Just when it looked like they couldn’t top what they’d already done, Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez put on a performance that deserves recognition as one of the great fights of all-time. After two fights in which each fighter was stopped, they finally went the distance — but just barely — as Vazquez took a close split-decision. Scores were 114-111, 113-112, and 111-114 for Vazquez.

Not only is the fight the clear leader in the clubhouse for Fight of the Year, but round four is also the leader for Round of the Year. In the fourth round, Marquez dropped Vazquez, but as he moved in to try to finish him, Vazquez landed some huge blows, leading to an amazing three minutes of back-and-forth action. The entire fight was full of great rounds, but round four is the one that will emerge as the best round.

Marquez had appeared to be building up a solid lead on the scorecards, but was deducted a point for low blows in the tenth round. Vazquez went on to win the 11th round, and absolutely dominate the 12th round. Marquez was completely pummeled around the ring in the 12th before finally falling backwards into the corner just before the bell. The fight could have been stopped there, but the referee simply gave Marquez an eight count and then the final bell rang. The round likely would have been a 10-8 round for Vazquez anyway, so the knockdown without a KO didn’t make a whole lot of difference.

The point deduction, however, was the deciding factor in the fight. Without the point for the low blows, the fight would have been a draw, as the 113-112 card would have turned into 113-113. The point would not have made any difference on the other two cards.

While this fight may still fall the slightest bit shy of Castillo-Corrales I, but only by the slimmest margin, I think it takes over the ranking of greatest trilogy quite easily. Barrera-Morales and Gatti-Ward were all great trilogies, but they all lacked the all-out excitement from all three fights that Vazquez-Marquez had. To me, this trilogy now ranks as the greatest in boxing history.

Both fighters hinted after the fight that they’d be willing to do it again, so we may have a shot at the greatest quad-ology in boxing history if that happens. This is just one of those matchups of styles that can produce nothing but great action. If Vazquez and Marquez were to meet again, you can guarantee that they will both be ugly the next day and that boxing fans will have been treated to a masterpiece once again. I say leave it as it is, as the best trilogy we’ve ever seen that had an appropriate ending. But who am I to complain if we get to see it again.

Great fighters. Great fight. Great series. This is all the evidence you need the next time somebody tries to tell you that boxing is dead or dying. Boxing could not be more alive thanks to cats like Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez.

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