Vazquez-Marquez IV on May 22 in Los Angeles
by Scott Christ on Dec 4, 2009 7:39 PM EST
in Boxing News Analysis
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Like it or not, want to see it or not, Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez are going to wage war one more time on May 22 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Rick Reeno reports that the two sides were waiting for Showtime's final approval, and that it has been received.
Even though it's often true that limited, faded, aged, or other such fighters can often put on some of the most compelling fights because it's more about the clash of wills and styles than it is about pure skill when it comes to making a great, entertaining battle, Vazquez-Marquez IV will almost certainly not equal any of the first three fights. In those fights, we saw the perfect clashing of styles combined with top of the sport skills from both men. Sharp, accurate, hard punching littered all three bouts. I'm not sure how much of that we'll see.
More likely, I figure this fourth bout turns into more a war of attrition, finding out who has more left. Judging solely by the 2009 fights for both men, it's Marquez. When you throw in the fact that Vazquez was beaten up pretty good before stopping a guy that was coming way up in weight and shouldn't have been any threat at all, it even more widely favors Marquez. And then you consider the fact that Israel Vazquez can never be 100% again after his eye surgeries, and right now I think we're looking at a no-brainer. Marquez will win this fight by stoppage, and it may be the end of Israel Vazquez's glorious career.
But then again, you never do know. I'm happy they're both getting the good payday. They've more than earned it. For Vazquez especially, it's not like these three fights are the only thrills he's given us over the years. Bouts with Jhonny Gonzalez and Oscar Larios, among others, have been jaw-dropping, too.
The fight's going to happen, and since it is, might as well say, "Bring it on." War, boys.
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I have mixed feelings about a fourth fight too, but will definitely tune in for it. How long has it been since the same two fighters fought each other four times?
Back in the 50’s it was not unusal. Archie Moore, Sugar Ray, La Motta, many others, used to do it. Also, in Argentina, they do it a lot. Victor Galinez was the most prolific at fighting the same guy a lot of times.
"If you sit there and watch a person take about an hour to tie his shoestrings, then you realize that whatever problems you got ain't that significant"
---Vernon Forrest 2006
by The Midnight Rambler on Dec 4, 2009 8:41 PM EST up reply actions
Galindez also got to know his opponents very well during his career as he fought Aguilar nine times, Peralta six times, and Ahumada five times,
"If you sit there and watch a person take about an hour to tie his shoestrings, then you realize that whatever problems you got ain't that significant"
---Vernon Forrest 2006
by The Midnight Rambler on Dec 4, 2009 8:43 PM EST up reply actions
Didn’t Ted Kid Lewis and Jack Britton fight each other about twenty times? Was a while ago, though!
by FCF on Dec 5, 2009 6:24 AM EST up reply actions
Naito and Wonjongkam
Fought each other 4 times really recently. Plus, if Naito had beaten Kameda, Wonjongkam would have been his mandatory again.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
Both may be somewhat damaged. Israel more than Rafael. I don’t like the way he sounds when he talks.
"If you sit there and watch a person take about an hour to tie his shoestrings, then you realize that whatever problems you got ain't that significant"
---Vernon Forrest 2006
by The Midnight Rambler on Dec 4, 2009 8:38 PM EST reply actions
Meh
The first three was the greatest trilogy of all time. The second and third fights are two of my favorite fights of all time. I have the two battling out in my avatar. But I just don’t want to see this. The last fight had the perfect ending. I don’t want them to ruin it by having shells of their former selves facing each other in a bout that’s bound to disappoint compared to the first three.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
The point of Boxing is to face the toughest competition available while at the same time getting paid the most you can. That’s exactly what there doing. On top of that there providing Fight of the year caliber fights every time. Yet some people complain about the fight? Why? What am I missing here?
As for the fight result? I got Marquez winning another great fight to set up a 5th fight in which both hopefully receive career high purses.
by Violent Demise on Dec 4, 2009 9:35 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
The point of Boxing is to face the toughest competition available while at the same time getting paid the most you can. That’s exactly what there doing.
Heard, recognized, and rec’d, my friend.
by Bad Left Hook on Dec 5, 2009 2:23 AM EST up reply actions
I think Marquez will win as well
But the result won’t even be close. Vasquez seems to be toast. He left whatever he had in the ring in that third fight.
The reasons I have for not wanting to see this fight happen are completely selfish, but they’re there. That said, I’ll watch the fight anyway. Like I said, fights two and three were two of my favorite fights of all time. I’d be insane not to watch them go at it again, even if I suspect that the fighters no longer have the physical capability to reproduce the magic they conjured the first three times.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
Points taken
"If you sit there and watch a person take about an hour to tie his shoestrings, then you realize that whatever problems you got ain't that significant"
---Vernon Forrest 2006
by The Midnight Rambler on Dec 7, 2009 10:36 PM EST up reply actions
I say bring it on. The verdict is still out on Izzy, as far as I’m concerned. I think writing off Vasquez so decisively based on the evidence we have is a mistake.
Boxing writer: "Iran, what are you going to do when you retire?"
Iran Barkley: "Rob your house"
I, shamefully, haven’t seen as much Vasquez as I should have: is he the type who fights UP to the level of his opposition, so maybe not much can be inferred from a crappy tune-up performance? For example, I remember Holyfield looking crap against Alex Stewart and Bobby Cyzyzyz, and then beating Bowe and Tyson, respectively, next time out
by FCF on Dec 5, 2009 6:46 AM EST up reply actions
Yes, he is a guy who has consistently risen to the occasion, and that's certainly quite possible again.
I think the larger issue though is that so many people love Vasquez so much that we feel overly protective of him. Personally, I haven’t seen enough yet to be convinced that he really is shot. Last fight (which he still won) could have been ring rust. I may be wrong, but I’m going into this fourth fight with an open mind about Vasquez.
Boxing writer: "Iran, what are you going to do when you retire?"
Iran Barkley: "Rob your house"
Boxing
is what it is, but I still don’t want to see this one. IF they have the money, I’d like to see them sitting on a terrace somewhere, drinks in hand, reminiscing. But that’s why they are great fighters and I’m a second tier poster.
Good point as well—not the second tier one; the other.
"If you sit there and watch a person take about an hour to tie his shoestrings, then you realize that whatever problems you got ain't that significant"
---Vernon Forrest 2006
by The Midnight Rambler on Dec 7, 2009 10:37 PM EST up reply actions
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