Showtime Boxing: Rafael Marquez – Israel Vasquez Face Off At Texas Press Conference

World Boxing Council (WBC) super bantamweight champion Rafael Marquez and former WBC and International Boxing Federation (IBF) 122-lb. champ Israel Vazquez were all business at Thursday’s press conference at the Wyndham Garden Hotel in Hidalgo, Texas when they formally announced the most highly anticipated rematch in years, Marquez-Vazquez II.

Click for larger image © Jc Diaz

“I’m looking forward to a very tough fight regardless of what happened the first time around,” said Marquez, who is co-promoted by Gary Shaw Productions and Romanza Productions. “He is still a champion in my mind so it’s going to be a rough one.”

In what figures to be another cinch “Fight of the Year” candidate on Saturday, Aug. 4 from the Dodge Arena, Vazquez (41-4, 31 KOs) looks to recapture the WBC 122-pound title from Rafael Marquez (37-3, 33 KOs ).

“I’m focused, determined and I will be the champion again,” said Vazquez, who is co-promoted by Sycuan Ringside Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions.

Tickets, priced at $25, $35, $50, $75, $100, $200, are on sale through all Ticketmaster outlets and on-line at ticketmaster.com. Tickets also may be purchased at the Dodge Arena box office Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Central) plus the day of the event, online at dodgearena.com or by phone at 956-668-7740.

Vazquez lost the crown on March 3, 2007, at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. in what turned out to be a total slugfest that lived up to its billing as a legitimate “Fight of the Year” candidate.

Marquez stopped Vazquez after the seventh round when Vazquez could no longer continue due to a broken nose suffered in the first round that made it close to impossible to breathe.

Both Marquez and Vazquez, who are fixtures on many experts’ pound-for-pound lists, hail from Mexico City and are legitimate, hard-punching fighters who make for crowd-pleasing, exhilarating scraps.

Most of the crowd that included media, civic and community leaders seemed to agree that the fight would not go the 12-round distance.

Ignacio Beristain, Marquez’s trainer and Rudy Perez, Vazquez’s trainer, both praised each others fighter, showing a mutual respect for one another other seldom found in the sport.

Both fighters appeared to be in fighting trim. A sell out crowd is anticipated and it is reported that more than half the ringside tickets have already been sold or reserved.

The card is presented by Gary Shaw Productions and Sycuan Ringside Promotions in association with Romanza Productions and Golden Boy Promotions.

In a second world title fight on the card, World Boxing Association (WBA) super bantamweight champion Celestino Caballero (26-2, 19 KOs) defends against Jorge Lacierva (32-6-6, 22 KOs ).

Caballero, co-promoted by Sycuan Ringside Promotions and Seminole Warriors Boxing Promotions, is a rising star in the 122-pound division. He has registered several impressive victories; among his victims are Somsak Sithchatchawal of Thailand and WBO champion Daniel Ponce De Leon.

Lacierva is promoted by Gary Shaw Productions.