-match medical tests indicated he could not get enough air to continue to compete effectively the accusations of quitting have continued. This may have prompted a premature return to the ring for Vazquez. Hopefully, Vazquez had a top notch physical before being cleared to compete again, but Texas, like Georgia isa state not known for astrong boxing commission.

Vazquez has been sparring for the match wearing a Richard Hamilton style nose guard/face shield and has yet to be hit on the nose by a punch. The first punch to the face in this match will be the first solid contact his nose has taken, since the surgery.

Born in Mexico City and now residing in Los Angeles under the Golden Boy Promotions umbrella, the challenger is ranked as the number 2 contender to Marquez' Ring Magazine Championship at 122 pounds.

Before the match begins Gary Shaw on behalf of his client (Marquez)announces he will be filing protests with the various bodies sanctioning this match, because Marquez is upset with Vazquez' gloves and the way his hands/gloves are taped. Marquez was threatening not to compete, but then he was convinced that the gloves and hand wraps were okay. The commission had the wraps and tape undone and re-checked with Marquez (or some of his people) watching to be sure everyone agreed it was okay. Once everyone agreed the gloves were fine, and Marquez realized he did not get paid for not performing, he agreed to compete. Shaw will file the protest anyway, because it is boxing and everything must be protested, sometimes only on principal to make the client happy.

The challenger has the age advantage at 29-years-old compared to the 32-year-old Marquez. Marquez holds the height advantage, standing 5' 5.5" tall, to the 5' 4.5" tall of Vazquez. The champion has the reach advantage at a 68" long wingspan, to the66.5" long wingspan of Vazquez.

The unified rules of boxing are in effect for this contest. Two of the judges are from Texas and the other is from Tijuana, Mexico. The referee is Guadalupe Garcia from Mexico City.

Really close round 1, but Marquez probably won it, 10-9. Before the end of round 1, the right temple area of Vazquez is beginning to turn red and swell. Vazquez landed a few very good punches in round 2, but Marquez did the more consistent good work throughout the round. Marquez wins round 2, 10-9. To open round 3, a small cut has appeared on the bridge of Vazquez' nose. After 2 rounds, Marquez leads on my scorecard 20-18.

Round 3 is amazing. Unquestionably the best round of boxing this year. This was very similar to the final round of Corrales-Castillo 1. Marquez was badly hurt by a left hook with 2:27 to go in the round and was ready to go down to the mat. Somehow, Marquez managed to hold on and barely slip a few big punches in time to recover and begin to respond with huge punches less then 20 seconds later, while still on wobbly legs. With1:30 to go in round 3, Vazquez has a bad cut that has opened over his right eye. The cut is bleeding badly, and clearly getting into his eye to go along with the swelling near his right eye. This entire time both boxers are trading huge power punches at a furious pace. Vazquez wins a round 3 that must be seen, 10-9. In the corner between rounds Vazquez' corner has a lot of work to do. There is swelling above his left eye and a cut there too, to go with the bad cut above his right eye and the swelling there. After round 3, Marquez' right eye is swelling significantly and there is a lot of blood under the eye, which is presumably his. There is some additional substantial swelling starting to form for Marquez above his right eye and farther back towards the hairline on the forehead. Marquez' left eye may also be swelling. These two boxers look like they have been 12 rounds, not 3. After 3 rounds my scorecard has Marquez ahead, 29-28. The official ruling is that punches have caused all of the cuts, meaning there will be no technical decision.

Round 4 is very close. Maybe Vazquez won it, 10-9. After 4 rounds my scorecard has it even 38-38. Scoring from press row is with 2 scorecards for Marquez, 39-38 and 39-37, and the other even, 38-38. Bernstein has it even, too. With 49 seconds to go in round 5, Vazquez goes down to the canvas. It is ruled a slip. There were repeated problems in the previous contest with the mat being wet, and on replay it is clear the boxers' feet became tangled and the referee made the correct ruling. Vazquez wins round 5, 10-9. At this point, heavy blood is streaming into the left of Vazquez and badly impairing his vision. There is a greater sense of urgency on his part to finish the match knowing that a doctor could end his night at any time. To start round 6, both boxers look like the disfigured horror movie villains who are shunned by society, or possibly zombies with more color.

With 2:41 togo in round 6, another great left hook from Vazquez sends Marquez to the canvas. That is the same punch that knocked Marquez down in the first match and he has had problems dealing with it all night. Marquez satisfactorily answers the referees count with 2:27 to go in the round, but his legs are not steady. Vazquez' legs are a little weak, also and he has been more vulnerable to a knockdown, since the slip. With Marquez not fighting back much or being able to defend himself on anything other then instinct, the referee steps in and stops the contest with 1:44 to go in round 6. This should be the award winner for best match of the year.

Blood streaming in several rivers down his right cheek, one of Vazquez' people lifts him into the air and the new champion screams in celebration of his victory.

The official decision courtesy of the very "Classy" Jimmy Lennon, Jr. is: at 1:16 of round 6 the referee has called a stop to this contest declaring the winner by technical knockout, and once again, the WBC Super Bantamweight Champion of the World, Israel "El Magnifico" Vazquez. The win moves Vazquez to 42-4, and now 31 of his victories coming by way of knockout.

On replay, it appears the stoppage may have been a bit quick. There is ample reason for a rematch, and it would be great to see another one of these matches. However, these matches are not just career shorteners, but may be life and quality of life shorteners for Vazquez. If his health, especially neurological health is not okay, no matter how great the third match and accompanying paycheck could be he may need to stop boxing at the age of 29-years-old. The risk does not equal the reward for anyone.

The referee in his post match interview through a translator said, he stopped the match to protect the future of Marquez' career. The stoppage was primarily about the safety of Marquez, and both boxers endured a significant amount of damage in this match. There next stop from the arena for both boxers is undoubtedly the hospital.

Vazquez in his post match interview said, that he was trying to finish the match once he was cut, but Marquez is too good a boxer for that to happen, quickly. Vazquez wants to give Marquez his rematch.

Marquez in his post match interview said, he felt the stoppage was premature. Marquez thinks that the referee or commission should have ruled Vazquez' cuts too bad to continue before the finish and awarded him (Marquez) a technical knockout victory. Therefore, Marquez should have gotten the knockout and kept his title or at least been allowed to continue past when the contest was stopped to have a shot to retain his title. Marquez wants the rematch.

All of the official judges at the time of the stoppage had Vazquez ahead, 48-47. Bernstein and my scorecard read the same way. Press row scoring all had Marquez winning: 49-46, 49-47, and 48-47.

This match may miss out on being considered the best of the year because of the controversial ending, but round 3 is no less exciting. The match is great. The level of skill displayed is very nice to see. There is a lot of filler in the show however, meaning the second match does not begin until around 1:42 into the telecast. It would be worth a lot of effort to go out of the way to catch a replay of this match.