No surprise the Showtime Saturday March 1 Rafael Marquez-Israel Vazquez tie-breaking barn burner matched its earlier scorchers - but making this one different, unlike the first two meetings that resulted in respective stoppages, this one somehow would go full throttle to the final fight ending bell. 

Marquez controlled the early stanzas with better accuracy - drops Vazquez in numero four when following a flurry with effective jab-right hand combination - still, Israel battles back late in the round, stunning the challenger with the celebrated left hook. 

The halfway mark has Vazquez cut badly over the right eye - the Marquez sharp shooting was clearly taking a toll - but Vazquez was readying a serious backside that would turn the tide in his favor. 

Admittedly, for the scoring judges at the ring apron, and other unofficial doodlers, this one would close on a scorer nightmare - enter referee Pat Russell in need of attention as he debits Marquez a point for “low” blow in stanza ten, and another in final round for knockdown that never happened. 

Official scoring went Vazquez 114-111, 113-112, Marquez 114-111. My unofficial had it Marquez 114-111. Eradicate even round ten (9-9) and the 10-8 stanza twelve and we have a whole different ball game.

Post Scripts: Vazquez (43-4, 31 KOs) ~ age 30 - good news still plenty left in the tank - big puncher with matching heart and no quit attitude. Bad news the now three brutal wars with Marquez has taken a toll - the enormous needed facial patchwork translates to mega-albatross if continuing any future defenses. 

                     Marquez (37-5, 33 KOs) ~ age 33 - good news is top shelf skills coupled with clout from both sides. Hint of bad news is “championship” rounds fade - had this one been yesterday 15-round title fights he likely would have been cooked. But other than Vazquez, Rafael gets my dime in hypothetical challenges with shareholders Caballero, Molitor, Ponce de Leon. 

Closing comments - Referee Pat Russell ~ typical California hack in charge. Incompetence no longer limited to the rookies - the carefully groomed white hair plumage marks this clown as “senior” as it gets. So why the serious shortage of instinctive needs to officiate without screwing up the assignment? Think answer is in one word, “politics!”

Argument: Title fight between seasoned veterans entering with collective 87 kept appointments - toss in last two priors with both ending in mutual winning stoppages. This one, regardless of the numbers, most rounds a coin flip - any qualified referee in charge of the action would, or should, have a feel for the big picture. Never should have impacted the outcome - as recruits, the classroom instructions emphatically advise common sense the key to good judgment. Maybe haircut Patrick skipped that class, but likely contribution to the then party in power was a qualifier.

Showtime commentators:

• A) Jim Gray - pre-fite dressing room interview with Vazquez the usual ludicrous, silly questions - then the post fite in ring exchanges with Vazquez begin with asking the winner if he thought he won. Did the fool expect a, 'No, I clearly lost, they robbed the guy.' Gimme a break. Similar nonsense with losing Marquez if he thought he had won. Then asking respective fighters if the round ten knockdown was a knockdown since the corner ring ropes helped Marquez remain upright. Then a closing mutual to both if they were willing to meet in a fight four rematch. ¿Por que, I ask?
   

• B) Karyn Bryant - pre-fight quickie with Rafael Marquez and with assorted non-boxing celebrities. Refreshing change from Jimmy the jerk - not for anything fite connected but for the looks. Gal is neat package.
   

• C) Steve Albert-Al Bernstein: Al the puppet master and Steve the puppet. Company man Albert follows Al’s lead then responds in kind. Bernstein commends referee Russell with tremendous job working a tough assignment - Albert concurs. They zero in on repeated cautions over Marquez low blows - thus, the belt line questionable is good call. Say wot? ESPN2 is calling!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
   

GEL -