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As part of our complete coverage of Saturday’s Gary Shaw Productions/Showtime fight card, SaddoBoxing presents this round by round account of the Rafael Marquez – Silence Mabuza IBF/IBO Bantamweight title bout.
Round One: The first round of this highly anticipated bantamweight contest begins with the quick fisted Mabuza fending off Marquez’s early jabs. Mabuza isn’t throwing many punches in the very early going, opting to box defensively through the first half of the round. After a first minute consisting of nothing but Marquez jabs, Mabuza is nailed with a left hook to the body. Mabuza tries to counter the body blow with a straight right hand but throws over top of Marquez’s head and Marquez takes advantage by landing a right uppercut under Mabuza’s chin. With about forty seconds left in the round, Marquez lands a lead left hook that buckles Mabuza’s knees. Mabuza falls to the canvas but gets back up, and with about ten seconds left in the opening round, Marquez swarms Mabuza and lands a big straight right hand that sends Mabuza stumbling to the ropes, and as Marquez charges towards the South African challenger, Mabuza is saved by the bell. A big round for Marquez.
Round: Marquez 10-8
Round Two: Mabuza comes out looking exhausted. Marquez, right from the start, lands a lead left hook that sends Mabuza backwards. Mabuza looks tense, and is fighting right in front of Marquez, leaving the South African susceptible to the lead left hook. Marquez doesn’t swarm Mabuza though, and “African Spice” looks to have regained his legs. Mabuza is now trying to engage on the inside, and with about a minute left in the round, lands a straight right hand that sends Marquez stumbling. As the round closes, Marquez lands two more left hooks to the jaw of Mabuza. The round closes with Mabuza looking hurt again, walking to the corner with his arms dangling at the side and his head down. He has to get his act together, otherwise this fight won’t last much longer.
Round: Marquez 10-9
Fight: Marquez 20-17
Round Three: After two horrid rounds by Mabuza to start the fight, he comes out of his corner in the third fighting, as has been the case in the first two rounds, directly in front of Marquez. Marquez is trying to incorporate his jab into his fight plan now. Marquez’s jab has a lot of pop to it, and it’s snapping Mabuza’s head back every time he throws it. Mabuza looks to be following suit, countering almost every Marquez offering with a jab of his own. Mabuza is the only fighter trying to follow up on his jab, trying to connect with a straight right hand, but has been unsuccessful thus far. As the round closes, both fighters engage in a battle of hooks on the inside, with Marquez apparently getting the better of it. Mabuza has two cuts, one on his right cheekbone under his eye, and the other on his left eyelid. Despite the two cuts, that was Mabuza’s best round thus far, but still not enough to win the round.
Round: Marquez 10-9
Fight: Marquez 30-26
Round Four: The round starts with the referee immediately sending Mabuza to his corner and having the ringside doctor take a look at the IBO Champion’s cuts. The doctor allows the action to continue and the two boxers take the fight to the ropes and Silence gets the better of the exchange, landing two straight right hands to Marquez’s jaw. As the two fighters separate, the cut on Mabuza’s left eye looks very bad. The ref takes notice and sends Mabuza to his corner doctor for the second time in the round. The doctor takes a brief look at the cut, and the ringside doctor motions to stop the fight.
Rafael Marquez is awarded a fourth round technical knockout, retaining his IBF title and capturing Silence Mabuza’s IBO belt in the process.
