Showtime Saturday Special presentation did its best to deliver the goods -
and while they got the names correct with Israel Vazquez vs. Rafael Marquez
in the main event - along with an expected action affair in the supporting
cast with Yonnhy Perez defending his IBF Bantamweight strap against
undefeated Abner Mares, the surprise was the table setters would steal the
show.
Curtain opens with Mares grabbing the opening stanza with
a slightly busier output than the harder hitting Perez - again in round two
it was the quicker handed Mares with the edge.
On my unofficial, Perez would go one better when picking
up the pace while claiming numbers 3-4-5 - Mares would then stem the tide
with a return to full court press and he would have himself a standoff at 57
- 57 at the halfway mark.
Perez cops stanzas seven and eight behind an accurate
left jab backed by straight right hands - at that point, on my card, the
defending champion was ahead by two points
Mares would show he was still alive and well, with a
strong rally late in number nine and then has himself a strong finish over
the “championship” rounds of 10-11-12.
On that note my unofficial closed Mares 115-113 in
points, and 7-5 using round by round method.
The official scoring followed: Mares 115-113; 114-114,
114-114 and a Perez successful majority decision win of his first title
defense.
Post Scripts: Yonnhy Perez (20-0-1,14 KOs) ~ age 31 - has
all the deliveries - strong jab, power in his left hooks and right hands to
body and head. Rest of the story for the transplanted Colombian is expected
return with Mares. Better yet, a unification with one of the other title
holders Montiel, Moreno, Hasagawa.
Abner Mares (20-0-1, 13 KOs) ~ age 24 - transplanted
Mexican tough kid - punches in bunches with combos and flurries - at first
looked rattled over the Perez early run at 3-4-5 - but finished the stronger
during the run to the wire. Circle the name.
……………………………….....................................................................................
Tough act to follow them battling bantamweights - but Marquez-Vazquez surely
had the credentials off them first triple adventures - Marquez entered as
2-1 betting favorite although Vazquez the slightly younger at 32 - 35 in
years.
Regardless, the big question would be two-fold A) the
fresher in body- B) would Vazquez be healed enough for the scar tissue over
both eyes to hold up?
Didn’t take all that long to sense the Marquez strategy
early on was to avoid trench warfare while using the better skills on the
outside.
Question B quickly answered during stanza two with
Marquez having big round that saw a right hand open a cut over Vazquez left
eye - then a stunning early finish during numero tres.
Vazquez cut over right eye courtesy of inadvertent
meeting of the minds - then is dropped by right hand - beats the count but
is quickly pounced on and bloody.
Referee Raul Caiz Jr. intervenes during the stanza as
Vasquez was looking to take a knee to clear the eyes of dripping blood. Time
of stoppage 1:33 round three.
Post Scripts: Rafael Marquez (39-5, 35 KOs) ~ age 35 -
Mexico City- the talk has already started with shout of return bout numero
cinco since both now stand at two apiece. Had it gone deep maybe, but first
question to be answered is whether the Vazquez inevitable eye-cut problems
will permit a return to active duty.
Israel Vazquez ( 44-5, 32 KOs) ~ age 32 - Cal-Mexico City
- the head butt is one thing - the severe bleeding from Marquez right hand a
whole different concern at this juncture. Toss in a now 49 kept appointments
while also facing possible plastic surgery over a fighter’s most vulnerable
target area is another.
Word is the Vazquez manager has been quoted saying this
was Vasquez last fight. Perhaps, but maybe not. Regardless, a lengthy hiatus
from ring action is a given for the future Hall of Famer.
In closing: Almost hard to believe the in ring post-fight
Jim Gray clueless interview with both Marquez and Vazquez - the guy's in
need of medical attention and Gray actually asking when he feels he’ll be
ready for a fight five tie-breaker. Gray should hold hands with his HBO
counterpart Maxie-Boy Kellerman and ride off into the sunset to destination
nowhere.
GEL -
