Israel Vázquez

Israel Vázquez
Statistics
Real name	Israel Vázquez Castañeda
Nickname(s)	Magnifico
Rated at	Super bantamweight
Height	5 ft 4.5 in (1.64 m)
Nationality	Mexican
Born	(1977-12-25) December 25, 1977 Mexico City, Mexico
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	49
Wins	44
Wins by KO	32
Losses	5
Draws	0
No contests	0

Israel Vázquez Castañeda (born December 25, 1977 in Mexico City, Mexico) is a Mexican professional boxer. He is a former Super Bantamweight (also known as Junior Featherweight) world champion, having held titles at this weight from 2004 to 2008. He is perhaps best known for his series of fights with fellow Mexican Rafael Márquez.

Career

In 1995, Vázquez made his professional debut in the bantamweight division. He stopped his first nine opponents before suffering a knock out loss himself. Fighting mainly in the US and at junior featherweight, he beat 11 opponents, most notably Óscar Larios (20-0), before losing a split decision to Marcos Licona.

Vázquez scored 12 consecutive victories and in 2002, he met Larios in a rematch. This time, he was outboxed and stopped in the 12th round.

Vázquez rebounded with a stoppage of ex-world title holder Jorge Eliecer Julio and won the vacant IBF Junior Featherweight title against southpaw Jose Luis Valbuena in 2004.

In the first defence of his IBF title he knocked out undefeated Armenian Artyom Simonyan in the 5th round. In 2005, Vázquez opted to fight WBC champion Óscar Larios for a third time with the WBC belt on the line instead of defending his IBF belt. He won the rubber match by technical knockout in the third round — after the fight was stopped due to a large cut over Larios's left eye, thus becoming The Ring's Junior Featherweight world champion.

On June 10, 2006, Vázquez defeated former champion Ivan Hernandez (23-1-1). Vázquez defeated the WBO Bantamweight champion Jhonny González on September 16, 2006 in a bout where Vázquez was knocked down twice before coming back to win the match by 10th round TKO.

Vázquez vs Márquez I, II,III, and IV

In his next bout, on March 3, 2007, Vázquez lost his title to the number one ranked Bantamweight Rafael Márquez. Although Vazquez scored a knockdown in the third round, he retired on his stool at the end of round seven because of breathing problems arising from a broken nose.

However, in a rematch bout on August 4, 2007, Vásquez regained his title. Vásquez, despite suffering cuts over both eyes, scored a knockout in the sixth round in a fight that was named Ring Magazine's fight of the year for 2007. The third round of this fight was also named Ring Magazine round of the year.

He fought Marquez for the third time on March 1, 2008, rising from a fourth round knockdown to prevail by split decision in another great fight. Márquez was deducted one point for low blows in round ten and received an eight count in the final seconds of round twelve. The fight was named 2008's Fight of the Year by The Ring Magazine and the fourth round was named Ring Magazine round of the year. The Vázquez vs Márquez trilogy has been widely heralded as one of the best boxing trilogies in recent years.^[1][2]

On December 18, 2008, Vázquez was stripped of his WBC Super Bantamweight Championship^[3] after not defending the title for a certain period of time due to a detached retina he had suffered during his third fight with Márquez. Japanese fighter Toshiaki Nishioka's WBC Interim title was promoted to actual championship status after his victory over Genaro Garcia. After undergoing three surgeries, Vázquez was medically cleared to resume training on May 15, 2009.^[4]

Vázquez fought Marquez for a fourth time on May 22, 2010. The bout took place in the Featherweight division and was held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, United States.^[5] The match was appropriately titled "Once and Four All" and carried live by Showtime. Marquez scored a third round TKO victory over Vázquez to even their series at two wins each.^[6][7] Afterwards, Marquez stated: "The fifth one could be a possibility if the fans vote for it. That is what I live for. Israel Vázquez is a great fighter." However, it was felt by some observers that the much faded Vázquez should retire. Frank Espinoza, Vázquez's longtime handler, stated that his "career is over".^[8]

Professional boxing record

44 Wins (32 knockouts, 12 decisions), 5 Losses (4 by knockout, 1 by decision), 0 Draws [9]
Res.	Opponent	Type	Rd	Date	Location	Notes
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	Rafael Marquez	KO	3 (12)	2010-05-22	Staples Center, Los Angeles, California, United States	vacant WBC Silver Super Bantamweight World Title match.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	Angel Antonio Priolo	KO	9 (10)	2009-10-10	Nokia Theater, Los Angeles, California, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	Rafael Marquez	SD	12 (12)	2008-03-01	Home Depot Center, Carson, California, United States	Retained WBC Super Bantamweight World Title. The Ring magazine's "Fight of the Year" (2008)
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	Rafael Marquez	TKO	6 (12)	2007-08-04	Dodge Arena, Hidalgo, Texas, United States	Won WBC Super Bantamweight World Title. The Ring magazine's "Fight of the Year" (2007)
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	Rafael Marquez	RTD	7 (12)	2007-03-03	Home Depot Center, Carson, California, United States	Lost WBC Super Bantamweight World Title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	Jhonny Gonzalez	TKO	10 (12)	2006-09-16	MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	Retained WBC Super Bantamweight World Title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	Ivan Hernández	RTD	9 (12)	2006-06-10	Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States	Retained WBC Super Bantamweight World Title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	Oscar Larios	TKO	3 (12)	2005-12-03	Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	Won WBC and vacant The Ring Super Bantamweight World Titles.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	Armando Guerrero	UD	12 (12)	2005-05-31	Ho Chunk Sports Center, Lynwood, Illinois, United States	Retained IBF Super Bantamweight Title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	Artyom Simonyan	TKO	5 (12)	2004-12-28	Sycuan Resort & Casino, El Cajon, California, United States	Retained IBF Super Bantamweight Title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	José Luis Valbuena	TKO	12 (12)	2004-03-25	Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States	Won vacant IBF Super Bantamweight World Title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	Trinidad Mendoza	TKO	7 (10)	2003-09-19	Centennial Garden Arena, Bakersfield, California, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	Jorge Eliecer Julio	TKO	10 (10)	2003-05-22	SBC Center, San Antonio, Texas, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	Justo Almazan	UD	8 (8)	2002-09-26	Holiday Inn, National City, California, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	Oscar Larios	TKO	12 (12)	2002-05-17	Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, California, United States	interim WBC Super Bantamweight World Title match.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	Osvaldo Guerrero	UD	10 (10)	2002-02-22	Quiet Cannon, Montebello, California, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	Felipe Ramirez	KO	5 (8)	2001-10-25	Marriott Hotel, Irvine, California, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	Ever Beleno	KO	2 (12)	2001-05-19	Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio, California, United States	Retained NABF Super Bantamweight World Title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	Don Don Concepcion	TKO	3 (12)	2001-01-07	Texas Station Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	Won vacant NABF Super Bantamweight Title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	Eddie Saenz	KO	2(10)	2000-10-27	Quiet Cannon, Montebello, California, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	Javier Varguez	KO	3 (10)	2000-08-17	Arrowhead Pond, Anaheim, California, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	Amador Vasquez	KO	2 (10)	2000-07-29	Caesars Tahoe, Lake Tahoe, Nevada, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	Eddie Saenz	KO	3 (12)	2000-05-06	Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio, California, United States	Won IBA Continental Super Bantamweight Title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	Héctor Velázquez	SD	10 (10)	2000-02-04	Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio, California, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	Edel Ruiz	UD	8 (8)	2000-01-07	Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, California, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	Adarryl Johnson	MD	6 (6)	1999-10-03	Home Depot Center, Carson, California, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	Nelson Ramon Medina	KO	7 (10)	1999-08-09	Arrowhead Pond, Anaheim, California, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	Marcos Licona	SD	12 (12)	1999-03-27	Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	vacant WBO NABO Super Bantamweight World Title match.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	Agustin Lorenzo	TKO	8 (10)	1998-11-30	Arrowhead Pond, Anaheim, California, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	Frank Lizarraga	UD	6 (6)	1998-10-22	Scottish Rite Center, San Diego, California, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	Juan Manuel Chavez	UD	10 (10)	1998-08-10	Arrowhead Pond, Anaheim, California, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	Oscar Javier Garcia	TKO	4 (?)	1998-06-08	Arrowhead Pond, Anaheim, California, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	Antonio Ramirez	UD	6 (6)	1998-03-15	El Cajon, California, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	Saul Briseno	TD	8 (?)	1998-02-21	Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	Enrique Angeles	TKO	9 (?)	1997-08-30	Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	Marcello Nava	TKO	4 (?)	1997-06-14	Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	Oscar Larios	KO	1 (10)	1997-04-12	Arena Coliseo, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	Erik Lopez	TKO	3 (?)	1997-03-29	Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	Abraham Barrientos	TKO	5 (?)	1996-11-30	Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	Ulises Flores	TKO	1 (10)	1996-10-05	Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	Saul Briseno	TKO	3 (?)	1996-09-07	Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	Enrique Martinez	TKO	1 (?)	1996-05-03	Salina Cruz, Oaxaca, Mexico
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	Joel Nolasco	KO	2 (?)	1996-04-19	Salina Cruz, Oaxaca, Mexico
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	Cecilio Marino Jimenez	KO	7 (?)	1996-03-08	Salina Cruz, Oaxaca, Mexico
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	Alejandro Pantaleon	KO	3 (?)	1996-02-16	Salina Cruz, Oaxaca, Mexico
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	Raul Gonzales	DQ	4 (?)	1995-09-06	Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico	Intentional Headbutt.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	Jesus Romero	TKO	1 (?)	1995-06-21	Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	Sergio Lopez	KO	(?)	1995-04-19	Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	Eduardo Rosas	TKO	1 (?)	1995-03-29	Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico	Professional boxing debut at Bantamweight division.

See also

• List of current world boxing champions
• List of WBC world champions
• Ring Magazine pound for pound

References

External links

• Israel Vázquez Fight-by-Fight Career Record
• Professional boxing record for Israel Vázquez from BoxRec