411's Marquez-Vasquez III Report 03.01.08

Posted by Ramon Aranda on 03.01.2008

Can't watch the fight tonight? No need to worry as we're at ringside for this huge rubber match for the super bantamweight championship.



Photos by Laura De La Torre

Welcome everyone to 411mania's LIVE coverage of Marquez-Vasquez III. The telecast begins at 9 PM ET/6 PM PT. I will be at ringside about an hour before the broadcast begins so I will have updates for you on all the happenings until then.

Stay tuned and enjoy the fights.

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From Carson, CA --

5:00 PM: The Paez Jr. - Barragan fight will not be televised but is the final bout before the main event.

Jorge Paez Jr. (18-1, 10 KOs) vs. Tomas Barragan (8-2-1, 1 KOs)
6-Rounds Super Lightweight Bout



Round 1: Paez Jr. who has a lot to prove on his comeback trail is going right after Barragan and midway through lands a hard right that floors him. Barragan manages to beat the count but is on shaky legs. Paez tries to go for the kill but Tomas fights back and makes it through the round.

10-8 Paez

Round 2: Barragan just looks overmatch only two rounds in and Paez lands a big hook that shakes up Barragan, who does the mambo before hanging on for dear life. Tomas gets in a couple of decent body shots but it's all Paez.

20-17 Paez

Round 3: Jorge goes for broke, seemingly not looking to go the full six rounds. Paez catches Tomas with a combination and he's on unsteady legs once again. Paez rushes him and unleashes a five punch combo and Barragan goes flat on his back and it's over! Paez looked great and has regained some of his killer instinct.




Winner by KO, Jorge Paez Jr.



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5: 22 PM: After the bout, Marco Antonio Barrera makes his way to his seat at ringside. The fans chant his name as he waves and takes time to take photographs and shake hands.

5: 24 PM: Given that that last bout was so quick, we now get a swing bout to kill some tiem before the telecast goes LIVE. Bill Goldberg just walks past me to join the broadcast crew.

5:46 PM: Sitting ringside here with fellow writer Matt Knowles as we await the commencement of the telecast. Boy it's chilly out here! (It's an outdoor arena; a tennis arena to be exact).

6: 25 PM : It's SHOWTIME!!

Enjoy the main event.

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Rafael Marquez (37-4, 33 KOs) vs. Israel Vasquez (42-4, 32 KOs) - Champion
12-Rounds WBC/Ring Magazine Super Bantamweight Championship

Round 1: Marquez and Vasquez start out by exchanging jabs and Vasquez starts to throw jabs to the body. They move around in circles and Marquez lets off a hook and uppercut combination that produces some redness on Vasquez' right eye already. They both appear very relaxed in there and thehy trade a couple of body shots in the center of the ring. Vasquez comes in again and Marquuez nails an uppercut home. A fight is breaking out already; Vasquez stuns Marquez with ann uppercut of his own and goes on the attack. Rafael regains himself and lets off a pair of left hooks that gets the crowd going. Great action!!

10-9 Marquez



Round 2: There is just no distance between these two warriors. They still throw the jab but as soon as they get close enough, both guys are unleashing vicious uppercuts that move the other back. The crowd appears to be pro-Marquez as they chant his name over and over. Rafael is having a bit more success landing his left jab but it's Vasquez who has the bigger punch. Another left uppercut from Vasquez and Rafael retreats momentarily. Marquez fights back and tries to steal the round. I give the edge to Marquez.

20-18 Marquez



Round 3: Marquez opens up with three solid jabs that snap the champion's head back. Vasquez fights his way to the inside and goes to the body but Rafael is trying to create some room now with that jab and straight right hands. The champion has some redness all over his face but keeps coming forward and fires to the body before taking another jab to the head. Marquez lets off a hook to the body that travels a little south of the border and gets a warning. Vasquez doesn't need to rest and they trade to end the round. Marquez takes this one too.

30-27 Marquez



Round 4: Marquez is doing the smart thing, which he did in the first fight that won him the title, he's using his jab to set up the right hands and isnt' allowing himself to trade too often with the harder punching Vasquez. The champion is stalking Marquez although some swelling has begun to form over the left eye and they clash heads to make it worse. A right hook from Marquez and Vasquez appears hurt..



...Marquez follows up with a combination and lands another right cross and DOWN GOES VASQUEZ!!!!.



He beats the count an they now go toe to tow...Vasquez lands a murderous left hook and now Marquez is hurt..they trade all over the ring...it's a a slugfest folks and the crowd is on their feet. Unbelievable round!!!

40-35 Marquez

(The fans are eating it up and so are we at ringside. This is incredible stuff)

Round 5: They go right back to how they left off in the 4th; trading. Marquez lands another low blow but the ref doesn't make a fuss. Vasquez is coming forward throwing body shots while Marquez moves in circles and continues to set up the right with hsi left jab. Big time punches from both guys and you can see they hurt. Marquez eats a left hook and shakes it off but he didn't like it. there is swelling on both fighter's eyes as the action heats up. Marquez fires off a straight right but Vasquez comes back with a body shot and as the round comes to a close, Vasquez lands a good right hand that bothered Marquez. Vasquez gets his first round.

49-45 Marquez

Round 6: Rafael is trying to make it more of a boxing match but Israel's relentless pressure is forcing the fight to turn into a brawl. Israel seems more focused after the knocdown and controls the action early in the round. When Vasquez traps Marquez along the ropes, he lets off a set of body shots and now a left hook lands for the champ. Israel comes in and fires off a left-right combo that lands. Marquez might be a tad bit discouraged after thinking he had the fight won and Vasquez is not slowing down. Another low blow lands and Marquez is given his second warning. He better watch out. Vasquez has another good round.

58-55 Marquez

Round 7: Vasquez takes another low blow but resonds with a great combination. The champ traps Marquez along the ropes and manages to land a solid right hand to the swelling left eye of Marquez. At this point, the champ seems to be the fresher of the two. Marquez goes back to the jab again but is allowing Vasquez to work on the inside; he should really keep moving away and as I say that eats another right hand from Vasquez. Good uppercut from Rafael but Vasquez look stronger. Suddenly marquez lands a hook and uppercut that buckle Vasquez' legs for a split second and now the champ backs away. Great stuff!! Marquez wins this round.

68-64 Marquez



(Great atmosphere, great fight, what a great night so far!)

Round 8: The champ and former champ trade blows to start off the 8th. Vasquez lets off a borderline low blow of his own but isn't a big deal. Rafael tries to hold off Israel with the jab and the champ returns to the body shots. A straight right and Marquez doesn't flinch but comes back with a 4-punch combo. Again the trade on the inside and neither fighter wants to give up some ground. Vasquez lands a right uppercut and takes it fairly well but it was a big punch. Vasuez gets Rafael inthe corner and gets off a left then right but Marquez comes back with a combo of his own before eating two more rights. Vasquez edges this one.

77-74 Marquez

Round 9: Who would have thought after both fights ended before the 8th round that we'd be here in the 9th. Vasquez comes forward looking to land his right cross and left hook to the body. Marquez lands a pair of rights but Vasquez takes them well and crowds Marquez before getting warned. Israel leads with some rights and ducks some Marquez hooks but takes an uppercut for his troubles. As the round is closing, a round that Vasquez is winning, Marquez unloads a combination that stuns Vasquez. Marquez steals it.

87-83 Marquez



Round 10: Vasquez starts off the round with two well placed right hands to the left eye of Marquez. He can't possibly see very well out of that eye as it's close to being shut. They tangle after a combo and Marquez ends up bear hugging Vasquez from behind. Marquez lands another low blow and gets a warning. Damn, he better keep them up or a point deduction is sure to follow...not a good thing in a close fight. Vasquez tries to land a right and Marquez counters with a right hand that momentarily stops Vasquez in his tracks. Marquez then lands another low blow...good grief. This time, referee Pat Russel deducts a point from Marquez and that's gotta hurt! I knew that was coming. Marquez apologizes as the crowd gets on Russell's case but Rafael finishes strong with some punishing uppercuts to keep the round even. (I score it 10-9 for Marquez minus the 1 point; 9-9 Even)

96-92 Marquez



Round 11: Championship rounds folks! The crowd backs up Marquez though it's Vasquez coming forward here and landing a couple of rights. They both go right back to trading jabs again; they've got to be tired! A slower round compared to the last couple of rounds but Vasquez is getting the better of the brief exchanges so far. They trade with the final seconds of the round closing the 11th. Vasquez gets this round on my card.

105-102 Marquez

Ok folks...the 12th and final round and the crowd is on their feet.

Round 12: Vasquez needs a big round here and Marquez might need it just as bad. Toe-to-toe action and it's Vasquez who is landing the bigger punches. Marquez continues to move aruond the ring but is eating a few rights. I know he doesn't see them coming. Vasquez rips to the body as Marquezs tries to stay away, perhaps he thinks he's got the fight on the cards and a right hand from the champ forces Marquez to hold on. The crowd is on their feet cheering both men and Marquez is hurt from a right cross. Marquez better stay away because he's in trouble. Vasquez goes for the kill and Marquez buckles into the corner and it's a KNOCKDOWN!! Marquez gets up and argues the call but the bell rings before any more punches fly. WOW!! It's going to be so damn close on the cards.





113-112 Marquez is how I have my final tally as we await the scores....and a fight almost breaks out in the ring.

7:15 PM: You can cut the anticipation with a knife...this will be a razor thin decision is my bet.

The scores are now being read: 114-111 (Vasquez), 114-111 (Marquez), 113-112.....for the winner by split decision:



Israel Vasquez!

Not a bad decision that really could have gone either way. Marquez controlled the fight early on but Vasquez came on stronger in the second half of the fight and you can't really argue the decision. Both men gave it their all and that low blow point deduction comes back to haunt Marquez who would have gave himself a draw. I would love to see a 4th fight and given the nature of how close it was and possibly some controversy from the point deduction, Marquez at least deserves another crack at some point.

Great fight and I applaud both fighters for their courage and heart.

Thanks for tuning in and see you next time!

(The replay will be shown on SHOWTIME throughout the week.)