by James Slater – There is no doubt about it, the three fights super-bantamweight warriors Israel Vazqeuz and Rafael Marquez gave us are nothing short of great and unforgettable. Both men gave their all and, in fights two and three especially, the action was breathtaking. However, do we really want to see a fourth fight put on by the two greats – ageing and possibly even on the way towards being shot as they now are?
The word is (according to a number of sources – ESPN.com and Fightnews.com for two) negotiations, while far from approaching the final stages, are now going on with regards to a part-four addition to what may well be the best trilogy in lower-weight boxing history. Golden Boy have to come to an agreement with Vazquez’ promoter Gary Shaw, but, according to Vazquez’ manager Ernesto Castellanos, “Magnifico” has agreed to a fourth fight.
Should the two rivals who last battered each other mercilessly back in March of 2008 actually meet again, though, what kind of fight would it be? Now both campaigning up at featherweight, 34-year-old Marquez and 31-year-old Vazquez have each won a fight at the new weight – Marquez having TKO’d Jose Mendoza in three back in May, and Vazquez having had a tough time against Angel Priolo before taking him out in the 9th-round on October 10th.
Going by these recent performances, Marquez appears to have more left than does the man who is currently 2-1 over him. Cut badly and being hit plenty in his comeback fight, Vazquez made us ask the question, how much more can this guy take? He also forced us to ask, what else does he have to give?
Though from purely selfish reasons a fourth war between the two future Hall of Famers would likely give us another hard-fought and brutal battle that would have us hollering and cheering, would the price the two men could wind up paying down the road be worth the risk? Vazquez has had his well documented retinal trouble, and Marquez soaked up plenty of punishment in the three fights we’ve seen. Wouldn’t it be better, now that they both seem hell-bent on fighting on, for the two warriors to go after someone else and then rumble with them?
The action in a fourth fight would very probably be exciting and the fight would likely be a most evenly matched one once again. With both guys having apparently lost a step or two, they would both be on a level playing field. Only we all know there wouldn’t be any playing going on in there. As was the case with Ali and Frazier when they met for their third fight, the skills of the two fighters having faded just means there will be more of a chance for punches to land and for sheer heart and desire to become the main factors in deciding who wins.
A fourth fight wouldn’t be pretty, put it that way. And is a fight where both guys are seen trying to recapture the greatness they earned in fights one, two and three really something we and, more importantly they, need? And don’t even start talking about what would happen if Marquez were to win, and thus tie the series up 2-2. A fifth and deciding fight between the two heavy-handed, enormously courageous yet now past their best greats?!? Wouldn’t that be crossing some kind of line?
In the end, it will be the decision of the two fighters. But for what it’s worth, I think Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez have gone to war with one another enough times already. Let their superb trilogy remain unspoilt.