Los Angeles – A year and a half lay-off, the specter of three grueling fights against Rafael Marquez, a tough Colombian challenger, and a nasty cut over his left eye were not enough to keep Israel Vazquez from being victorious in his return to the ring Saturday night at the Nokia Theatre in Downtown, Los Angeles.
Fighting out of Huntington Park, California via Mexico City, Mexico, Vazquez has to work the head and body of Colombian Angel Priolo over nine hard rounds before sending his foe to the canvas three times and forcing the hand of referee Pat Russel to stop the fight.
Though landing the stronger, cleaner shots over the length of the contest, Vazquez has to weather the tenacity of Priolo who kept the punches coming. Questions were beginning to arise – did Vazquez carry his punch up from super bantamweight to featherweight? Had Vazquez left the best of his career in the ring with Rafael Marquez?
But in the end, Vazquez did what Vazquez does, wear down his opponent and score knockdowns with the fight winding down.
Vazquez improves to 44 wins and four losses with 32 wins by knockout and now looks to establish himself as a world class featherweight following his domination of the super bantamweight division.
