IBF featherweight champ Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero (25-1-1, 15 KO’s) stopped challenger Jason Litzau in the 8′th round in Leemore California. Litzau (23-2, 19 KO’s) fought hard but was simply outclassed. Guerrero knocked down Litzau once in the eighth. The gutsy challenger rose off the canvas only to be sent down again by a punishing combination that saw him counted out at 2:25 of the round.

It will be interesting to see who Guerrero faces next? Orlando Salido (29-9-2, 19 KO’s) is the top rated IBF contender. Salido beat Guerrero by decision in late 2006. However, Salido tested positive for the steroid nandrolone after the fight. Salido had a follow-up blood test the day after at LabCorp, a nationally recognised blood lab, and the findings were negative of any steroids.

Rematch? Well first Salido must take out tough 22 year old Austrailan Billy “The Kid” Dib (17-0, 9 KO’s) on March 9′th at the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, Cabazon, California. Stay tuned!

Israel Vazquez (43-4, 31, KO’s) outlasted and outpointed Rafael Marquez (37-5, 33 KO’s) to retain his WBC 122-pound championship on Saturday night. In the process the two arguably added themselves to greatest trilogy in boxing’s rich history.

The star studded crowd in the Los Angeles suburbs of Carson as well as the viewing audience on Showtime witnessed a fight that was unforgettable in its drama, skill and intensity.

I really thought Vazquez was hurt and might be going out of the fight when he was dropped to the canvas in the fourth round. However, in the end he was hammering Marquez all over the ring. There was a high level of skill, with Vazquez the aggressor, constantly pressing forward. Marquez returned with very hard jabs, hooks and right hands himself.

Watching the back-and-forth fury, I marvelled at the level of conditioning, the pride and the heart of these great fighters. Each took punishment and delivered it, with first one, then the other, getting on top.

At the finish, I felt Vazquez had won narrow decision. I was not surprised or disturbed when it was announced to be a split decision. New Jersey’s Tom Kaczmarek had Marquez up 114-111, surprisingly giving just four rounds to Vazquez. The California judges got it right, Max De Luca scoring the fight 114-111 and Dr. James Jen Kin 113-112 in Vazquez’s favor.

There was controversy, of course, when Marquez had a point deducted for a not-terribly-low left hook in the 10th round. But I felt it was coming since Marquez had been warned three times in the contest. I must be mention though that without the point deduction, the fight would have been scored a draw.

The fight was fast, furious and fascinating. It seemed to me that each was keeping the other guessing and on full alert throughout. The fight was literally a masterpiece! Both combtants went bell to bell, second to second without a let up.

It was Israel Vazquez who closed out the fight with the big finish. The last round must have been absolute hell for Marquez, his left eye closing from below. But he held on to the surprise of many (and certainly me). What we got was a full-distance fight to close out this amazing trilogy.

If there is a part 4 I would like to see each man to first take on have an easier assignment. After three fights, several knockdowns, cuts, bruises, blood and guts, I think Vazquez and Marquez deserve a break from each other after giving boxing fans a memory of a lifetime!

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