Appreciation thread...Israel Vasquez

[donnydarkoIRL]

Israel Vasquez has been a favourite of mine for a long time. Described by Freddie Roach as the greatest Champion he has ever been in th gym with, Vasquez epitomises everything positive in relation to the world of boxing.
A relentless trainer, a hellacious body puncher and a heart that pumps testosterone and adrenaline rather than mere blood, Izzy is perhaps the most exciting man in the lower weights today.
This in addition to his demeanour outdide of the ring, I believe Israel should be regarded as perhaps one of thee most likeabl;e guys in the sport.

However, he has toiled in obscurity for years. Showtime covered his second and the third fight was picked up by HBO.
Thrillers like the Jhony Gonzalez fight were covered from then on by HBO, but apart from the Rafael Marquez trilogy Izzy has rarely been awarded with his own bill ora large payday.

Having waged war with marquez on three occassions and come out the stronger twice and having bettered Larios in their trilogy, Israel is emerging as the No.1 Superbantam since the two Mexican superheroes who startee their trilogy at the weight. Israel's acreer will not go on for many more years, a high octane machine with his style will only travel for so many miles.
So I encourage everybody to appreciate theis great fighter while he is here.

[Rican]

I think every true boxing fan appreciates Vazquez. You have to as a boxing fan because he brings to the ring those exact qualities mentioned above, those that true boxing fans love to see in a fighter. In terms of Vazquez fighting in obscurity, that is true, but boxing continues to be a sport catered to the "average" fan as opposed to hardcore fans. This is why Oscar de la Hoya keeps making millions (because the average fan recognizes the name and has some vague belief that Oscar is still at the level he was back in the day). In my opinion, the 122 pound division is the second best in boxing behind the welterweight division. It is even better now that my man Juan Manuel Lopez has emerged into the public consciousness as a gifted fighter and a force to reckon with. HBO/Showtime I am sure recognize this and I expect them to put these fights together as the lead in to the main events of their future cards.

[HattonTheHammer]

very good fighter that has a solid chin and throws hard for a super bantamweight.

I was always more of a marquez fan during the trilogy though appreciated vazquez`s power more than anything and the way he came back at marq in the 3rd fight and almost stopped him right at the very end.

[donnydarkoIRL]

One thing that worries me about my guy Izzy is the wars he has hadand damage he has taken in fights such as Rafa I/II/III, Larios II/III and Gonzalez.

These fights will shade years off his illustrious career and I do not want to see himlose to the likes of Molitor because he fights him after a battle.

[Canvasback]

At the moment he is my favorite fighter.

[donnydarkoIRL]

Yeah, he's been a favourite of mine for a long time now, but even I have forgotten him in P4P lists and have failed to credit him because of the little actual publicity he gets.

He desrves to be one of the sports most highly accoladed athletes.

[Macho]

Well , now Israel Vazquez affirmed that will return training again in August , for fight in November , probably with Jorge Travieso Arce or Oscar Larios , but all depend with negotiation of Frank Espinoza , Golden Boy Promotion and Sycuan....................