Boxing In Mexico: Vazquez Puts IBF Belt On Line Tonight In Tijuana

Making his first defense of the IBF title, Miguel Vazquez headlines tonight’s show at The Arena in Tijuana, facing seasoned vet Ricardo Dominguez over twelve scheduled rounds.

Just 23, Vazquez, 26-3 (12), has already tangled with former world champion Timothy Bradley at light welter and world class welter Saul Alvarez twice and those contests reflect the only losses on his record to date.

Vazquez dropped down to lightweight and hammered out a split decision over Breidis Prescott in July, 2009, setting up a clash for the vacant IBF crown this past August in which the Mexican native won a wide points verdict over South Korean puncher and ex-IBO super feather ruler Ji Hoon Kim.

Coming into Tijuana to challenge for Vazquez’s title tonight is 25 year old American based Mexican Dominguez, 32-6-2 (20), who is coming off a win over Adailton De Jesus after going the distance in a failed title bid to unseat WBC lightweight champion Humberto Soto in May.

Dominguez has also shared the ring, in losing efforts, with Zahir Raheem, Brandon Rios, Robert Frankel and Carlos Urias over the last three years but has never won a big fight and will have to reverse that trend if he is to life Vazquez’s title this evening.

Riding a five bout win streak, the champion definitely has the momentum going into this defense but Martinez can’t afford any major mistakes against such an experienced foe.

The undercard sees a good matchup at flyweight as WBA and WBO light fly kingpin Giovanni Segura, 25-1-1 (21), meets ex-WBO Interim minimumweight titlist Manuel Vargas, 28-6-1 (13), who narrowly missed knocking off Ramon Garcia Hirales for the WBO Interim light fly strap in September.