Mexican boxing legend ‘El Magnifico’ Vázquez passes away at age 46

MEXICO CITY — Israel Vázquez, the Mexican fighter who won three bantamweight world titles, has died at 46.

World Boxing Council president Mauricio Sulaiman announced the death on Tuesday.

The boxer nicknamed “El Magnifico” revealed on Nov. 10 he had sarcoma, a cancer.

Sulaiman expressed his condolences, stating, “Israel is finally resting in peace. May God provide his family with strength as we extend all the support to his wife Laura, his kids, family, and friends during this difficult time.” He also honored Vázquez by saying, “Thanks, champion, for leaving a special footprint. You will always be ‘El Magnifico.'”

Vázquez made his debut in 1995 and will be best remembered for his four fights against his compatriot Rafael Márquez from 2007 to 2010. The series ended in a split, with the duels in 2007 and 2008 earning fight of the year awards.

Following his victory in 2008, Vázquez encountered a detached retina, leading to the eventual loss of his right eye after retiring from the sport. He ceased fighting in May 2010 following the fourth match against Marquez, in which he was defeated by a knockout.

Vázquez won the vacant IBF super bantmanweight title in 2004 against Jose Luis Valbuena and successfully defended it twice. Then he took the WBC belt from titleholder Oscar Larios with a third-round stoppage in 2005.

He held the WBC belt until the first meeting with Márquez, against whom he retired in the seventh round after struggling to breathe through a broken nose. In a rematch five months later, Vázquez regained the title despite cuts over both eyes, by knocking out Márquez in the sixth round.

Vázquez won their third bout in early 2008 by a split decision after being knocked down himself. But the eye injury meant he didn’t fight for the rest of the year and was stripped of the WBC title.

After three surgeries, he was cleared to fight and fought Márquez a fourth time in Los Angeles and suffered a third-round knockout.

Vázquez finished with a record of 44-5, with 32 knockouts.