Marquez-Vasquez

                                                                     An Unlikely Mismatch?

          Or an early "Fight of the Year" candidate?

                                            By Alden Chodash

  The "Fight of the Year Candidate", in the eyes of respected broadcaster Al Bernstein and much of the public is a definite must-see if there ever was one.  Two men, both punchers, both champions, both somewhat vulnerable, will congregate tonight in one of the most hyped bout of 2007. On paper, differences between the two are scarce, with the obvious exception that Marquez is jumping up in weight after a dominant reign in the bantamweight division. However, looking into both fighter's recent victories, there is a vast difference that I think favors Marquez.

   Though this would be difficult to say a couple of years ago, Marquez is a complete fighter. And I think tonight he will be able to prove his progress to any of his doubters basically because of the reckless, predictable approach of Vasquez. Vasquez, who lacks a good jab and upper-body movement, will be taking punches with great frequency. The fact that Vasquez has been floored twice against Jhonny Gonzalez, also a former bantamweight champion, and stopped against Larios who is not a heavy handed fighter by any stretch, labels the super-bantamweight champion as a fighter with a suspect chin. Marquez has also been in a considerable amount of trouble against the dynamic Tim Austin and stumbled versus "Chapo" Vargas, also a fighter with, by no means, punching power.

    What will probably make a difference in this bout is that Marquez can and probably will get his punches in with more ease with the slower, yet heavier champion. Marquez, though not a runner, will be able to stay away from Vasquez's shots for the majority of the bout. If Vasquez can find a way to get inside the defenses of Marquez, this fight could live up to expectations. But if he can't, and I suspect he can't,  this fight will probably become an "unlikely mismatch".