Marquez stops Vazquez in thriller!
'King of Bantams' becomes 'King of Superbantams'; Darchinyan defends, beats Burgos

Ringside by Francisco Salazar
Photos by Chris Cozzone, FightWireImages.com

IBF bantamweight champion Rafael Marquez (37-3, 33 KOs) dethroned WBC super bantamweight champion Israel Vazquez (41-4, 31 KOs) by seventh round TKO on Saturday night at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.

Marquez got off to a good start in the first two rounds against the normally slow-starting Vazquez, but Vazquez dropped Marquez with a left hook in round three. After continued violent two-way action, Vazquez seemed to be hurt in round five. The war continued through round seven, after which Vazquez surprisingly retired on his stool. Later Vazquez explained he couldn't continue due to breathing problems from a broken nose. Marquez stated afterward that he will stay in the 122lb division.

. . . .

If you could not get enough of the seven-round war between Rafael Marquez and Israel Vasquez at the Home Depot Center in Carson on Saturday night's Showtime card, promoter Gary Shaw has good news for you:

“There will be a rematch,” proclaimed Shaw, who co-promoted the anticipated battle with Sycuan Ringside Promotions, Golden Boy Promotions, and Romanza Promotions. 

Marquez vs. Vasquez abruptly ended after the seventh round when Vasquez surprisingly quit because of a reported broken nose.

The bout featured violent two-way action and a knockdown by Vasquez over Marquez in the third round. However, Marquez won a majority of the rounds with a straight right hand that continually marked the face of Vasquez.

With the victory, Marquez (37-3, 33 KOs) claimed Vasquez’ (41-4, 31 KOs) WBC super bantamweight title.

Marquez, who campaigned for several years at the bantamweight limit and had been the IBF champion, announced after the fight that he will stay a super bantamweight.

“I want to stay at 122 pounds,” said Marquez, who has now won 16 bouts in a row dating back to 2000. “I am willing to fight anybody. I would like to fight the champions at 122 pounds.”

Asked if he would give Vasquez a rematch, Marquez replied that he would be more than willing to give him an opportunity to win back his title. “Vasquez is a great fighter,” said Marquez of Vasquez after the fight. “He deserves a rematch. That is why I want to stay at 122 pounds.”

According to Shaw, who promotes Marquez, the fight provided many fireworks that had the announced crowd of 5,155 on their feet at times. That is why a rematch between the two is inevitable.

“Now, that was a fight,” announced Shaw after the fight. “On Monday morning, we are going to start working on the rematch. We hope to have it in August and it will be on Showtime again.”

As for Vasquez, a rematch is something he would like against Marquez in the near future.

“I would love to have a rematch with him if he gives me one.”

Darchinyan defends belts, TKOs Burgos

IBF/IBO flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan (27-0, 21 KOs) scored a twelfth round TKO over former world champion Victor Burgos (39-14-3, 23 KOs) to retain his IBF title for the sixth time. Darchinyan relentlessly stalked Burgos, dropping him with a body shot in round two. The champion started to toy with Burgos, leading to some good exchanges in round three. Darchinyan continued to land big shots and bust up Burgso as the bout progressed. The fight was finally stopped at 1:27 of the twelfth. Burgos was taken from the ring on a stretcher to a local hospital. The bout was a brutal showcase for Darchinyan, who is campaigning for a deserved superfight against super flyweight Jorge Arce. We'll keep you posted on Burgos' condition.

. . . .

Prior to the Marquez-Vasquez war, IBF/ IBO Flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan scored a 12th round technical knockout over former world champion Victor Burgos.

After the fight, Burgos was carried out of the ring on a stretcher. Burgos was taken to Harbor UCLA Medical Center as a precaution.

Afterwards, Dr. Paul Wallace, one of the California State Commission physicians, announced Burgos’ medical state to reporters.

“He was going to the hospital one way or another. His vital signs were good when the paramedics checked him out. He wasn’t completely unconscious, but he was going in and out of consciousness. He is going to get a full evaluation brain scan.”

Wallace added, “He seems like he was pretty hurt throughout. He took a lot of heavy punches, so that is why we took him to the hospital as a precautionary measure.”

Shaw, who also promotes Darchinyan, announced that he will make super flyweight Jorge Arce an offer to take a fight against Darchinyan. The offer will be made should Arce defeats WBC Super Flyweight Cristian Mijares next month in San Antonio, Texas.

Darchinyan and Arce have had a war of words within the last 18 months about fighting each other.

A fight between flyweight Manuel Roman (9-0-2, 5 KOs) and Ernest Marquez (5-1-1, 3 KOs) ended in round one after an unintentional headbutt cut Marquez over the right eye.

Super lightweight Antonio De Marco (12-1-1, 10 KOs) dropped Raymundo Gonzalez (12-9-2, 8 KOs) twice in round two before the fight was stopped by referee Ray Corona.

Light heavyweight Carlos Ibarra (6-2-1-, 3 KOs) scored a fifth round TKO over previously unbeaten Akinyemi Laleye (6-1, 3 KOs). Time of the stoppage was 2:07.

Swing bouts

Super bantamweight Jose Beranza (30-9-2, 25 KOs) punished former WBO #1 rated Vernie Torres (27-9, 15 KOs), winning a near shutout by scores 60-53, 60-53, 59-54.

Middleweight Esau Herrera (15-3, 8 KOs) topped defeated Brazilian Olympian Cleiton Conceicao (10-3-2, 8 KOs) by scores of 78-73, 77-74, 80-71.

Bonus photos

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