Tampering with Greatness

By Sean McChesney

The rubber match between Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez, billed as “Final Confrontation,” came with such anticipation, it seemed nearly impossible to imagine a scenario in which the fight would fulfill the lofty expectations. When the final bell rang on Saturday night, the last bout between the Mexico City rivals was possibly the best in an all-time great trilogy. Vazquez, now 43-4 (32), would finish strong to win an exceptionally hard fought split-decision over Marquez, 37-5 (33), to remain Bantamweight Champion of the World. The contest is undoubtedly the early favorite to assume “Fight of the Year” accolades.

It is nearly impossible to fairly summarize the match. At one point Showtime Analyst, Al Bernstein lamented, “I almost don’t care how they score this fight, whatever it is, it is.” However indescribable the fight was, there is one word that should not be associated with it: Controversial.

In the tenth round a point was deducted from Rafael Marquez after he repeatedly tagged Israel Vazquez with shots deemed to be too low. The point deduction would ultimately cost Marquez a split decision draw as he would lose 113-112 on Dr. James Jin Kin’s scorecard. 113-112 would prove to be the deciding tally as the other two scores were split (one for each fighter) by a more significant degree.

Upset that he was deducted a point in the tenth round, it’s been rumored that Marquez and his promoter Gary Shaw are contemplating an official protest.

However, it’s difficult to identify a justifiable a reason for which the protest would be filed.

Whether you agree that the shots that were illegal or not, the glaring fact is that referee Pat Russell made it clear in the preceding rounds that he was not going to allow punches on the hip or the lower waistline. Marquez was warned for low blows throughout the fight - including twice in the tenth - before he was docked a point. It is a professional prize-fighter’s responsibility to identify how low a referee will allow shots to stray, and then subsequently adjust. Marquez did not, and consequently he paid a heavy price.

The referee called an excellent fight, and should be applauded for observing the rules of the sport.

This fight – and the entire series - contained world-class skill, and produced a level of drama-induced ebb and flow that define greatness. Hopefully Team Marquez will review the tape, accept the outcome, and appreciate the fact that an official protest will do nothing more than taint the legendary reputation that the trilogy – and the combatants - deserves.

In the inspirational words of Jeremy Grey, “Buddy, for your own good you gotta let this go.”

Scattering-Shots:
- It’s been surmised that after three physically grueling fights neither Vazquez nor Marquez would ever be the same. While that observation may be the true, you get the sense that after 25 almost evenly split rounds, it is Marquez who sustained the more profound punishment, and will likely realize the lasting effects more severely.

- By all logical estimations Israel Vazquez will be advised to take a long and much deserved break. After the first fight against Marquez, he underwent reconstructive surgery to repair his nose. Now may be the optimal opportunity to consider plastic surgery to shave down the cut-conducive bone structure around his eyes. Does anyone have Martin Castillo’s phone number? Apparently he knows a doctor.

- Featherweight titlist, Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero, 22-1-1 (15), looked impressive in destroying, a game but over-matched, Jason Litzau, 23-2 (19), on Friday night. Guerrero’s stock is certainly rising among hard-core fans, and although he may not be as talented as Jorge Linares, he may be a future target for Israel Vazquez, should he decide to move up to featherweight. A match-up with Vazquez would represent a career high payday for Guerrero and would thrust him into the spot-light. As Vazquez sits on the sideline, it would be beneficial for Guerrero and his handlers to make a concerted effort to increase his Q-rating, thus adding to the attractiveness of the proposed bout.

- It is disconcerting that – for their fight on Saturday night - Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez earned purses of a reported $750,000 and $425,000, respectively. That is a hefty payment, and more than 99% of U.S. citizens earn in an entire year, but relative to what the big men in the sport command, Vazquez and Marquez were drastically underpaid. It’s a shame the boxing abides by a pay-scale based on the relative size its athletes.

- With a significantly smaller budget, one of two major boxing networks faces an inherent disadvantage. Perhaps it’s time for that network to reassess its goal, and institute an adjusted mission statement in which the focus of their product is on the lighter weight-classes. As we witnessed Saturday night, quality is neither dependent upon, nor correlated to, the size of the fighters. Thomas Jefferson once said, “There is a natural aristocracy among men. The grounds of this are virtue and talents.” As a concept of business - more specifically return on investment - it’s crazy that a company would willingly pay a premium based on physical stature, especially when that investment will almost certainly provide less performance.