Why'd he end up losing ten fights in the last seven years or so? He used to be world class. Was it a Campas situation with Vasquez being slightly better, or what?
He got old. It happens. You can ask the same question for 99% of world class fighters fighting at 35+ years of age.
Extremely under-rated fighter. Not fancy but persistent, strong and above all, effective. I don't like imaginary bouts, but odds are he would have put a supreme hurt on Terry Norris. I thought the Whitaker bout was very close, actually scored it in his favor and I was there about 10 rows up from the action.
Since it's gained a Vasquez appreciation feel, I urge you all to see his fight with Javier Castillejo. Very underrated fight. You hardly hear anyone mention it when classic fights are mentioned but I think it's one of the best 154 fights I've ever seen. Certainly not from a tecnhical standpoint, but from a brutality standpoint it's quite overwhelming. Both men get down and dirty in the trenches, and Vasquez comes out a little more brutish. Castillejo gets some great home support and he puts up probably the best fight I've ever seen him put up. Haven't seen more than a handful of his fights, but he's at his sharpest here.
Thanks Sweet Scientist. I'll definitely dig that fight up now. Anyone else have any thoughts on Vasquez?
I didn't even realize Vasquez was still fighting until you mentioned it. I hadn't heard from him since he lost his title to Boudouani. What a shame! He must be far beyond washed up by now. Vasquez had a good run as champion in his prime. He battled his way to some hard-fought wins in title defenses (his win over the Russian Dottuev being considered one of the most notable of them). He had a great fight with a young Winky Wright, and despite losing most of the rounds, he dropped him enough times to win the decision on points. His wins over Wright and Castillejo look better in retrospect. By the time he lost to Pernell Whitaker, he looked like he might be a bit shopworn from all his tough title defenses. But he scored a big comeback when he knocked out Carl Daniels to regain his title. But that turned out to be his last hurrah, and after losing to Boudouani, he faded away.
...............He was hairy and Argentine. ............And his head was shaped like a block. Glad I could help.
A solid jr middleweight who was very good, just not great. He was easily among the greatest at the weight during the 90's.
