Following three epic battles, three-time World Champion Israel Vazquez and two-division World Champion Rafael Marquez will face off in the fourth installment of what is perhaps the greatest boxing trilogy of all-time on Saturday, May 22, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles. In the co-feature, Yonnhy Perez will defend his International Boxing Federation (IBF) Bantamweight World Title against unbeaten top contender Abner Mares.
Oscar de la Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions and Vazquez’s Co-Promoter said, “May 22 is more than a fight, it is for pride, honor and respect of the boxing world and we are excited to be able to deliver the fourth fight following one of the best trilogies in boxing history. This type of fight reminds us of the great events from the 70’s at the Olympic Auditorium and the Forum, featuring two great Mexican warriors who leave it all in the ring. In addition, we are going to have one of our top young contenders in Abner Mares competing for a world title on the same night. This is a classic night of boxing that you will not want to miss and that you will never forget.”
In their first meeting on March 3, 2007, Marquez broke Vazquez’s nose in the first round, but the fight carried on and the two continued to exchange accurate and powerful shots. Vazquez could barely breathe through his broken nose and after seven hard fought and electrifying rounds, Vazquez asked trainer Freddie Roach to stop the fight, losing his WBC Super Bantamweight World Title in the process.
In their second fight on Aug. 4, 2007, Vazquez stopped Marquez in a rematch to regain the WBC Super Bantamweight World Title at 1:16 of the sixth round in an old-style, classic, bloody slugfest. The bout was touted as Fight of the Year and contained Round of the Year as awarded by boxing’s leading experts. The two Mexican fighters squared off for the third time on March 1, 2008 in an epic 12-round, all-action battle that might have been the most compelling of them all. Vazquez eked out a thrilling, split-decision victory by just one point, scoring a fight-winning knockdown in the waning seconds of the twelfth round, successfully defending the WBC and Ring Magazine Super Bantamweight World Titles in an instant classic.