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Israel Vazquez Talks About His Career and Possible Upcoming Rematch With Rafael Marquez with RSR
Interview by Dan Hernandez-November 26, 2007
“Right now is the best time of my life and I want to fight with the best fighters and make history by winning.” -- Israel Vazquez
Israel Vazquez Castaneda was born on Christmas Day, 1977, in Mexico City, Mexico. He is the reigning WBC and Ring Super Bantamweight Champion of the World. His ring record is 42-4, 31 KO's. He is managed by World Hall of Fame recipient, Frank Espinoza and trained by Marco Antonio Barrera’s long time trainer, Rudy Perez. He has a well earned nickname of “Magnifico,” which is, “the magnificent.”
Always a crowd pleaser, the 5’4 ½, 122 pound champion has shown power, resilience and heart. In his most recent fights, he defeated the former WBO Bantamweight Champion, Jhonny Gonzalez on September 16, 2006, in a bout where Israel came back from two knockdowns to win. He then lost his title in what many consider the “Fight of the Year” on March 3, 2007, when he was forced to forfeit to number 1 contender, Rafael Marquez, due to an injured nose. In another candidate for top fight of 2007, Vasquez regained his title from Marquez via a sixth round knockout. A third match between these two battlers is highly anticipated for 2008.
Taking on all comers, Vasquez has defeated major prospects and champions such as Oscar Larios, Jorge Eliecer Julio, Jose Luis Valbuena, and Ivan Hernandez. At 29, he is anxious to meet and defeat the best fighters available in his weight class. His manager has been quoted as saying: “Israel got to the top by ducking no one and fighting every tough character around.” He then added: “We wouldn’t have it any other way. All those battles paid off when Israel thrashed Jose Luis Valbuena to win the IBF crown.” That was in Los Angeles on March 25, 2004, when Israel knocked Valbuena down twice before stopping him in the 12th and final round.
I contacted Israel through his manager, Frank Espinoza, and I thank Frank for not only arranging our meeting, but also for aiding in our communication, since my Spanish and Israel’s English were occasionally at odds. The conversation was brief but spirited and enjoyable. It is my pleasure to share a little of Israel Vasquez with the readers of RSR.
DH: Who is your trainer now?
Rudy Perez, Marco Antonio Barrera’s former trainer. Before that, I trained with Freddie Roach.
DH: Do they train differently than each other?
With Rudy, I train more on my defense. Freddie is always going towards the offense. Rudy is good for me.
DH: Did you ever spar with Barrera?
No, it never happened.
DH: You have had some great fights. You are a very entertaining fighter, but how do you get past being hit?
Thank You. Well, sometimes the fights are hard and sometimes they are easy. You don’t think about getting hit, you just think about winning.
DH: What was your toughest fight?
Rafael Marquez was the best fighter I have fought in my career. I believe the third fight will be better than the other two. Larios was very tough too, but I believe Marquez hits harder and has a more difficult style. We are both still hungry and that means it will be a good fight.
DH: You lost the first fight with Marquez when your nose was injured. Your nose was the reason it was stopped, correct?
Yes, but I am all right now. The second fight I won by knockout.
DH: When do you fight again?
Maybe March 2008.
DH: Where do you fight and who are you fighting?
This week the WBC will show me the opponent. I hope it is with Rafael.
DH: How long has Frank Espinoza been your manager?
Yes since 9 years ago when I become a professional.
DH: So you were very young?
I come to the USA when I was 20 years old.
DH: So you are 29 and left family in Mexico. Are you married?
Yes, I have two children and one wife.
DH: It better be one wife...
(Laughing) We have been married for 6 years.
DH: Does she go to your fights?
Sometimes, but she gets a little nervous.
DH: Especially when you hurt your nose right?
Oh, yes!
DH: What are your goals?
Maybe I’m still three or four years more and I will finish my career. I want to be fighting with the best fighters of the world, Manny Pacquiao, Juan Manuel Marquez, Rafael Marquez, and the new, good fighters coming up. I want them all.
DH: Will you go up in weight?
This time I will stay at 122 pounds...maybe next year after I fight Rafael and everything is good I will go up to 126 pounds.
DH: Are you comfortable at 126 pounds?
Yes, I feel comfortable at 122, but like I want to make history in boxing. Right now is the best time of my life and I want to fight with the best fighters and make history by winning. And I want to finish my career young.
DH: When did you start boxing?
I was twelve years old. My older brother introduced me to boxing and then I was curious to start. And then when I told my Dad that I want to start, he helped me.
DH: Was your Dad a boxer?
No, he was just a fan, an aficionado.
DH: Did you fight in the amateurs?
Just 58 fights, and every bout I won by knockout...mainly with my left hook.
DH: Would you like to add anything to what we’ve said?
Oh I just I want to say that maybe next year I will speak English better than today, and then I want to say thank you and all the people that support me.
DH: Many thanks, and your English is much better than my Spanish.
Oh, thank you so much
Interview by Dan Hernandez-November 26, 2007
“Right now is the best time of my life and I want to fight with the best fighters and make history by winning.” -- Israel Vazquez
Israel Vazquez Castaneda was born on Christmas Day, 1977, in Mexico City, Mexico. He is the reigning WBC and Ring Super Bantamweight Champion of the World. His ring record is 42-4, 31 KO's. He is managed by World Hall of Fame recipient, Frank Espinoza and trained by Marco Antonio Barrera’s long time trainer, Rudy Perez. He has a well earned nickname of “Magnifico,” which is, “the magnificent.”
Always a crowd pleaser, the 5’4 ½, 122 pound champion has shown power, resilience and heart. In his most recent fights, he defeated the former WBO Bantamweight Champion, Jhonny Gonzalez on September 16, 2006, in a bout where Israel came back from two knockdowns to win. He then lost his title in what many consider the “Fight of the Year” on March 3, 2007, when he was forced to forfeit to number 1 contender, Rafael Marquez, due to an injured nose. In another candidate for top fight of 2007, Vasquez regained his title from Marquez via a sixth round knockout. A third match between these two battlers is highly anticipated for 2008.
Taking on all comers, Vasquez has defeated major prospects and champions such as Oscar Larios, Jorge Eliecer Julio, Jose Luis Valbuena, and Ivan Hernandez. At 29, he is anxious to meet and defeat the best fighters available in his weight class. His manager has been quoted as saying: “Israel got to the top by ducking no one and fighting every tough character around.” He then added: “We wouldn’t have it any other way. All those battles paid off when Israel thrashed Jose Luis Valbuena to win the IBF crown.” That was in Los Angeles on March 25, 2004, when Israel knocked Valbuena down twice before stopping him in the 12th and final round.
I contacted Israel through his manager, Frank Espinoza, and I thank Frank for not only arranging our meeting, but also for aiding in our communication, since my Spanish and Israel’s English were occasionally at odds. The conversation was brief but spirited and enjoyable. It is my pleasure to share a little of Israel Vasquez with the readers of RSR.
DH: Who is your trainer now?
Rudy Perez, Marco Antonio Barrera’s former trainer. Before that, I trained with Freddie Roach.
DH: Do they train differently than each other?
With Rudy, I train more on my defense. Freddie is always going towards the offense. Rudy is good for me.
DH: Did you ever spar with Barrera?
No, it never happened.
DH: You have had some great fights. You are a very entertaining fighter, but how do you get past being hit?
Thank You. Well, sometimes the fights are hard and sometimes they are easy. You don’t think about getting hit, you just think about winning.
DH: What was your toughest fight?
Rafael Marquez was the best fighter I have fought in my career. I believe the third fight will be better than the other two. Larios was very tough too, but I believe Marquez hits harder and has a more difficult style. We are both still hungry and that means it will be a good fight.
DH: You lost the first fight with Marquez when your nose was injured. Your nose was the reason it was stopped, correct?
Yes, but I am all right now. The second fight I won by knockout.
DH: When do you fight again?
Maybe March 2008.
DH: Where do you fight and who are you fighting?
This week the WBC will show me the opponent. I hope it is with Rafael.
DH: How long has Frank Espinoza been your manager?
Yes since 9 years ago when I become a professional.
DH: So you were very young?
I come to the USA when I was 20 years old.
DH: So you are 29 and left family in Mexico. Are you married?
Yes, I have two children and one wife.
DH: It better be one wife...
(Laughing) We have been married for 6 years.
DH: Does she go to your fights?
Sometimes, but she gets a little nervous.
DH: Especially when you hurt your nose right?
Oh, yes!
DH: What are your goals?
Maybe I’m still three or four years more and I will finish my career. I want to be fighting with the best fighters of the world, Manny Pacquiao, Juan Manuel Marquez, Rafael Marquez, and the new, good fighters coming up. I want them all.
DH: Will you go up in weight?
This time I will stay at 122 pounds...maybe next year after I fight Rafael and everything is good I will go up to 126 pounds.
DH: Are you comfortable at 126 pounds?
Yes, I feel comfortable at 122, but like I want to make history in boxing. Right now is the best time of my life and I want to fight with the best fighters and make history by winning. And I want to finish my career young.
DH: When did you start boxing?
I was twelve years old. My older brother introduced me to boxing and then I was curious to start. And then when I told my Dad that I want to start, he helped me.
DH: Was your Dad a boxer?
No, he was just a fan, an aficionado.
DH: Did you fight in the amateurs?
Just 58 fights, and every bout I won by knockout...mainly with my left hook.
DH: Would you like to add anything to what we’ve said?
Oh I just I want to say that maybe next year I will speak English better than today, and then I want to say thank you and all the people that support me.
DH: Many thanks, and your English is much better than my Spanish.
Oh, thank you so much
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