I looked at his record last week, and saw he'd knocked out just about everyone he'd met, including some some pretty decent fighters. Obviously a very good fighter....
But he was meeting Beibis Mendoza, for the WBA light fly title - the Colombian who'd had an incredible FOUR life and death fights with the brilliant Rosendon Alvarez.
Mendoza would have far too much experience, I thought.
So what happens? The young underdog walked through 10 rounds of hell, both eyes virtualy closed, to knock out Mendoza in the 10th round.
Just looked at his record, and he sounds like a murderous pucher. One fella was out for 20 minutes after being knocked out, while another got rushed to hospital with severe concussion!
Great post, MW. Too often these days fighters are labelled as punchers when 'all' they really have over their opponents is better accuracy and/or heavier hands. This guy looks what I'd call 'a puncher.' Mendoza took Alvarez to the wire three times, and actually beat him the first, which shows his class. Those were his only defeats. He also won in Japan with a 120 - 108 scorecard... granted, it was from Canada's Jutras. But what that really shows is that he was a class boxer - add to that the hunger that he was fighting with (to stay out of poverty), and that is someone who is going to be ultra hard to put down for the 10 count. Something likely only a puncher would be able to do...
Apparently Roberto Duran, Eusebio Pedroza, Ismael Laguna and Ernesto Marcel were at ringside for this one. It was a big fight over there. The thing that caught my attention about it, though, was Vasquez's hair - I thought it was cool. 8)
Manos de Oro wrote:Great post, MW. Too often these days fighters are labelled as punchers when 'all' they really have over their opponents is better accuracy and/or heavier hands. This guy looks what I'd call 'a puncher.' Mendoza took Alvarez to the wire three times, and actually beat him the first, which shows his class. Those were his only defeats. He also won in Japan with a 120 - 108 scorecard... granted, it was from Canada's Jutras. But what that really shows is that he was a class boxer - add to that the hunger that he was fighting with (to stay out of poverty), and that is someone who is going to be ultra hard to put down for the 10 count. Something likely only a puncher would be able to do...
Apparently Roberto Duran, Eusebio Pedroza, Ismael Laguna and Ernesto Marcel were at ringside for this one. It was a big fight over there. The thing that caught my attention about it, though, was Vasquez's hair - I thought it was cool. 8)
He's got a late 80's early 90's Big Daddy Kane look there.
What a fight!! First thing I was surprised with was Vasquez's boxing ability - good southpaw jab with the bobbing and weaving made for a nice nip and tuck style early, while Mendoza looked like he had to find his legs a bit in the first couple of rounds - he got rocked at the start for being too stationary (could see first glimpse of Vasquez's power here), but later on, in the middle rounds and so, he showed his world class boxing and moving ability: not moving straight back and moving just enough to roll the punches coming his way. He also fought Vasquez from the first exchange of the fight on (could see how pumped up he was in his ring entrance).
There were virtually no clinches in the fight. I can remember one from about round five or six, can't remember any others - all a mixture of boxing and, later, slugging. One thing I found strange was that Vasquez seemed to slow a bit in round 3 (I think it was). He threw lots of fast combinations and hard, hard shots; both guys took a tremendous beating.
Round 7 the fight showed the first signs of entering the 'hell on earth' category (think Kid Akeem - Roberto Quiroga; Arnold Taylor - Romeo Anaya) with both guys just bouncing bombs off each others chin. Vasquez looked to be getting the better of the punches, but ironically, he looked probably just as much out of it as Mendoza.
In Round 9 just after halfway through the camera cut to a close up of the fighters and I kid you not, Vasquez's eyes were closed. What was then impressive was how he managed to stand in the corner and duck/slip a closing barrage from Mendoza during the last 30 seconds of the round. Great instincts.
Round 10, the final round, both guys are showing the toll with Vasquez looking blind and dazed, then, in the true mark of a puncher (think Shavers - Tiger Williams; Gomez - Pintor; Jackson - Graham) a huge right hook sent Mendoza skidding the length of the ring on his arse. The look on his face, eyes down, pensive expression, gave the hint that he knew this one was over - but he got up anyway, like a Champion, and took a few vicious, horrific, body punches near the ropes, before collapsing to his knees as he moved to the center ring. I didn't see a finishing punch land - I think it might have been a combination of that big right hook and the body shots. Need to be careful here, because it's usually a sign a fighter is seriously hurt when they go down like this - seen the exact same thing before.
Anyway, once he takes the 10 count the place fornicating erupts!! The Telemundo camera shakes such is the groundswell!! About two tons of beer, water, and fornicate knows what else creates a strange picture where it looks like ring has been lodged right in the middle of the fountains of Babylon - such is the joy. I even think I saw Roberto Duran hand over the picture of Vasquez's deceased dad for him to kiss after the ring was mobbed.
Definitely one to look out for if you like your boxing clean and action packed...
8) 
