Israel Vazquez can finally laid to rest the ghosts of March 2007 after beating fellow Mexican Rafael Marquez for a second time.
WBC champion secures second victory over Mexican rival
Israel Vazquez can finally laid to rest the ghosts of March 2007 after beating fellow Mexican Rafael Marquez for a second time.
Vazquez was forced to quit on his stool before the start of the eighth round in his first meeting with Marquez 11 months ago when a broken nose left him with breathing difficulties.
Although he won the rematch in fine fashion in August with a sixth-round knock out, Vazquez can now rest easy having retained the lead in their personal feud with a split decision at the Home Depot Center, California.
Vazquez was awarded the fight by 114-111 and 113-112 in the eyes of two of the judges, while Tom Kaczmarek gave Marquez the fight by 114-111.
Vazquez finished strongly and a knock down with just 10 seconds left was enough to swing the decision in his favour - and see him retain his WBC super-bantamweight crown.
Pressure
And the 30-year-old admitted: "It was a hard fight but I did what was necessary to win.
"I knew I had to finish strong and I put a lot of pressure on him."
Marquez, though, was left to rue a couple decisions that went against him, with the 32-year-old disputing the knock down and the fact he was docked a point in the 10th for hitting below the belt.
Of the point deduction, Marquez claimed: "I hit him right on the belt line. It was a clean shot."
And describing the final round the native from Mexico City added: "I wasn't down. I don't know why he gave me the count. I was fine. I wasn't down."
