Israel Vazquez, a three-time junior featherweight champion who became one of the most respected all-action fighters in modern Mexican history, has died of cancer at the age of 46.
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman revealed the news on social media on Tuesday. Vazquez, a resident of Mexico City, publicly announced her battle with cancer in November. The WBC immediately set up a GoFundMe account for Vazquez’s family, which has so far raised more than $44,000.
Vazquez retired in 2010 with a record of 44-5 (32 KOs) and is best known for his four-fight rivalry with Hall-of-Famer Rafael Marquez, which saw their second and third fights, earning “The Ring” magazine 2007 and Fight of the Year honors in 2008.
Although Vazquez has appeared on the ballot in recent years, he has yet to receive enough votes for enshrinement into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York.
“Thank you Israel for the many great memories you have given us through your actions inside the ring but most importantly outside of it,” Suliaman wrote on social media. “You are now eternal, rest in peace, everything will be alright.”
Vazquez, who made his professional debut in 1995 at the age of 17, would go on to have an incredible 15-year pro career that saw him forever linked to Marquez, culminating in two victories for both fighters.
Marquez badly broke Vazquez’s nose in their first meeting in 2007 to capture the WBC and ring lineal titles at 122 pounds via seventh-round TKO (despite Vazquez scoring a knockdown in round 3). But it was their second and third meetings over the next year, which Vazquez won by sixth-round TKO and split decision (after recovering from a knockdown), that elevated their rivalry to all-time great status on a par with contemporary feuds like Marco’s. Antonio Barrera-Eric Morales and Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez.
The two rivals had a fourth, and largely unnecessary, fight at featherweight in 2010, where Marquez scored a third-round knockout. The bout was the 49th of Vazquez’s career and the last due to eye problems caused by a detached retina he suffered in the third Marquez fight.
Vazquez’s former trainer, Hall-of-Famer Freddie Roach, shared a statement Boxing scene on Tuesday About his warrior influence.
“Forever a world champion and legend in boxing,” Roach wrote. “I’ve had the privilege of working with one of the greatest boxers — a world champion. Israel, my friend, may you rest in peace. My condolences to the Vazquez family and all who call Israel their friend.”
Vazquez was engaged in a thrilling trilogy with compatriot Oscar Laurios for more than eight years, ending with a stoppage in all three fights. Vazquez won their first meeting by first-round KO in 1997, dropped their 2002 rematch by 12th-round TKO and rallied to finish Larios in Round 3 of their 2005 trilogy to win the WBC and Ring junior featherweight titles.
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