Cristobal Arreola vs. Seth Mitchell & Rafael Marquez vs. Efrain Esquivias RBR

Rafael Marquez vs. Efrain Esquivias, 10 rounds @ featherweight

 

Round 1

Esquivias is taking rocking-chair steps in, shifting weight to his lead foot and teetering in with the jab. Marquez takes steps back and throws counter jabs smoothly. Uppercuts by Marquez catching Esquivias diving in. Straight right hand lead by Marquez bouncing off Esquivias' face as Esquivias is falling in with a 1-2. Big left hook by Esquivias, dodged and countered.

10-9 Marquez

 

Esquivias is cut on the edge of his eyelid, and they are unable to stop the bleeding in the corner during the minute break.

 

Round 2

Esquivias is bowing in with rights to the body and hitting the forearms and elbows of Marquez, getting popped with counter jabs as he draws himself out. Marquez steps through and drives a left jab into Esquivias' belly, following through with his forearm to push Esquivias back. A few body slaps by Esquivias and then a few chops straightaway on Marquez's guard. Nice short range counters by Marquez, especially the stiff left jab. Double jab by Marquez, leaning in against Esquivias after pumping a few and then hooking the body. Lunging lead left hook by Esquivias, crashing into Marquez's shoulder. They push apart. Body jabs by Marquez. Wild left upper-hook by Esquivias in the pocket but Marquez turns aside to make him miss. Esquivias catches him with a right hand. Triple jab by Marquez, the last one a hybrid left hook bashing down at Esquivias' gloves at the bell.

10-9 Marquez

20-18 Marquez

 

Yes. Esquivias was smart matchmaking, however, as Marquez is still firmly in control despite being way past it.

 

Round 3

Esquivias is whipping in the right hand walking forward. Left hooks from Esquivias wend their way around Marquez's right arm, brushing him on the eye socket. 1-2 by Esquivias as Marquez jabs the body. Esquivias is outworking Marquez and rocks his face a few times. Marquez is still comfortably sliding back and feeding out the counter left jab, still with plenty of snap on it. Counter right hand over the jab by Esquivias, stunning Marquez slightly, a little wobble of the head as he stepped back. Another right hand by Esquivias over the double jab of Marquez. 1-2-2 by Marquez, really putting a lot into the second right cross to chase Esquivias back. Another nice right hand by Marquez, lunging up and in from a half-crouch.

10-9 Esquivias

29-28 Marquez

 

Fantastic round.

It showed everything we always loved about Marquez - his sharpness, power, and vulnerability.