“Fighting Words” – Vazquez-Marquez: Too Good For Their Own Good

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

by David P. Greisman - Did they give too much? Did we ask too much?

Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez faced each other in three great but grueling fights, 25 rounds of war waged within 363 days. Each, somehow, was better than the one before it. The third garnered “Fight of the Year” honors. And then Vazquez and Marquez took time off, well deserved, to recover so that, eventually, presumably, they could return.

Their trilogy wrapped up March 1, 2008. Since then, each has fought just once.

Marquez came back first, stepping between the ropes May 23 of this year, more than 14 months since he was knocked down in the last seconds of the last round, the decking proving to be the difference between a draw and a split decision loss.

Marquez needed less than three rounds to dispose of Jose Francisco Mendoza.

Vazquez waited longer before getting back into the ring. He did so this past Saturday, some 19 months since taking the rubber match against Marquez, giving him wins in the second and third installments. [details]

[jetgeomcx]

i dont want any more rafa-izzy war of attrition.
they have given us 3 good fyts ...neither one dominating the other.
they should be fyting others, there are plenty out there in their div.
they should mix it out with those who hold the belts and be champs themselves.

[edgarg]

David and Israel no pun intended

I like David Greisman's writing more and more. He's inclined to "pontificate" a little, but only by modern standards, and I am anything but modern. He writes the way I think.

It looks as if he's suggesting that Vasquez should retire. I agree, and if he is financially secure, as he should well be, there is no need for him to place his health at more risk. Machoism is all very well, but he only has one body, and has given us memorable fights.

[Lacrimosa]

If Rafa and Izzy fought for the fourth time i would watch it, of course. But if you ask whether i`d like this fight to happen, i would deffinitely say: "NO"... These guys have given away enough of their health for us to be entertained... In my mind the`ve both earned their places at HoF... The only reason why they should get into the ring - is to earn some money...