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By Jake Donovan - If the weather could be defined by a weight class, then the current record heat wave (at least in this part of the country) would perhaps be classified as the super bantamweight division. Thanks to the efforts of Israel Vazquez, Rafael Marquez and Daniel Ponce de Leon in the past two weekends, more than ever before has water cooler talked involved the division otherwise best known as a bantamweight overflow and pit stop to featherweight.
Not since the days when future Hall of Famers Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera roamed the 122 lb. halls has there been so much reason to pay attention to a. The month of August has given plenty of reason to have all eyes affixed on the division, with back to back weekends showcasing its biggest players in significant bouts, including the frontrunner for Fight of the Year.
The recent run of relevance began with and currently centered around its two-time linear champion, Israel Vazquez. The power punching Mexican met with Oscar Larios in December 2005 to complete the final leg of their trilogy in 2005. Vazquez emerged, scoring a first round knockdown before forcing an injury stoppage in three rounds to become the division’s first true universally-regarded world champion since Morales edged out Barrera nearly six years prior. [details]
Not since the days when future Hall of Famers Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera roamed the 122 lb. halls has there been so much reason to pay attention to a. The month of August has given plenty of reason to have all eyes affixed on the division, with back to back weekends showcasing its biggest players in significant bouts, including the frontrunner for Fight of the Year.
The recent run of relevance began with and currently centered around its two-time linear champion, Israel Vazquez. The power punching Mexican met with Oscar Larios in December 2005 to complete the final leg of their trilogy in 2005. Vazquez emerged, scoring a first round knockdown before forcing an injury stoppage in three rounds to become the division’s first true universally-regarded world champion since Morales edged out Barrera nearly six years prior. [details]