REASON I DIDN’T WRITE ABOUT FIGHT
San Francisco, CA– In recent days people have reached out for my thoughts on the fourth fight between Rafael Marquez and Israel Vazquez. Truth be told, I had nothing positive to say about the fight that ended in three with Marquez prevailing after beating on his fellow Mexican like a bongo drum. That had a lot to do with the way Israel looked in his last fight in an October 2009 against Angel Priola.
SIMPLY NO GREATNESS LEFT IN EITHER MAN
Not only did Vazquez, once a real “pound for pound” top ten guy, look old and feeble last October, my feelings were that Marquez was by far the least worn fighter in this unneeded pairing of warriors. Vazquez, 32 going on 350, is now 44-5 (32 KOs) and hopefully retired. Marquez, 35, is now 39-5, 30 KOs, he too should bow out now.
LIKE A 77-0 FOOTBALL GAME
A mismatch from the start, things got ugly early when a clash of heads opened Israel up like a can of crimson. As for that surgically repaired right optic of Vazquez, it didn’t hold up for s*it, yet the cut over his left eye was even uglier.
QUICK LOOK AT THE FOUR FIGHTS
Marquez won the first fight of the four when he busted Israel’s nose. The next two times out, both in dramatic fashion, Israel had his hand raised. But this time, some 38 months after their first encounter of March 2007, Israel couldn’t land anything of note. Referee Raul Caiz Jr. stopped the beatdown with the aid of a knockdown at 1:33 of round three.
ADVICE HOPEFULLY BOTH MEN WILL TAKE
The series is now tied at 2-2, hopefully some promoter won’t try and hitch these two up again. To both of you i say, go enjoy your lives and spend your coins wisely! In a clear illustration that boxing fans just don’t get it, the damage inflicted on both men in four scraps, Showtime’s poll said that 79% wanted to see a rematch. To me, that was about as barbaric as it gets!
Pedro Fernandez