FIGHT OF THE WEEK 2- Israel Vazquez vs. Rafael Marquez 3

It's on YouTube as well:

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That settles it then

Boxing in the uk > boxing in the us

 

I had this as a 1 point fight when I scored this last. Will watch and score again sometime this week.

 

My memory of this one is that I had Marquez winning by a point. The last round being the difference between a win and a draw on my card. I remember it being a great way to finish off a great three fights. Shame the fourth fight was so damaging. I'm pretty sure I had this as the second best at super-bantamweight and top fifteen ever, pound for pound.

 

I remember having Vazquez winning by 1 point, he really left nothing in doubt with the KD in the final round and it helped seal the win very narrowly for him. Vazquez was like a man possessed in the last round. What a f#cking fight. Still my favorite boxing rivalry.

 

I had the pleasure of attending this one from ringside. In fact you can see me at the start of every round about 6/7 rows back.

 

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The peak fight of one of the greatest rivalries ever, IMO. I think it's pretty undeniable that these two were warriors to the bone. I think this quadrilogy easily topped the action in Rafa's brother's vs Pacquiao - despite the compatibly poor fourth. Actually, it isn't just poor in comparison. It's one of those fights where to really have to wonder what was going on behind the scenes.

Spoiler: Round by Round

Very close first. Somewhat foreshadow of Cotto-Margarito I, IMO. Marquez was turning Vazquez, jabbing and looking for the hook. Very bladed stance and he's willing to take one to land one. Vazquez seemed to find the inside very easily and he landed some of those brutal uppercuts and worked the body a bit too. Vazquez round IMO, like I said though, very close. Second was a different kind of round. I liked Marquez's boxing here, as he definitely landed the cleaner left hooks, showed a good jab and Vazquez didn't impose himself like he did in the first. I almost have the dreaded third to Vazquez on principal, but I felt Marquez's boxing skills were good enough to to nick a close one. I love how he splits the jab with the left hook. Brutal forth round. Marquez wins on the merit of the knockdown, but Vazquez got right back up and rocked him to his core.

I liked Vazquez in the fifth. Very aggressive and landing well. Big right hand wobbled Marquez at the end to boot. Marquez had success with the 1-2, but I don't think it was quite enough to offset and overcome Vazquez's physical intensity. Vazquez'a confidence and aggression carried over into the sixth, which he took on my card. He was finding the pocket like he was in the first again, which let everything else fall into place. Momentum definitely shifted for Vazquez now IMO (not that it means much in fights like this lol). Vazquez jabbing to get in, and coming over with the cross and under with the left hooks to the ribs. Good work. Marquez still landing lots. Incredible eigth. The styles have clearly gelled now in away that they're staying and Vazquez's pressure and relentlessness seemed to be coming off better, but Marquez nailed him with a 3-2-3 and clearly wobbled Izzy. He seemed to be winning the round before Vazquez wobbled Marquez of his own with a big right to the side of head. Very fun stuff.

Marquez seemed to boxing within himself in until the final flurry. He did throw some nice singular shots at times, but I think he was ultimately sleepwalking through it. Tenth was a great round for Marquez, but also a poor one. He landed some beautiful crisp counters and wobbled Vazquez at the end with an awesome combo but repeated lowblows cost him a point. Vazquez still crowding no matter what, and it seemed to be effective. Marquez was painting him with counters, but he was eating some nasty looking body shots and uppercuts. Very close round IMO. My God. What a performance in the final round from Vazquez. I think he probably threw for every second he was in range. It was a 10-8 with or without the KD.

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10 : 9
9 : 10
9 : 10
8 : 10 (36/39)
10 : 9
10 : 9
10 : 9
10 : 9 (76/75)
10 : 9
9 : 9
9 : 10
10 : 8 (

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I had it pretty firmly for Vazquez on the cards, but I think this was really close. Like the commentators said, the decision wasn't the defining factor in this fight. It was how much they put into it. It really was great, and I do think the middle rounds were mostly decided by Vazquez imposing himself and crowding Marquez efficiently.

 

I thought it was very fair.