Rafael Marquez will be forever linked in boxing lore with Israel Vazquez as a result of their four super bantamweight battles. Three of those matches were among the fiercest battles of the 21st century and the middle two bouts were chosen as Yahoo! Sports Fight of the Year in 2007 and 2008, respectively.
It?s his victories over Mark Johnson and Tim Austin that defined him as one of the elite fighters of his era, even if not many were paying attention.
Marquez, who will challenge unbeaten Juan Manuel Lopez on Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena for the World Boxing Organization featherweight title, has long fought in the shadow of his older brother, Juan Manuel Marquez. And given that Juan Manuel Marquez himself fought in the considerable shadows of Mexican superstars such as Julio Cesar Chavez Sr., Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera, it?s no wonder that Rafael Marquez hasn?t been properly recognized for his accomplishments.
