I watched as others the first Rafael Marquez-Israel Vazquez championship blistering barn-burner -  a classic coin flipper after seven rounds of accurate power punching combinations - still, it came as no surprise when Vazquez could no longer do battle because of what was confirmed as a busted beak.

Nobody watching in attendance disputed the corner retirement - both had proven their mettle round after round in what the scoring judges had Marquez leading on two of the cards 67-65 - and one having it all square at 66-66.

It was that kind of battle - but after an early start with Vazquez dropping Marquez in stanza three courtesy of a right hand-left hook combo delivered with mucho mustard, the tide returned to Marquez picking apart the tough defending champion piece by piece.

Now, some five months later on August 4, over Showtime Championship Boxing it’s a can’t miss money maker return - but, this one makes little sense once reviewing the March 3 candidate of fight of the year 2007 honors - that is, for those interested in the welfare of Vazquez.

No knock here on the promoters or the Cable network … theirs is to profit one way or the other off a can’t miss draw - and this one will fill the proverbial joint and lure TV viewers alike.

I see the onus on the Vazquez "brain trust" in quickly agreeing to the Marquez return - a tune-up to see how the injury holds up makes better sense - the Marquez jab is laser-like and is followed by swift combinations.

With money being the route of evil, and tune-ups would surely bring in smaller income, there is still other big fish shareholders that could have been negotiated before facing the numero uno of the lot - (WBA) Celestino Caballero; (IBF) Steve Molitor; (WBO) Daniel Ponce de Leon.
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Bits-n-pieces department:  July 27- FNF Telefutura - Super flyweights.
Personally, I’m rarely disappointed in the Boxeo offerings - normally club fighting at its best. But this Martin Castillo vs. Oscar Andrade looks like a bummer on paper. Castillo WBA #1 at 31-2, 17 facing Andrade with ugly rap sheet of 36-27, 18 KOs (obviously unranked) smells more lynching than contest.
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Say wot? Saturday July 28 tosses us a WBC Jr. Middleweight title bout with respective ages 36 Vernon Forrest in with Carlos Baldomir. This one worth missing - even with the ludicrous vacant WBC l/middle strap up for grabs.
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PPV or misprint? As Little Richard shouts it in that commercial, "Help me somebody" … Fernando Vargas vs. Ricardo Mayorga? … only friends and relatives need reply.
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Closer: David Tua - age 34 and semi-retired with sparkling resumé 47-3, 40 KO’s vs. Saul Montana @ age 36 bearing rap sheet 48-14, 42 KO’s - hmmm want more? Resumé discloses loss to Tye Fields via TKO 3.  End of story.

GEL - 

7-26-07