by Richard McManus

High drama at the sport’s highest level is the only way to describe Israel Vazquez’s 10th round stoppage over Jhonny Gonzalez Saturday night in their 122-pound title showdown.

In stark contrast to the bookend championship fights of the night, which were dramatic for different reasons, the Vazquez-Gonzalez clash highlighted everything that is great about the sport of boxing.  The fight had boxing, punching, defense, ebb and flow and a dramatic ending. 

Going into the fight, many experts and fans cited Vazquez’ superior world-class experience and raw punching power as the two key factors that would surely give him enough of an edge to win against Gonzalez, who being the younger fighter, was also moving up one division to challenge the best man at 122.

But for four rounds Gonzalez looked poised and positioned to shock the boxing world.  On the big stage, we were witnessing a young man fighting the fight of his life against one of the best fighters in the world. 

He appeared to be fighting a flawless fight, boxing well and jabbing Vazquez into near submission when at the end of the 4th round he dropped Vazquez with a smart punch.  The knockdown and the frustration that partially led to it came as a direct result of Gonzalez’ educated and effective boxing. 

Unfortunately, that knockdown is part of what spelled the beginning of the end for Gonzalez.  With Vazquez stunned, he intelligently and immediately jumped on him, determined to find out just what his foe had left.  As it turns out, Vazquez had a lot left and that tactical decision by Gonzalez gave Vazquez, the bigger puncher, a prime opportunity to feel Gonzalez chin for one of the first times in the fight.  Vazquez saw a small opening and one of the most important traits possessed by all great champions, his confidence began to reemerge.   

To his credit, Gonzalez settled down.  Determined not to be drawn into the war that Vazquez and the attending audience craved, he continued to box and move well, using his jab with precise effectiveness all the while continuing to frustrate Vazquez with equal parts movement, jabbing and punching power.  He as able to maintain the torrid, near perfect pace for the next few rounds and even had Vazquez on the canvas again in the 6th in a similar situation. 

But Vazquez continued to stalk his opponent, believing in his power all along, knowing it was his most direct route to victory.  Throughout much of the fight, Vazquez did some decent but nearly unnoticed work inside, busting up Gonzalez and bloodying him.  As he did so, he was setting himself up for a come from behind win.     

In the 7th round things began to rapidly unravel for the Gonzalez.  A patient but aggressive Vazquez knocked him down with a vicious punch and what was beginning to become gradually obvious suddenly presented itself as stark reality for Gonzalez, who was one moment on the cusp of small-man greatness and the next, abruptly fighting for his survival. 

He needed to stay on his feet and he’d win.  That much was clear.  He had won most rounds and with a minute left in the 10th just needed to survive seven minutes without letting Vazquez fully unleash his arsenal, an arsenal that was subtly breaking him down. 

Like a great champion, Vazquez continued to press.  He never gave up.  He continued to land with power.  He caught Gonzalez square.  Gonzalez nearly crumbled in a heap before gathering himself and waiting out the eight count from Referee Kenny Bayless.  Gonzalez was dazed, bloodied and battered, and across the ring, waiting in a neutral corner was Israel Vazquez, one of the strongest punchers in the lower weight divisions.  Like all great finishers in the sport, there is no doubt Vazquez knew what to do next.     

Gonzalez’ trainer Oscar Suarez smartly waved the towel as Vazquez himself alerted Bayless of the situation.  The fight was over.  The result was as shocking and as unpredictable as the first nine and a half rounds had been. 

Now, Gonzalez appeared able to continue.  Maybe.  But fights like this are where boxers like Gonzalez get seriously hurt.  The fight was brutal and despite the scorecards (85-83, 85-83 and 86-82 at the time the towel was waved) Vazquez was winning.  It didn’t appear that it was going to take much longer for him to completely dispatch Gonzalez.

Gonzalez is a young fighter who, on Saturday night, made his first venture into the dangerous waters known as the 122-pound division.  He’ll learn from the experience and once his pride and body heal, he’ll be back. 

For Vazquez’s part he proved once again that he is one of the most dangerous fighters in the game and should, off of this effort, if he wasn’t already, be considered a Top 5 Pound-for-Pound fighter.