What more can be said in previewing this fight that wasn’t said leading up to either of the first two fights. Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez will meet on Saturday for the third and likely final time. No matter what the outcome of the rubber match, this is a trilogy that will be remembered for a long, long time.

When people talk about true Mexican warriors, these are the guys they’re talking about. Eric Morales was one, as was Marco Antonio Barrera, and they gave us three brilliant fights. Vazquez and Marquez, both born in Mexico City, have already given us two masterpieces and there is no reason to believe that they won’t do it again.

When I previewed the second fight between these two, I said:

“It’s simple- both can punch, Marquez is a better boxer, probably a better all-around fighter; Vasquez has better power. Neither one has great defense. That is an equation that cannot equal disappointment.”

I can’t summarize this fight any better now than I did then. This will be a great fight and there’s no way to avoid that. Both fighters can slug like sons-of-bitches, and neither one has much that I would call “defense.” Therefore, this fight should shape up very similarly to the first two, at least stylistically.

So all that we need to figure out is who is going to come out on top of this great fight. I though Vazquez was the better fighter going into the first fight, and I thought he showed it in the second fight. But you can’t discount Marquez’s ability to beat him up in the first fight.

The one thing I’ve noticed in the two prior fights between these two is that Marquez can hurt Vazquez with flurries and combinations. Vazquez can hurt Marquez with a single punch. That to me is the biggest difference between the two, and it is the single determining factor in me making a pick in this fight.

I expect Marquez to come out in this fight and be a bit on the careful side in the first round. I think he needs to be aware of Vazquez’s one punch power and try to avoid getting into a slugfest from the opening bell. But that’s like saying that Arturo Gatti is going to box Mickey Ward if they ever fought again. Once he gets hit, or lands a clean shot, nature will take it’s course and the brawl will be on.

I expect nothing short of a Fight of the Year candidate (Vazquez-Marquez II was 2007’s FOY), and think this fight will be amazing. Having said all that, I’m picking Vazquez to defend his title successfully, and once again to do it by knockout.

Prediction: Vazquez TKO 8.

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