238:
Vázquez was able to land hard shots intermittently. Márquez underlined his dominance in the fight by sending Vázquez to the canvas with a hard right hand in the fourth round. Vázquez survived the knockdown and would go on to hurt Márquez several times in a round that was named round of the year by Ring
Magazine. The fighters were evenly matched over the middle portion of the fight with Vázquez, once again, fighting with deep cuts over his eyes. Márquez suffered a setback in the tenth round when he was docked a point for persistent low blows. Late in the final round Márquez was badly hurt from a heavy barrage of punches and with only seconds to go in the fight Vázquez scored a knockdown when the referee deemed that only the ropes were keeping Márquez from going down. Although Márquez was able to recover to hear the final bell, it was Vázquez who was announced as the winner by split decision. One judge scored the bout 114-111 in favour of Márquez but this was overruled by scores of 114-111 and 113-112 for Vázquez.
287:
eye in the second round before opening another over his right eye in the third. The cuts left Vázquez's vision severely impaired. Not helped by his poor vision, Vázquez was knocked down early in round three by a Márquez right hand. Although Vázquez was able to beat the referee's count, he was to be stopped later in the round after taking a series of heavy shots. After Márquez was declared the winner, and with the series standing equal, both fighters expressed an interest in a fifth meeting. This has not been encouraged by the boxing media and even Frank
Espinoza, Vazquez's longtime handler, stated that "His career is over" This opinion was echoed by several other boxing writers who claimed that, due to the injuries Vazquez suffered to his eyes, he should retire. Instead of a fifth fight with Vázquez, Márquez fought
200:
third round with Márquez suffering a cut over his right eye, Márquez was able to respond with a series of overhand rights which opened cuts over both of Vázquez's eyes. The Blood would continue to flow from Vázquez's left eye throughout the fight. During the sixth round Vázquez was able to knock Márquez down with a heavy hook to the head, and although Márquez was able to rise from the canvas, the referee, Jose
Guadalupe Garcia, stopped the action after Vázquez landed another series of punches, thus Vázquez reclaimed his title. It was felt by both Márquez and
283:
on his damaged retina following the third fight, returned in
October 2009 and struggled to a ninth round win over Angel Antonio Priolo. Following his victory Márquez would remain inactive for almost another year as a fourth fight between him and Vázquez was scheduled for May 2010. Due to Vázquez's inactivity he was stripped of his title, meaning that the fourth meeting between the pair would be a non-title fight. Márquez, who was a greater than 2-1 favourite for the fight, once again predicted that he would be victorious by knockout.
251:
159:
Vázquez would make a strong comeback in the third round as he was able to knock Márquez down. Márquez rose from the canvas at the count of three, although he was on unsteady legs, he managed to see out the remainder of the round. By the end of the fifth round Vázquez's broken nose had become a major problem with Vázquez telling his cornerman
155:
be a brawl". Although Vázquez accepted that Márquez would be the most dangerous opponent he had ever faced, he believed that as the naturally heavier man he would have the advantage. However, Márquez claimed that he felt much stronger at super bantamweight and that at this weight he would be just as powerful.
282:
Due to the punishing nature of their previous three fights both boxers were out of action for over a year before they returned to the ring. Márquez returned first and made a winning comeback with an easy third-round knockout over Jose
Francisco Mendoza in May 2009. Vázquez, who needed three surgeries
195:
A rematch between the two fighters was originally scheduled for July but had to be pushed back to August. After his success in the first fight Márquez predicted that he would once again win by knockout. Before the rematch Vázquez had to hire Rudy Perez as his new trainer as his previous trainer opted
286:
The fourth fight between Vázquez and Márquez was generally considered to be the least entertaining of the series. The fight was also the most one-sided of the series with Márquez easily outboxing Vázquez. After a dominating opening round for Márquez he was able to open a deep cut over Vázquez's left
233:
It was not until over seven months later that the fighters met for a third time as they returned to the site of their first encounter, the Home Depot Center in Carson. Once again the fight was expected to be a war, in spite of this, Márquez claimed that he would have to box intelligently to reclaim
154:
The first bout between Vázquez and Márquez was much anticipated in the boxing media and had been described as a "sensational action fight". Both boxers agreed with this sentiment, with Vázquez claiming that it was "going to be the fight of the year" and Márquez stating that the fight was "going to
52:
division, finished even, with both fighters claiming two victories. Although there had been talk of a fifth fight, it had been widely discouraged by the boxing media due to the punishment absorbed by both fighters, with the injuries Vázquez suffered to his eyes a particular concern. Vázquez retired
241:
The result of the fight was disputed by Márquez and his promoter Gary Shaw. They claimed that Márquez should not have been penalised a point in round ten and that Vázquez should not have been credited with a knockdown in the final round. Despite their protestations, the result of the fight stood.
199:
The rematch was considered to be even greater than the first fight, with Ring
Magazine announcing it has its fight of the year for 2007. The action peaked in round three - a round that would later win the Ring Magazine round of the year award. Both fighters exchanged heavy punches throughout the
158:
As predicted, the fight turned out to be a brawl, with both boxers landing heavy punches throughout the fight. The early portion of the fight was dominated by Márquez and with his greater hand speed and combinations he was able to land an uppercut which broke Vázquez's nose in the opening round.
237:
The fight, which once again won the award for Ring
Magazine fight of year, saw both fighters engaged in non-stop action and, unlike the first two encounters, went the full twelve round distance. Márquez controlled the early action of the fight by landed effective jabs and right hands, although
119:. In his only fight of 2006 Márquez knocked out Mabuza in a rematch, which brought his total number of title defences to seven. It was to be his final fight at bantamweight as following this bout Márquez would step up in weight to challenge Vázquez for the IBF super bantamweight title.
196:
out of the bout. Roach claimed that Vázquez should have taken more time off and that he was starting to slur his words. However, Vázquez, in reference to his nose injuries in the first fight, said that he wanted to show in the rematch that he could beat Márquez when he was healthy.
163:: "I can't continue". Despite this, the fight continued for two more fast paced rounds before Vázquez finally retired on his stool at the end of round seven claiming: "I can't anymore. I can't anymore". As a result, Márquez was announced as the winner and the new champion.
65:, made his professional debut in 1995. It took until 2004 for Vázquez to get a world title shot, at which point he had compiled a record of 35 victories and 3 losses. He won the world title at his first opportunity by knocking down the
114:
by unanimous decision. Márquez defended his title three times in 2004 with knockout victories over Peter
Frissina, Heriberto Ruiz and Pastrana. Another two successful defences followed in 2005 with victories over Ricardo Vargas and
31:
matches that took place between 2007 and 2010, which has been described as "the most entertaining fight series in recent boxing history", and has been compared with two other notable series of fights in the decade:
93:
in what was described as a fight of the year contender. After being knocked down in the fourth and sixth rounds Vázquez recovered to knock González down twice forcing González's corner to throw in the towel.
97:
Rafael Márquez, born 1975 in Mexico City, also made his professional debut in 1995. Márquez became a world champion for the first time in 2003 when he scored a tenth-round technical knockout victory over
208:
that the referee's stoppage was premature. Despite this, the referee claimed that his stoppage was justified. Following the bout both boxers expressed their eagerness for a third fight to happen.
234:
his title. This was in contrast to Vázquez's opinion of the fight as he stated: "If he wants to beat me, he has to fight me blow-by-blow. No other way around it".
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77:. He defended the title twice - against Artyom Simonyan and Armando Guerrero. Although he was stripped of the IBF belt, he was able to win the
592:
759:
351:
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Jr. Featherweight title for this victory. After a successful first defence of his title against Ivan
Hernandez Vázquez fought
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title. Unlike Vázquez, who won his first world title in the super bantamweight division, Márquez's first world title came at
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for 2007, while the third fight won the award in 2008. The series, which took place in the
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760:"After three stirring fights, Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez are set for a fourth"
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651:"Vazquez reclaims WBC Super Bantamweight title with TKO in sixth over Marquez"
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in the third round of their 2005 contest, Vázquez was also awarded the
37:
595:. The Boxing Historian. Archived from the original on January 13, 2010
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and lost after failing to come out for the ninth round.
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after the fourth match, while Márquez retired in 2013.
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Result: Vázquez won by sixth-round technical knockout
648:
506:"Vazquez-Marquez title fight expected to be intense"
254:The Staples Center, the scene of the fourth fight.
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110:. In the first defence of his title Márquez beat
855:
629:"Vazquez Stops Marquez In Sixth During Rematch"
150:Result: Márquez won by seventh-round retirement
814:
788:"Vazquez-Marquez IV nothing like I, II or III"
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485:"Notebook: Buzz abounds for Vazquez-Marquez"
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810:
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278:Result: Márquez won by third-round knockout
220:Location: Carson, California, United States
44:. The second fight in the series was named
817:"His legacy intact, Vazquez should retire"
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482:
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378:"Time to end Vazquez-Marquez epic is now"
349:
805:
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838:"Juan Manuel Lopez keeps belt with TKO"
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550:"Marquez awaiting rematch with Vazquez"
856:
694:"Vazquez Marquez III Lives Up To Hype"
673:"Vazquez, Marquez set for war … again"
308:"Marquez stops Vazquez in third round"
738:"Vazquez, Marquez announce 4th fight"
716:"Official: Vazquez decision to stand"
229:Result: Vázquez won by split decision
81:version of the title by knocking out
42:Erik Morales vs Marco Antonio Barrera
776:
572:"Vazquez knows about second chances"
508:. ESPN. Associated Press. 2007-03-02
442:"Vazquez-Gonzalez II? What say you?"
310:. ESPN. Associated Press. 2010-05-23
16:Series of boxing matches (2007–2010)
649:The Associated Press (2007-08-05).
354:. About.com: Boxing. Archived from
13:
593:"Ring Magazine: Round of the Year"
400:"Vazquez-Marquez battles must end"
73:twice en route to a twelfth round
14:
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352:"Ring Magazine Fight of the Year"
786:Michael Rosenthal (2010-05-22).
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188:Referee: Jose Guadalupe Garcia
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815:Steve Springer (2010-05-23).
671:Graham Houston (2008-02-28).
548:Oscar Gonzalez (2007-07-31).
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61:Israel Vázquez, born 1977 in
56:
758:Lance Pugmire (2010-05-21).
69:super bantamweight champion
7:
627:Boxing Press (2007-08-05).
398:Mark Kriegel (2010-05-23).
266:, California, United States
10:
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790:. The Ring. Archived from
714:Jerry Magee (2008-03-03).
328:Pedro Reyna (2009-06-18).
736:Dan Rafael (2010-03-19).
612:: CS1 maint: unfit URL (
570:Kevin Iole (2007-08-01).
526:Bart Barry (2007-03-05).
483:Dan Rafael (2007-01-12).
376:Kevin Iole (2010-05-23).
223:Venue: Home Depot Center
463:"boxer: Rafael Marquez"
421:"boxer: Israel Vazquez"
330:"Vazquez vs Marquez IV"
275:Referee: Raul Caiz Jr.
255:
147:Referee: Raul Caiz Jr.
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27:was a series of four
718:. SignOnSanDiego.com
226:Referee: Pat Russell
172:Date: August 4, 2007
19:The rivalry between
217:Date: March 1, 2008
128:Date: March 3, 2007
869:Boxing on Showtime
840:. ESPN. 2010-11-07
696:. East Side Boxing
259:Date: May 22, 2010
256:
133:Carson, California
75:technical knockout
71:José Luis Valbuena
50:super bantamweight
764:Los Angeles Times
631:. SaddoBoxing.com
528:"I Can't Anymore"
289:Juan Manuel López
143:Home Depot Center
112:Mauricio Pastrana
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246:Fourth fight
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206:Al Bernstein
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167:Second fight
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108:bantamweight
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83:Oscar Larios
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34:Arturo Gatti
18:
653:. USA Today
264:Los Angeles
212:Third fight
184:Dodge Arena
123:First fight
63:Mexico City
858:Categories
844:2011-03-11
823:2010-06-08
798:2010-06-08
769:2010-06-08
744:2010-06-08
722:2010-06-08
700:2010-06-08
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362:2010-06-08
336:2010-06-08
314:2010-06-08
295:References
262:Location:
175:Location:
131:Location:
100:Tim Austin
57:Background
38:Micky Ward
608:cite web
465:. BoxRec
423:. BoxRec
204:analyst
202:Showtime
102:for the
269:Venue:
182:Venue:
141:Venue:
819:. ESPN
740:. ESPN
675:. ESPN
487:. ESPN
29:boxing
614:link
40:and
23:and
104:IBF
79:WBC
67:IBF
36:vs
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