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Rafael Marquez went to war with Israel, bombs away and with no ceasefires, no shelter and no retreat. Seven rounds later, he came out as a de facto leader, a warrior with an impressive arsenal delivered via heavy hands and a fan-friendly style.
He is the man who could bring the junior featherweight division back to the Promised Land.
The war between Marquez and Israel Vazquez was inevitable, a buzz-worthy brawl based on the history of the division and the personalities of the fighters.
Each man’s steel was forged under fire. Vazquez’ trilogy with Oscar Larios had three fights with no judges’ decisions. And in his previous outing, Vazquez was knocked down twice by Jhonny Gonzalez before he roared back and gave Gonzalez two mat-tastings of his own, ultimately forcing Gonzalez’ corner to call for a mercy stoppage.
Rafael Marquez, meanwhile, had always been the ****er to brother Juan Manuel’s boxer-puncher, a bantamweight titlist regarded by some as pound-for-pound the sport’s hardest hitter. Only four fighters had ever gone the distance with Rafael Marquez, losing with pride but prolonging the punishment.
Sparks had to fly.
The action was delightful from the outset. Marquez’ left hand set the tone in the opening heat, with jabs and hooks in addition to the uppercut that bloodied Vazquez’ nose and set the stage for the fight’s conclusion. Yet it was a Marquez straight right that was most memorable, buckling Vazquez’ knees as the round wound down.
Marquez’ superior hand speed and combination work continued through the second, and in the third a straight right once again pushed Vazquez backward. Vazquez, however, retaliated with a left uppercut that sent Marquez to his tail and somewhat unsteady legs. [details]
He is the man who could bring the junior featherweight division back to the Promised Land.
The war between Marquez and Israel Vazquez was inevitable, a buzz-worthy brawl based on the history of the division and the personalities of the fighters.
Each man’s steel was forged under fire. Vazquez’ trilogy with Oscar Larios had three fights with no judges’ decisions. And in his previous outing, Vazquez was knocked down twice by Jhonny Gonzalez before he roared back and gave Gonzalez two mat-tastings of his own, ultimately forcing Gonzalez’ corner to call for a mercy stoppage.
Rafael Marquez, meanwhile, had always been the ****er to brother Juan Manuel’s boxer-puncher, a bantamweight titlist regarded by some as pound-for-pound the sport’s hardest hitter. Only four fighters had ever gone the distance with Rafael Marquez, losing with pride but prolonging the punishment.
Sparks had to fly.
The action was delightful from the outset. Marquez’ left hand set the tone in the opening heat, with jabs and hooks in addition to the uppercut that bloodied Vazquez’ nose and set the stage for the fight’s conclusion. Yet it was a Marquez straight right that was most memorable, buckling Vazquez’ knees as the round wound down.
Marquez’ superior hand speed and combination work continued through the second, and in the third a straight right once again pushed Vazquez backward. Vazquez, however, retaliated with a left uppercut that sent Marquez to his tail and somewhat unsteady legs. [details]