# Israel Vázquez

Israel Vázquez Castañeda (December 25, 1977 – December 3, 2024) was a Mexican professional boxer who competed from 1995 to 2010. He was a three-time super bantamweight world champion, having held the IBF title from 2004 to 2005; and the WBC, The Ring titles twice from 2005 to 2008. Vázquez is best known for his series of four fights against fellow Mexican Rafael Márquez.

## Professional career

In 1995, Vázquez made his professional debut in the bantamweight division at the age of 17. He stopped his first nine opponents before suffering a knock out loss himself. Fighting mainly in the U.S. and at junior featherweight, he beat 11 opponents, most notably Óscar Larios (20-0), before losing a split decision to Marcos Licona.
Vázquez scored 12 consecutive victories, and in 2002, he met Larios in a rematch for the interim WBC Super Bantamweight Title . This time, he was outboxed and stopped in the 12th round.
Vázquez rebounded with a stoppage of ex-world title holder Jorge Eliecer Julio and won the vacant IBF Junior Featherweight title against southpaw Jose Luis Valbuena in 2004.
In the first defence of his IBF title he knocked out undefeated Armenian Artyom Simonyan in the 5th round. In 2005, Vázquez opted to fight WBC champion Óscar Larios for a third time with the WBC belt on the line instead of defending his IBF belt. He won the rubber match by technical knockout in the third round — after the fight was stopped due to a large cut over Larios's left eye, thus becoming The Ring and Lineal Junior Featherweight champion and ending Lario's streak of nine consecutive title fight victories.
On June 10, 2006, Vázquez defeated former champion Ivan Hernández (23-1-1). Vázquez defeated the WBO Bantamweight champion Jhonny González on September 16, 2006 in a bout where Vázquez was knocked down twice before coming back to win the match by 10th round TKO.

### Vázquez vs. Márquez

In his next bout, on March 3, 2007, Vázquez lost his title to the number one ranked Bantamweight Rafael Márquez. Although Vazquez scored a knockdown in the third round, he retired on his stool at the end of round seven because of breathing problems arising from a broken nose. In a rematch on August 4, 2007, Vásquez regained his title. Despite suffering cuts over both eyes, he scored a knockout against Márquez in the sixth round in a fight that was named Ring Magazine's fight of the year for 2007. The third round of this fight was also named Ring Magazine round of the year.
He fought Marquez for the third time on March 1, 2008, rising from a fourth round knockdown to prevail by split decision in another great fight. Márquez was docked one point for low blows in round ten and received an eight count in the final seconds of round twelve. The fight was named 2008's Fight of the Year by The Ring Magazine and the fourth round was named Ring Magazine round of the year. The Vázquez vs Márquez rivalry has been widely heralded as one of the best boxing rivalries in recent years.
On December 18, 2008, Vázquez was stripped of his WBC Super Bantamweight Championship after not defending the title for a certain period of time due to a detached retina he had suffered during his third fight with Márquez. Japanese fighter Toshiaki Nishioka's WBC Interim title was promoted to actual championship status after his victory over Genaro Garcia. After undergoing three surgeries, Vázquez was medically cleared to resume training on May 15, 2009.
Vázquez fought Marquez for a fourth time on May 22, 2010. The bout took place in the Featherweight division and was held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, United States. The match was appropriately titled "Once and Four All" and carried live by Showtime. Marquez scored a third round TKO victory over Vázquez to even their series at two wins each. Afterwards, Marquez stated: "The fifth one could be a possibility if the fans vote for it. That is what I live for. Israel Vázquez is a great fighter." However, it was felt by some observers that the much faded Vázquez should retire. Frank Espinoza, Vázquez's longtime handler, stated that his "career is over". The fourth installment of the Vázquez-Marquez rivalry was the last fight of Vázquez' career.

## Personal life and death

In October 2024 Vazquez was diagnosed with stage 4 sarcoma; he died from cancer in Los Angeles on December 3, 2024, at the age of 46.

## Professional boxing record

| 49 fights | 44 wins | 5 losses |
| By knockout | 32 | 4 |
| By decision | 11 | 1 |
| By disqualification | 1 | 0 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 49 | Loss | 44–5 | Rafael Márquez | KO | 3 (12), 1:33 | May 22, 2010 | Staples Center, Los Angeles, California, U.S. | For vacant WBC Silver featherweight title |
| 48 | Win | 44–4 | Angel Antonio Priolo | KO | 9 (10), 2:10 | Oct 10, 2009 | Nokia Theatre L.A. Live, Los Angeles, California, U.S. | |
| 47 | Win | 43–4 | Rafael Márquez | SD | 12 | Mar 1, 2008 | Home Depot Center, Carson, California, U.S. | Retained WBC and The Ring super bantamweight titles |
| 46 | Win | 42–4 | Rafael Márquez | TKO | 6 (12), 1:16 | Aug 4, 2007 | Dodge Arena, Hidalgo, Texas, U.S. | Won WBC and The Ring super bantamweight titles |
| 45 | Loss | 41–4 | Rafael Márquez | RTD | 7 (12), 3:00 | Mar 3, 2007 | Home Depot Center, Carson, California, U.S. | Lost WBC and The Ring super bantamweight titles |
| 44 | Win | 41–3 | Jhonny González | TKO | 10 (12), 2:09 | Sep 16, 2006 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | Retained WBC and The Ring super bantamweight titles |
| 43 | Win | 40–3 | Ivan Hernández | RTD | 4 (12), 3:00 | Jun 10, 2006 | Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | Retained WBC and The Ring super bantamweight titles |
| 42 | Win | 39–3 | Óscar Larios | TKO | 3 (12), 2:52 | Dec 3, 2005 | Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | Won WBC and vacant The Ring super bantamweight titles |
| 41 | Win | 38–3 | Armando Guerrero | UD | 12 | May 31, 2005 | Ho-Chunk Sports and Expo Center, Lynwood, Illinois, U.S. | Retained IBF super bantamweight title |
| 40 | Win | 37–3 | Artyom Simonyan | TKO | 5 (12), 0:59 | Dec 28, 2004 | Sycuan Casino, El Cajon, California, U.S. | Retained IBF super bantamweight title |
| 39 | Win | 36–3 | José Luis Valbuena | TKO | 12 (12), 0:34 | Mar 25, 2004 | Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S. | Won vacant IBF super bantamweight title |
| 38 | Win | 35–3 | Trinidad Mendoza | TKO | 7 (10), 2:45 | Sep 19, 2003 | Centennial Garden, Bakersfield, California, U.S. | |
| 37 | Win | 34–3 | Jorge Eliécer Julio | TKO | 10 (10), 1:15 | May 22, 2003 | SBC Center, San Antonio, Texas, U.S. | |
| 36 | Win | 33–3 | Justo Almazan | UD | 8 | Sep 26, 2002 | Holiday Inn Express, National City, California, U.S. | |
| 35 | Loss | 32–3 | Óscar Larios | TKO | 12 (12), 1:57 | May 17, 2002 | Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, California, U.S. | For vacant WBC interim super bantamweight title |
| 34 | Win | 32–2 | Osvaldo Guerrero | UD | 10 | Feb 22, 2002 | Quiet Cannon, Montebello, California, U.S. | |
| 33 | Win | 31–2 | Felipe Ramirez | KO | 5 (8), 0:48 | Oct 25, 2001 | Marriott Hotel, Irvine, California, U.S. | |
| 32 | Win | 30–2 | Ever Beleno | KO | 2 (12), 1:49 | May 19, 2001 | Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S. | Retained NABF super bantamweight title |
| 31 | Win | 29–2 | Don Don Concepcion | TKO | 3 (12), 1:31 | Jan 7, 2001 | Texas Station, North Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | Won vacant NABF super bantamweight title |
| 30 | Win | 28–2 | Eddy Saenz | KO | 2 (10), 2:12 | Oct 27, 2000 | Quiet Cannon, Montebello, California, U.S. | |
| 29 | Win | 27–2 | Javier Varguez | KO | 3 (10), 1:54 | Aug 17, 2000 | Arrowhead Pond, Anaheim, California, U.S. | |
| 28 | Win | 26–2 | Amador Vasquez | TKO | 2 (10), 1:54 | Jul 29, 2000 | Caesars Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 27 | Win | 25–2 | Eddy Saenz | KO | 3 (12) | May 6, 2000 | Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S. | Won IBA Continental super bantamweight title |
| 26 | Win | 24–2 | Héctor Velázquez | SD | 10 | Feb 4, 2000 | Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S. | |
| 25 | Win | 23–2 | Edel Ruiz | UD | 8 | Jan 7, 2000 | Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, California, U.S. | |
| 24 | Win | 22–2 | Adarryl Johnson | MD | 6 | Oct 3, 1999 | Lady Luck Rhythm & Blues, Lula, Mississippi, U.S. | |
| 23 | Win | 21–2 | Nelson Ramon Medina | KO | 7 (10), 1:26 | Aug 9, 1999 | Arrowhead Pond, Anaheim, California, U.S. | |
| 22 | Loss | 20–2 | Marcos Licona | SD | 12 | Mar 27, 1999 | Tropicana Las Vegas, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | For vacant WBO–NABO super bantamweight title |
| 21 | Win | 20–1 | Agustin Lorenzo | TKO | 8 (10) | Nov 30, 1998 | Arrowhead Pond, Anaheim, California, U.S. | |
| 20 | Win | 19–1 | Frank Lizarraga | UD | 6 | Oct 22, 1998 | Scottish Rite Center, San Diego, California, U.S. | |
| 19 | Win | 18–1 | Juan Manuel Chavez | UD | 10 | Aug 10, 1998 | Arrowhead Pond, Anaheim, California, U.S. | |
| 18 | Win | 17–1 | Oscar Javier Garcia | TKO | 4 | Jun 8, 1998 | Arrowhead Pond, Anaheim, California, U.S. | |
| 17 | Win | 16–1 | Antonio Ramirez | UD | 6 | Mar 15, 1998 | Sycuan Casino, El Cajon, California, U.S. | |
| 16 | Win | 15–1 | Saul Briseno | TD | 8 | Feb 21, 1998 | Mexico City, Mexico | |
| 15 | Win | 14–1 | Enrique Angeles | TKO | 9 | Aug 30, 1997 | Mexico City, Mexico | |
| 14 | Win | 13–1 | Marcello Nava | TKO | 4 | Jun 14, 1997 | Mexico City, Mexico | |
| 13 | Win | 12–1 | Óscar Larios | KO | 1 (10) | Apr 12, 1997 | Arena Coliseo, Mexico City, Mexico | |
| 12 | Win | 11–1 | Erik Lopez | TKO | 3 | Mar 29, 1997 | Mexico City, Mexico | |
| 11 | Win | 10–1 | Abraham Barrientos | TKO | 5 | Nov 30, 1996 | Mexico City, Mexico | |
| 10 | Loss | 9–1 | Ulises Flores | TKO | 1 | Oct 5, 1996 | Mexico City, Mexico | |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Saul Briseno | TKO | 3 | Sep 7, 1996 | Mexico City, Mexico | |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Enrique Martinez | TKO | 1 | May 3, 1996 | Salina Cruz, Oaxaca, Mexico | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Joel Nolasco | KO | 2 | Apr 19, 1996 | Salina Cruz, Oaxaca, Mexico | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Cecilio Marino Jimenez | KO | 7 | Mar 8, 1996 | Salina Cruz, Oaxaca, Mexico | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Alejandro Pantaleon | KO | 3 | Feb 16, 1996 | Salina Cruz, Oaxaca, Mexico | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Raul Gonzales | DQ | 4 | Sep 6, 1995 | Mexico City, Mexico | Gonzales disqualified for an intentional headbutt |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Jesus Romero | TKO | 1 | Jun 21, 1995 | Mexico City, Mexico | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Sergio Lopez | KO | 1 | Apr 19, 1995 | Mexico City, Mexico | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Eduardo Rosas | TKO | 1 (4) | Mar 29, 1995 | Mexico City, Mexico | Professional debut |