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Vazquez is Marquez' Daddy in the Series,
I define this by who overcame the most adversity, whose will and determination was Greater across the series, specifically the initial trilogy, as the integrity of the fourth fight is questionable.
On paper the score is even at 2-2. But as closely matched and fought as these fights were, with all the fire and heart and refusal to be conquered that both guys showed, Vazquez had to overcome the most and showed the most IMO, not least that he, while supposedly the lesser technician, was perfectly able to hang with Marquez as a boxer.
Marquez won the first fight legitimately by busting Izzy's nose to the point where he couldn't breathe.
In the second, Izzy could only win the fight one way after picking up bad cuts early in the fight that were worsening as they reached the mid-rounds - he had to go for the stoppage quickly, or likely soon be stopped himself on cuts, and he went all out to get it, though not in a frenzy, but in a cool, composed, almost casual manner. The 3 punch combination, body to head with left hook on the end of it, which felled Marquez early in the 6th and set up the finish was stunning, my single favorite example of firepower in the series. Izzy's stoicism and patient, calm application to an urgently pressing situation is a wonder here. "Gahhhddamnit, Israeeeeellllll!!!!!!!!!!"
The third was a feature-length marvel of ebb and flow, but Vazquez had clearly came out on top by the heat of the 12th, scorecards and arguable split-decision be damned, pouring it on and making Marquez look for all the world like a beaten fighter by the final bell of what had been an incredibly close contest up until that last round. Another minute or round and I believe Marquez would have been stopped - Vazquez was just too much honest desire, too much man for him to handle.
In the fourth, Vazquez was clearly still capable of being competetive in himself, but it didn't take long to become apparent that the scar-tissue around his eyes simply wasn't up to the task. It was called before the fight, and it wasn't a surprise when it proved to be true. Still, Vazquez battled manfully to stay on his feet, unable to see any punches coming, and had to be protected from himself as the fight was waved off in the 3rd. Marquez was the better preserved of the two fighters despite being slightly older, but Marquez-Vazquez IV proved little else for Marquez, certainly not in terms of clawing back an increment in the true meaning of their man to man rivalry.
To me, Vazquez' wins are the significantly more clear-cut and defining and he had to overcome the most to earn them.
Thoughts, arguments?
On paper the score is even at 2-2. But as closely matched and fought as these fights were, with all the fire and heart and refusal to be conquered that both guys showed, Vazquez had to overcome the most and showed the most IMO, not least that he, while supposedly the lesser technician, was perfectly able to hang with Marquez as a boxer.
Marquez won the first fight legitimately by busting Izzy's nose to the point where he couldn't breathe.
In the second, Izzy could only win the fight one way after picking up bad cuts early in the fight that were worsening as they reached the mid-rounds - he had to go for the stoppage quickly, or likely soon be stopped himself on cuts, and he went all out to get it, though not in a frenzy, but in a cool, composed, almost casual manner. The 3 punch combination, body to head with left hook on the end of it, which felled Marquez early in the 6th and set up the finish was stunning, my single favorite example of firepower in the series. Izzy's stoicism and patient, calm application to an urgently pressing situation is a wonder here. "Gahhhddamnit, Israeeeeellllll!!!!!!!!!!"
The third was a feature-length marvel of ebb and flow, but Vazquez had clearly came out on top by the heat of the 12th, scorecards and arguable split-decision be damned, pouring it on and making Marquez look for all the world like a beaten fighter by the final bell of what had been an incredibly close contest up until that last round. Another minute or round and I believe Marquez would have been stopped - Vazquez was just too much honest desire, too much man for him to handle.
In the fourth, Vazquez was clearly still capable of being competetive in himself, but it didn't take long to become apparent that the scar-tissue around his eyes simply wasn't up to the task. It was called before the fight, and it wasn't a surprise when it proved to be true. Still, Vazquez battled manfully to stay on his feet, unable to see any punches coming, and had to be protected from himself as the fight was waved off in the 3rd. Marquez was the better preserved of the two fighters despite being slightly older, but Marquez-Vazquez IV proved little else for Marquez, certainly not in terms of clawing back an increment in the true meaning of their man to man rivalry.
To me, Vazquez' wins are the significantly more clear-cut and defining and he had to overcome the most to earn them.
Thoughts, arguments?
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