24.03.09 – By Dean Parr – I’m not going to lie – the three matches between tough Mexicans Rafael Marquez and Israel Vazquez are my favourite boxing matches ever. The two boxers exchange crushing blows, the fights are fought at a blistering pace and tremendous heart is shown by both men in all of them. In my opinion, a fourth bout is absolutely necessary..
There are several reasons for this. Firstly, despite the fact the two have fought three times, we still don’t definitively know who the better boxer is. After all, in the first fight, Vazquez’s nose was broken and his breathing capacity through his nose was reduced to ten percent. However, up until this injury, Vazquez was more than holding his own and had even knocked Marquez down, so who knows how that first fight could have gone without the breakage. The second fight also had talking points – the most important one being the arguably premature stoppage. In my opinion, while Vazquez was really dishing out a beating to Marquez at this point, the stoppage was maybe fifteen seconds too early, and in a fight of this magnitude, Marquez should have been given a bit longer. After this, there was the inevitable rubber match – the only one that went the distance, but nevertheless, controversy still surrounded the fighters. One debateable topic was whether Marquez actually deserved being given the standing eight count in the twelfth round. Personally, I would tend to say that he did deserve it because of the way he floundered on the ropes, but it is easy to see why people would argue otherwise. In addition, did Marquez win the fight anyway? Marquez certainly thought he did, I thought he scraped a 114-113 decision and the judges were split over the verdict. This was a far from conclusive result. As a result of this, we need a fourth that doesn’t contain controversy and one where we can safely say X or Y won.
Also, it should be taken into account that the fans wouldn’t complain at the prospect of a fourth. These matches contained so much action and drama that a fourth between the two would still be very intriguing to the boxing fan – if not the most intriguing one yet. I’m absolutely certain this fight would make enough money to make it worthwhile for the promoters involved, as it could easily sell out a ten thousand seat venue in Las Vegas, as well as gaining money through TV rights. Therefore, it makes sense business wise as well.
The real question though is probably whether the fighters themselves want another match. The other three were brutal due to the questionable defences of the two, combined with their excellent offensive arsenals. Both of them put together savage combinations with hostile intent behind each and every punch, and whether any amount of money compensates for the punishment they would go through in the ring is enough, is debateable. In spite of this though, Marquez and Vazquez are both warriors – we can tell this from the way they fight if nothing else, and neither one of them would want to lose their warrior reputations because they are worried about the punishment they may receive. In addition, they have had plenty of time to rest and recover since the last fight now, and they should both be well and raring to go. Due to this, I couldn’t see one of them rejecting a fight with the other.
In conclusion, this fight makes sense for both fighters. Marquez will want to avenge his two losses to Vazquez, and possibly open the door for a fifth with Vazquez so he could win the series 3-2, while Vazquez wants to prove once and for all that he is the better of the two. In my opinion, there are too many reasons why this match must happen for it not to take place, and I am begging the promoters involved: please make a fourth happen as it would be a fantastic spectacle for boxing, and one that could make you money!