After suffering a TKO defeat at the hands of Rafael Marquez in March, for not being able to continue past the 7th round due to a broken nose, it was a sweet victory for Israel Vazquez, who stopped Marquez in front of diehard fans at the Dodge Arena in Hidalgo, Texas last night. Vasquez also retained his Ring Magazine belt, which makes him the pound-for-pound champion at 122 lbs once again.

Vasquez, 42-4 (31), and Marquez, 37-4 (33), fought another high tempo, highly skilled fight, connecting flush with hard punches, and rocking each other with back-and-forth action. The third round was a war of attrition, with the two fighters separating from in-fighting and Marquez getting caught with a left upper-hook. Vasquez pressed for the knockout but Marquez came on with his own stuff and rocked his opponent with hard combinations off the ropes toward the end of the round.

In the 5th round the Mexican warriors threw long-range bombs at each other when Marquez missed with a right hand and Vasquez, his feet tangled with Marquez' went down. It was correctly ruled a slip by referee Guadalupe Garcia. In the 6th and final round, Marquez was dropped by a Vasquez left hook--a punch he had trouble avoiding all night, as well as in the first fight--and looked shook when he beat the count. This time Vasquez followed up with relentless pressure, and with Marquez against the ropes and looking vulnerable, Garcia stopped the fight in what was perhaps a premature stoppage. Vasquez vanquished his opponent in six, and the stage was set for the rubber match for what appears to be an epic trilofy in the making.

Vasquez' heart and determination came through in spades, and although Marquez is the technically better fighter, his chin is more suspect and he hasn't taken Vasquez' punches as well as the new champion has taken his. And Marquez can punch like a mule. The thrid fight should be a barn-burner, with the winner being anyone's guess. It should be announced for some time early in 2008, allowing for both fighters facial cuts to heal properly. couldn't quite make history. Still, at age 30, he has accomplished more than many older fighters can ever dream of. With titles at 122, 126, and 130, he is a shoe-in for Canastota.