http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/players/israel_vazquez/76083 Recent articles about Israel Vazquez en-us From the moment that it was announced that Manny Pacquiao would tangle with Juan Manuel Marquez for a fourth time, a number of pundits in the boxing world (including some of my colleagues at Proboxing-fans.com) began groaning that the fight was a waste of time and money, a rehash of a rivalry that was old hat and could offer nothing new. Some of that complaining continued right up until fight night, and how wrong they were! Credit: Chris Farina - Top Rank I never thought this way, and honestly could not understand why anyone would. Quadrilogies are uncommon in boxing, but quadrilogies where both participants are still world class competitors in the same league and have unfinished business are an extreme rarity. Take the Rafael Marquez vs. Israel Vazquez quadrilogy, where Vazquez was a spent force by the time of the fourth installment. On that historical note alone, Marquez vs. Pacquiao IV promised to deliver. Also, "new" can be overrated. Even if Pacquiao vs.... Mon, 10 Dec 2012 09:42:42 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/who_said_pacquiao_marquez_4_wouldnt_deliver/12403486 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/who_said_pacquiao_marquez_4_wouldnt_deliver/12403486 Who said Pacquiao-Marquez 4 wouldn’t deliver? http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/who_said_pacquiao_marquez_4_wouldnt_deliver/12403486 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/8/6/863bb8a72fd00b246a2a9f5fa3266fa029ef6746/mini/manny.jpg When Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez inked those contracts and agreed to get it on again, they entered into a class only a select handful of world class boxers can claim membership in, namely owning a quadrilogy. Going at it four times has always been a rarity in boxing, usually because so few rivalries still have unsettled business after three fights, and so few see both fighters still at or near their primes so late in their careers. More often than not, one guy has put his stamp of authority on the other, or one guy has slipped too much to stay competitive with the other, invalidating the value of a fourth clash. Some boxing pundits are bemoaning Dinamita and Pacman having a fourth dance date, but it's my considered opinion those pundits need some sense smacked into them. Even if not every bout in a four-fight series is a good one, taken as a whole they have a special kind of drama to them. A quick look at boxing's best quadrilogies should reveal why. ... Mon, 24 Sep 2012 09:18:23 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/the_5_best_boxing_quadrilogies_in_history/11795122 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/the_5_best_boxing_quadrilogies_in_history/11795122 The 5 best boxing quadrilogies in history http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/the_5_best_boxing_quadrilogies_in_history/11795122 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Three compelling bouts in eight years haven't resolved the rivalry between Pacquiao and Marquez, so they're stepping in the ring together for a fourth bout on Dec. 8 at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas. And this time, they're both looking for the only decisive ending to any fight: a stone-cold KO. ''I want to erase the doubt of the last three fights,'' Pacquiao said. ''There's so many people still asking if I won the fights. I think to myself, `Something is wrong. I have to do it again.' This time, I will train hard to put this fight up in the history of boxing. I want to make this fight short. I want to knock him out.'' Although they're extending a rivalry to rare lengths in modern boxing, the fighters and promoters believe fans will warm to the matchup when they remember just how good the first three fights were. Pacquiao and Marquez fought to a draw in 2004, while Pacquiao won by split decision in 2008 and again by majority decision last year. Th Mon, 17 Sep 2012 23:23:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/pacquiao_marquez_4_to_settle_rivalry/11741572 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/pacquiao_marquez_4_to_settle_rivalry/11741572 Pacquiao-Marquez 4 to settle rivalry http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/pacquiao_marquez_4_to_settle_rivalry/11741572 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/d/b/db200a76d91d2dd40870d7293b17dc490817a0f9/mini/image-300x187.jpg How would the Filipino Flash perform against the best of the best at 118 & 122 lbs? Nonito Donaire is one of the best and most explosive boxers in the game today. At ProBoxing-Fans.com, we have him ranked as the number 5 pound for pound boxer in the world, and some may even have him pegged a few notches higher. Since losing the second fight of his professional career, Donaire has proven to be unstoppable, winning titles across four divisions. Currently, he's campaigning at super bantamweight, and for what it's worth, he already holds two of the four major straps in that class. In October, he'll have a chance to make it three of four, as he meets Toshiaki Nishioka. However, Donaire has only been at bantamweight or above for five fights thus far in his career. Would he be able to hold up against the top bantamweights and super bantamweights in boxing's history? In this piece, we'll do our best to provide the answer to that question, putting him up against five... Thu, 16 Aug 2012 16:24:53 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/nonito_donaire_vs_the_best_bantamweight_boxers_in_history/11475346 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/nonito_donaire_vs_the_best_bantamweight_boxers_in_history/11475346 Nonito Donaire vs. the best bantamweight boxers in history http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/nonito_donaire_vs_the_best_bantamweight_boxers_in_history/11475346 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png When I was a kid, the movie "Mandingo" scarred me. Today the flick is regarded as pure filth, in part because of scenes like the one above, where during a slave fight one slave kills the other by ripping his jugular out with his teeth. Recently, I stumbled upon a fact that I wasn't aware of: Ken Norton is in that movie, and in that scene, something I wouldn't have recognized at the time because I didn't follow boxing yet.That doesn't have anything to do with anything we're going to talk about in this edition of Round and Round, where we examine fights in the works. At least I hope it doesn't. I like boxing, and boxers; I don't like real-life jugular rips. The boxers in this edition include the men in the headline, as well as Antonio DeMarco, Randall Bailey, Cris Arreola, Erislady Lara and others. (Norton, by the way, had a little acting career I didn't know about at all, with scenes in "A-Team" and "Knight Rider&quot... Sat, 16 Jun 2012 13:14:12 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/round_and_round_featuring_whats_next_for_carl_froch_dmitry_pirog_mikey_garcia_and_others/11027654 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/round_and_round_featuring_whats_next_for_carl_froch_dmitry_pirog_mikey_garcia_and_others/11027654 Round And Round, Featuring What's Next For Carl Froch, Dmitry Pirog, Mikey Garcia And Others http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/round_and_round_featuring_whats_next_for_carl_froch_dmitry_pirog_mikey_garcia_and_others/11027654 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/3/e/3e4dd754f144fa37f84e377709935f6553c674c2/mini/GettyImage.ashx_url_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f91972369.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d77BFBA49EF878921CC759DF4EBAC47D010CCF825C3314F1CBD1C6768550D3F7DD1FBB29F9066F2FE.jpg ******* This Ring Magazine online... article suggests otherwise. However, likely the most spot-on idea in that piece is Joe Goossen's take on the failings of today's amateur boxing system, which slaps swollen pads onto guys' mitts and instructs referees to stop fights at the first sign of danger -- a system that tends to value good, quick-handed athletes rather than fighters. But consider that many of the fighters who seem to horde television dates fight with similarly defensive-minded styles, and they don't fight as often, or in front of crowds as big, as many of the known knockout dealers of the past. In general, the frequency issue means (or should mean) fewer fights against out-matched opponents more easily leveled, and the style issue is pertinent in the sense that spiffed up performances with more flash than bang are rewarded with television dates, and guys from other eras often weren't afforded the same luxury. And some of the big punchers of yesterday didn't have the high Thu, 19 Apr 2012 06:00:55 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/lullaby_league_the_12_hardest_swatters_of_the_last_dozen_years/10603003 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/lullaby_league_the_12_hardest_swatters_of_the_last_dozen_years/10603003 Lullaby League: The 12 Hardest Swatters Of The Last Dozen Years http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/lullaby_league_the_12_hardest_swatters_of_the_last_dozen_years/10603003 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png It's as though we can't get a solid chunk of good fights lately, and the up and down fluctuation plays hell with a fan's patience and emotions. A more consistent fight schedule would be nice. It's part of loving this game, though, and sometimes a hiatus from constant action makes the heart grow fonder. Indeed, there have been times when the the thirst for blood long since sated nudges us into viewing a bout in a more positive light than perhaps it really calls for. For instance, the one-sided (but solid) Hank Lundy vs. Dannie Williams bout from a few weeks back on Friday Night Fights wasn't bad at all. In fact, a few times the men traded and made for a very fun watch, and there was a knockdown. But it was a mostly one-sided fight, yet it still got a fair amount of attention, and still wound up making for good discussion. There will always be jubilant, adrenaline-driven peaks, and heavily depressing valleys. Just like there will always be clinching, as we&#3... Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:21:02 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/lullaby_league_the_12_hardest_swatters_of_the_last_dozen_years/10591399 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/lullaby_league_the_12_hardest_swatters_of_the_last_dozen_years/10591399 Lullaby League: The 12 Hardest Swatters Of The Last Dozen Years http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/lullaby_league_the_12_hardest_swatters_of_the_last_dozen_years/10591399 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png It was a grinding type of night on Friday Night Fights. That's not to say it was anything you'd keep on your DVR for any extended period of time, but then quality is but a piece in the unexceptional pie we've been fed by ESPN2 this season. It's one thing to settle into a boxing broadcast knowing that it's unlikely to be special, but something else to expect a little more from a card, only be lulled to sleep halfway through one of the copious Cialis or Just For Men commercials. Last night's action at the Convention Center in Pharr, Texas was a case of the former -- it was a middle-of-the road card that promised little in terms of gore or brutality, and it lived up to that promise in a watchable way. In the main event, junior middleweight Roberto Garcia gnashed his way to a 31-3 (21 KO) record with a unanimous decision win over Antwone Smith, now 21-4-1 (12 KO). Garcia somehow withstood Smith's banshee barrages over the course of the 10 round affair, es... Sat, 24 Mar 2012 11:46:32 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/roberto_garcia_takes_a_step_forward_and_so_does_friday_night_fights/10390165 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/roberto_garcia_takes_a_step_forward_and_so_does_friday_night_fights/10390165 Roberto Garcia Takes A Step Forward, And So Does Friday Night Fights http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/roberto_garcia_takes_a_step_forward_and_so_does_friday_night_fights/10390165 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png From Fighters to Celebrity Attendees, March 10th was a complete Night of Champions Saturday night was a night of elegance meets rough and tough at Doubletree Hotel in the city of Orange.  Guests in attendance of the Thompson Boxing Promotions "Night of Champions" had the chance to experience a complete night of entertainment with a guilt free conscious knowing that a portion of the proceeds would be donated to Today's Boxing Club and Recreation Center and to the Legends of Boxing Club. The evening began with guests mingling while sipping on cocktails accompanied by live mariachi music and moved on to a 5-star dinner and rounded off the night with a four-fight boxing card. Credit: Carlos Baeza / Thompson Boxing There was plenty of star power on hand, including;  Former featherweight champion Israel Vazquez, super middleweight contender Kelly Pavlik, featherweight Daniel Ponce De Leon, former world heavyweight title holder Lamon Brewster, unbeaten super ban... Thu, 15 Mar 2012 09:35:40 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/recapping_last_weekends_night_of_champions_card_in_california/10317760 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/recapping_last_weekends_night_of_champions_card_in_california/10317760 Recapping last weekend’s Night of Champions Card in California http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/recapping_last_weekends_night_of_champions_card_in_california/10317760 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Honors keep rolling in for Star Boxing's world ranked Junior Middleweight Delvin Rodriguez, the latest being yesterday's announcement by the Boxing Writers Association of America ("BWAA") that last July 17th Star Boxing-promoted event between Rodriguez and Pawel Wolak, aired live on ESPN Friday Night Fights, had been selected as the BWAA Fight of the Year.   Their action-packed fight at the historic Roseland Ballroom in Manhattan ended in a majority draw. Rodriguez won the rematch on December 3rd, 2012, by way of a dominating and impressive 10-round unanimous decision (100-90, 98-92 and 98-91) at the fabled Madison Square Garden.   In addition to the BWAA, Rodriguez-Wolak 1 was also selected as Fight of the Year by numerous publications and websites including Sports Illustrated and Delvin was named Connecticut Fighter of the Year by the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame.   The BWAA Fight of the Year Award is named after legendary heavyweights, Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. Rodriguez-Wolak I Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:00:00 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/delvin_rodriguez_pawel_wolek_i_boxing_writers_2011_fight_of_the_year/9708088 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/delvin_rodriguez_pawel_wolek_i_boxing_writers_2011_fight_of_the_year/9708088 DELVIN RODRIGUEZ-PAWEL WOLEK I BOXING WRITERS 2011 FIGHT OF THE YEAR http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/delvin_rodriguez_pawel_wolek_i_boxing_writers_2011_fight_of_the_year/9708088 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png In boxing just about everything is up for debate. We debate on things we can't actually prove nor ever put to the test. Opinions make up the sport of boxing just like clay does a sculpture. The sooner we accept this imperfection, the quicker it brings much better satisfaction in accepting the sport for what it is. My point is that perception makes up the sport. Everything in the sweet science, including why people watch it, is based off opinion and interpretation.    The meaning behind the rules and regulations are man made, the decisions are man influenced and human perception builds its foundation. Considering a fighter exciting can't be scientifically proven, but the human perception builds the so-called reality that those who love boxing think only a slug fest is exciting. Our minds are already programmed to think that way. Minds of boxing fans are built to be biased towards the accepted perception. I say as boxing fans, because others who do not like the sport have a bias perception that it&#39 Mon, 02 Jan 2012 16:00:00 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/the_best_versus_the_best_still_matters_in_boxing/9086239 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/the_best_versus_the_best_still_matters_in_boxing/9086239 The Best Versus The Best Still Matters In Boxing http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/the_best_versus_the_best_still_matters_in_boxing/9086239 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Despite having having more ups and downs in his professional boxing career than a ride at Six Flags, Fort Worth’s Jose “El Loco” Hernandez has always resonated with fight fans here in North Texas.  The humble young fighter fights with an indescribable tenacity in the ring that is as awe-inspiring as it is brutal.  Unfortunately, Hernandez’s career has been perplexing as he has often found himself the “B-side” in a number of fights against ballyhooed young prospects.  It’s not as if the likes of Michael Perez and Sharif Bogere were that much more talented than Hernandez, it was just that Hernandez often found himself taking these fights on short notice. However, it appears that “El Loco’s” days of toiling in the cut throat business of boxing may have gotten a lot easier as word broke today that Hernandez has just signed on with the Espinoza Boxing management group. “We are excited to sign Jose Hernandez,” stated Frank Espinoza via his Twitter account.  “He’s an exciting fighte Wed, 21 Dec 2011 20:05:56 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/jose_hernandez_signs_with_espinoza_boxing/8880400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/jose_hernandez_signs_with_espinoza_boxing/8880400 Jose Hernandez Signs with Espinoza Boxing http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/jose_hernandez_signs_with_espinoza_boxing/8880400 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Israel Vazquez will host a special ceremony to commemorate the grand opening of the Magnifico Boxing Gym in South Gate, Calif.  He will be joined by IBF Bantamweight World Champion Mares, former World Champion De Leon, former World Champion Rodriguez, Univision sports commentator Gutierrez and Vazquez's long-time manager and friend Espinoza who will cut the ceremonial ribbon to officially open the gym. Grand Opening Details: WHEN:           Saturday November 5 12:00pm PT WHERE:        Magnifico Boxing Gym 3419 Tweedy Blvd. South Gate, CA 90280 (323) 564-1070 The new gym will be open Monday to Friday from 8:00am to 9:00pm and on Saturday from 8:00am to 2:00pm.  Zumba Classes will also be available at 7:30am and 8:00pm daily.  The gym is dedicated to helping people of all ages improve their physical conditioning, muscle conditioning and discipline skills.  Call (323) 564-1070 for more information. Thu, 03 Nov 2011 21:33:45 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/israel_vazquez_opening_up_new_magnifico_gym/7856785 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/israel_vazquez_opening_up_new_magnifico_gym/7856785 Israel Vazquez Opening Up New Magnifico Gym http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/israel_vazquez_opening_up_new_magnifico_gym/7856785 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/f/f/ff274031d2c5766ba3179ad9456d4b424c3f36da/mini/GettyImageProxy.ashx_requestUrl_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f71902379.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d17A4AD9FDB9CF193DADD97B58D4678D0817D9FBA5086DAF0.jpg