Weekend Thoughts: Marquez vs Vazquez, Augustus, Kim

By Lee Groves

As I sat in the easy chair of the Home Office and watched this past weekend’s action many thoughts caromed through my cranium. Not all of them are fit to print – how can that be true of anyone – but here’s a small sample of those that may be:

* After Rafael Marquez’s blood-soaked three-round TKO of Israel Vazquez, it’s clear that four is enough.

The three fights that preceded Saturday’s match are the greatest set of its kind in boxing history. Unlike Zale-Graziano, Ali-Frazier and Gatti-Ward, there were no clunkers in terms of two-way drama. Even the most bloodthirsty felt squeamish over the prospect of a fourth fight because the 25 rounds Marquez and Vazquez logged was so thoroughly satisfying. In a way that is the highest tribute of all.

Once Act Four was signed, however, everyone concerned geared up for another serving of fistic mayhem. What they got instead was a bloodletting so graphic that it should put to rest all thoughts of a fifth fight.

Make no mistake, “El Magnifico’s” mind and spirit were willing to put forth the ultimate effort but his body – specifically the scar tissue around his left eye – is no longer up to the task.

It took less than six minutes for the razor-sharp Marquez to open a gargantuan gash over the orb and from that point forward Vazquez was a severely handicapped fighter. The blinding blood and Marquez’s vengeance-fueled attack combined to create the tetralogy’s most definitive finish.

The ease with which Marquez opened the cut, coupled with the fact that the same tissue cracked against hand-picked opponent Angel Priolo in Vazquez’s comeback fight last October, is enough reason to believe a fifth fight wouldn’t produce a different result. Even at age 35, Marquez remains a technical wizard who shines against hyper-aggressors like Vazquez. His dominance Saturday night was such that the tiebreaker would only be a numerical exercise.

The cut Vazquez suffered ranks as among the worst I’ve seen in my 36 years as a boxing fan. Not only was it long, wide and deep, it also was located directly over the eyeball. As ghastly as was Vitali Klitschko’s left eye in his June 2003 defeat to Lennox Lewis, this cut was so appalling that it deserves its own series of slasher flicks. Then again, Vazquez may have experienced just that.

Plastic surgery – and a defensively responsible style – allowed the tissue around Klitschko’s eye to fully heal but Vazquez’s lack of height and high-risk approach would likely nullify whatever medical benefits surgery will reap.

Michael Carbajal, Humberto “Chiquita” Gonzalez, Enrique Sanchez and Vito Antuofermo were so bedeviled by cuts late in their careers that they had little choice but to retire. For his sake and for those who care about him, let’s hope Vazquez comes to the same conclusion.

Besides, it’s fitting that this series ends tied at two apiece. Marquez-Vazquez – or Vazquez-Marquez – was a series of the people, by the people and for the people because they personified the best aspects of boxing. They combined heart and determination with skill and talent in a way few pairings ever had and that legacy may be enough to vault them into the International Boxing Hall of Fame someday much like the Gatti-Ward trilogy will likely lift “Thunder” to the halls of Canastota.

The visceral images their wars produced were that strong and hopefully what we saw Saturday will be the last of them.

* Emanuel Augustus should think long and hard about continuing as well.

When I heard that “The Drunken Master” was leading off the Friday Night Fights telecast against the unbeaten Ruslan Provodnikov, I felt an instinctive surge of excitement. And I’m sure I wasn’t alone, for Augustus had been voted “Most Memorable Fighter” of the decade by ESPN viewers for his quirky but action-packed approach.

He often is referred to as the best “bad record” fighter in the world and such was the case again when his 38-31-6 (20 KO) ledger flashed on the screen. When an athlete with Augustus’ record stands across the ring from a 14-0 (9 KO) prospect, the usual reaction is resignation but for Augustus the feelings were more respectful and anticipatory. That’s because he had made a career of going into hostile territory and springing stylistic surprises.

His array of jukes, jokes and jives flummoxed more than a few of his ring rivals, and his most memorable performance took place April 2, 2004 when Augustus scored a 10-round decision over the 23-1 Alex Trujillo.

While he lathered his opponent in leather, Augustus also found the time to break into the “string puppet dance,” and “the chicken walk.” At one point he lifted his leg like a flamingo and deked an overhand right that made Trujillo flinch. He laughed in his opponent’s face while holding both arms behind his back and kicking his legs from side to side. Somehow he still managed to avoid getting hit. Augustus’ unique blend of fistic funk and ring voodoo allowed him to prevail by scores of 117-110, 118-109 and 119-108.

Those were the memories that sparked my positive reaction to his name, but this portion of the evening ended up being a sad one. Taking the fight on four days’ notice, the 35-year-old entered the ring dry as a bone and fought the same way. Provodnikov’s powerhouse pressure proved too much for Augustus to handle as he suffered knockdowns in the fifth and eighth before referee Rafael Ramos intervened.

For Augustus, it was the second consecutive ninth round stoppage loss to an undefeated prospect (he lost to the 13-0 Wale Omotoso in Melbourne in his last outing in August 2009). Before this stretch, his last knockout loss also occurred in round nine – to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2000. Back then, Augustus gave Mayweather what “Money” still calls his roughest evening as a pro but now, a decade later, the magic simply wasn’t there.

I had the pleasure of meeting Augustus at last year’s Florida Boxing Hall of Fame festivities. Dressed in a sharply tailored suit, he was personable and appreciative of the support he received from fans and media alike. But as is the case with Vazquez, Augustus may well have reached a point of diminishing returns.

We as fans love those boxers who give everything they have inside the ring, especially those who are keenly aware of how their performances affect those who watch them. Vazquez and Augustus have created strong emotional connections with their fans and it is in that vein that we discuss their futures in the sport.

Fighters being fighters, they see it as outsiders trying to push them out the door and keeping them from making a living. For those of us on the other side it is an expression of concern for their well being. Boxing history is rife with tales of post-career tragedy and none of us want to see another one come down the pipe.

Happy endings in sports – especially boxing – are exceedingly rare but here’s hoping that after a period of contemplation with their loved ones and business associates that Augustus and Vazquez leave the sport with bank accounts and faculties intact.

* Ji Hoon Kim’s first round knockout of Ameth Diaz opened the airwaves for the latest Undercard Treasure.

My book “Tales From the Vault: A Celebration of 100 Boxing Closet Classics” includes a chapter on undercard fights so great that they stole the spotlight from the main event players. If I ever publish a second volume, the junior lightweight war between Ramsey Luna and Rene Luna this past Friday will definitely be included.

They may not be related, but they certainly fought like rage-fueled siblings. The difference was that the younger Ramsey (18) came out on top against the older Rene (20).

Then again, there might have been a grudge as Ramsey had already defeated Rene in an amateur fight last October.

Ramsey’s savage right to the jaw decked Rene less than a minute into the fight but as Ramsey gunned for the finish Rene produced his own robust response. Ramsey’s sharpness and better (if still somewhat sloppy) technique was the difference in a fantastic action round that saw the fighters unleash a combined 229 punches as Ramsey connected on 47 of 118 while Rene went 26 of 101. Ramsey’s 40 percent connect rate was extraordinary given the number of punches he threw and it was a tribute to Rene’s toughness that he not only took them but dished out plenty of his own.

The non-stop action continued throughout the rest of the contest, which saw Ramsey win a well-judged 40-35, 39-36 (twice) decision.

Let the record state, however, that the judges’ numbers were only part of the story. The other portion was amplified by the CompuBox numbers that saw Ramsey average 99 punches per round to Rene’s 91, out-land his rival 160-102 overall and 129-96 in power shots and each man attempt a combined 594 power punches.

No one knows how each man’s career will evolve, but they couldn’t have asked for a more stirring pro debut. For one night – at least – they overcame their lowly place on the totem pole. And thanks to Ji Hoon Kim for clearing the airwaves so that this war could be seen by the masses.

E-mail Lee Groves at

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