Former three-time super-bantamweight champion Israel “Magnifico” Vazquez has died at 46 after succumbing to cancer.
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman confirmed the tragic news on Tuesday via social media.
Vazquez (44-5, 32 KOs) held world titles at 122 pounds between 2004 and 2008. The Mexican hero was once rated among the top 5 best pound-for-pound fighters in the world during his heyday and is fondly remembered as one of the sport’s most exciting warriors.
In 2004, Vazquez won the vacant IBF title when he scored a 12th-round stoppage of Jose Luis Valbuena. He made three successful defenses before relinquishing the title and claiming the WBC version with a revenge win over the highly regarded Oscar Larios. Two more defenses followed before Vazquez had the chance to prove his greatness.
Inextricably linked to fellow Mexican star Rafael Marquez with whom he shared an epic trilogy of fights, Vazquez emerged 2-1 up over his friendly nemesis. Amazingly, all three bouts were contested back-to-back within one calendar year.
A fourth instalment in 2010 was an unwelcome addition to the rivalry that saw Marquez prevail on cuts (KO 3) in the final fight of Vazquez’s career.
As is often the case with former fighters, Vazquez’s post-boxing years were difficult.
The Mexico City native had his right eye removed in 2016 due to injuries he’d sustained in boxing but refused to demonize the sport.
Despite earning solid purses during the latter stages of his career, a GoFundMe page was set up when Vazquez received a shattering cancer diagnosis early last month.
Upon hearing the news, Mauricio Sulaiman encouraged the boxing community to rally together and donations reached almost $45,000.
Tragically, Vazquez’s diagnosis was terminal and he passed away just three weeks short of his 47th birthday.
