Three-time World Champion Israel Vazquez and top-rated contender Abner Mares served up a heapful of smiles and more during a free public autograph session at the famous Tacos Tombras A Tacos inside the Grand Central Market in downtown Los Angeles on Monday.
In an eagerly awaited matchup, Vazquez will meet arch-rival and two-division World Champion Rafael Marquez in the main event on “Once And Four All” this Saturday at STAPLES Center on SHOWTIME®. In a battle of unbeatens, Mares will challenge defending champion Yonnhy Perez for the IBF Bantamweight World Title in the semi-main..
Monday, Vazquez and Mares delighted fans by signing autographs, posing for pictures, taking orders and serving food.
Said Vazquez: “I love doing this kind of thing, being out in the public and meeting fans. I never get tired of it. Having people recognize me is a dream come true. They are very important to my life and my career. Making other people happy, seeing a smile on their faces and the look in their eyes makes me even happier.
“As for the fight, I am 100 percent physically and mentally prepared.”
Offered Mares: “It’s always exciting for me to be around people in the public in a great atmosphere like this. I feed off their energy and it gives me a lot of motivation. The fans mean everything to me and I will always be willing to give back to them.
“Fighting for a World Title is what it’s all about. Saturday is going to be a great night and a real treat for the fans. Our fight is truly a backyard brawl. I live in Norwalk, Yonnhy lives in Santa Fe Springs, and they are just a few miles apart. It doesn’t get better than this.”
Tickets, priced at $250, $125, $75, $50 and $25, are available at the STAPLES Center Box Office, online at Ticketmaster.com and via Ticketmaster charge-by-phone lines at (800) 745-3000.
The doubleheader, which is co-promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, Gary Shaw Productions, Espinoza Boxing Promotions and Zanfer Promotions and sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, will air live on SHOWTIME at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).
Doors open Saturday at 2:55 p.m. PT. The first live non-televised undercard bout begins at 3 p.m. PT.
Vazquez-Marquez Documentary, Their Three Fights To Air This Week On SHOWTIME
NEW YORK (May 17, 2010) – In anticipation of Israel Vazquez vs. Rafael Marquez IV: Once And Four All, SHOWTIME will re-air each of the duo’s three epic bouts in their entirety as well as an updated version of Vazquez-Marquez:The Trilogy all week leading up to the live event on Saturday, May 22.
It all begins on Monday, May 17 with Vazquez vs. Marquez I at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME2. See complete listing below.
Originally aired following their third fight, The Trilogy is a two-hour documentary that takes viewers inside this incredible rivalry; a rivalry rooted in Mexican pride, fueled by warrior-like determination and cultivated by mutual respect for one another – a true rarity in sport. The in-depth documentary breaks down each of the three fights—and replays the entire, epic third fight—with opinions and analysis from the fighters, their managers and trainers, reporters and industry experts.
Check out a one-minute clip from The Trilogy here
http://sports.sho.com/browse/video-portal.html?id=83695426001
Following this robust lineup of programming, Israel Vazquez (44-4, 33 KO’s) and Rafael Marquez (38-5, 34 KO’s) will face off in the fourth installment of what is one of the greatest boxing rivalries of all-time on Saturday, May 22, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, live on SHOWTIME® at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast).
Fight Week TV Schedule:
Monday, 5/17 @ 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHO2 – Vazquez vs. Marquez I
Monday, 5/17 @ 11 p.m. ET/PT on SHO2 – Vazquez-Marquez: The Trilogy
Wednesday, 5/19 @ 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHO2 – Vazquez vs. Marquez II
Friday, 5/21 @ 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHO2 – Vazquez vs. Marquez III
Saturday, 5/22 @ 4 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME – Vazquez-Marquez: The Trilogy
And of course:
Saturday, 5/22 LIVE @ 9 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME – Vazquez vs. Marquez IV: Once And Four All