Are Rafa Marquez's legs gone??

[compukiller]

That was a great fight last weekend, and I had predicted Izzy would stop him. I am a fan of both fighters, but something in the now classic Round 3 got me a bit worried.

When Rafa was in trouble in rd 3, he seemed to be hurt badly. He fought evenly for the rd, but it looked as if his legs were totally done after that. Even the announcers noticed it, and his performance began to slip after that as he never could get his balance.

It sort of reminded me about Morales' legs during the 2nd Pac fight. He was beating Pac solidly, and then his legs went.

Now, of course Pac's refined body punching had alot to do with that, but I had never seen Erik like that. Just like when Rafa's legs went, I was kinda shocked.

Now Izzy is a huge puncher, and I always thought he would stop Marquez based on that power. But I wonder if all the rough fights Rafa has been in, his age, and taking a few too many Vazquez punches have started that inevitable decline.

If I am over doing it, let me know. But I do think it is a legitmate question. :deal

I guess we will certainly find out in the third fight.

Vazquez by TKO to take the trilogy. :good

[o_money]

That was a great fight last weekend, and I had predicted Izzy would stop him. I am a fan of both fighters, but something in the now classic Round 3 got me a bit worried.

When Rafa was in trouble in rd 3, he seemed to be hurt badly. He fought evenly for the rd, but it looked as if his legs were totally done after that. Even the announcers noticed it, and his performance began to slip after that as he never could get his balance.

It sort of reminded me about Morales' legs during the 2nd Pac fight. He was beating Pac solidly, and then his legs went.

Now, of course Pac's refined body punching had alot to do with that, but I had never seen Erik like that. Just like when Rafa's legs went, I was kinda shocked.

Now Izzy is a huge puncher, and I always thought he would stop Marquez based on that power. But I wonder if all the rough fights Rafa has been in, his age, and taking a few too many Vazquez punches have started that inevitable decline.

If I am over doing it, let me know. But I do think it is a legitmate question. :deal

I guess we will certainly find out in the third fight.

Vazquez by TKO to take the trilogy. :good

yeah I think he was taking the bigger shots right from the star andI think that affected him pretty bad.


Not sure he can win the rub match know.

[psychopath]

Are Rafa Marquez's legs gone??

In that fight yes, definitely, but for the future fights . . . we'll have to wait and see.

Rafa has been tagged repeatedly on that fight since round 2 and it's not suprising that the punches took it's toll on him. It seems that Vasquez can carry Rafa's punches better than the otherway around.

[compukiller]

You bring up good points compukiller, and even the stoppage seems to be instigated by the fact that the ref saw Rafa wobble back on unsteady legs right before he stepped in. It could just be that Vazquez's punch was just too hard for him to take this time out and he never really recovered but there won't be any premanent damage done to him.. and another thing I'll say is that even though some thought the stoppage was too early, the ref might have actually done Marquez a favor and saved him from a more brutal KO later on that might have done some serious permanent damage to him which he then would never be able to recover from.

But I'm never too quick on saying that a guy may be past it or irreparably damaged until I see more evidence of it in later fights. So for now I'll reserve my judgment on the subject till I see some of Rafa's future performances. Good thing though is that it looks as if Marquez is going to have plenty of time to recuperate from the beating because they're saying the 3rd installment won't happen till next spring, that's very good news for Marquez supporters.

I don't want to start screaming "shot" either, but I don't think he will win The rubber match. That has mostly to do with Izzy's power, but I still did not like rafa's legs at all.

The stoppage was perfect. :good

[maciek4]

I watched the fight last night and from what I read here the stoppage was controversial and the fight was close but after watching the fight there was absolutly no way Marquez was surviving, he was totally spent. Vazquez despite injuries to both eyes looked much fresher.

[achillesthegreat]

Once he got hurt, IV kept catching him with shots that never really allowed him to get his legs under him.

[Grinder]

Vasquez is a bigger guy and it was proven how important a few pounds are at the lower weight classes. It appears that Marquez will have to box more to beat Vasquez because his power may be a little too much to trade.