Max Boxing – News – The countdown for two champions: Israel Vazquez and Richie Sandoval in 2024

Boxing unfortunately had to say goodbye to many champions this year. Here are two emblematic figures of the modern era who deserve to be honored by a bell ringing.

Israel Vazquez — Vázquez was particularly known for his rivalry with Rafael Márquez. The two boxers faced each other four times between 2007 and 2010, splitting the victories with a 2-2 result. Three of the four fights can be considered classics. Vázquez Castaneda was born on December 25, 1977 in Mexico City. During his 15-year career, he accumulated a record of 44 wins, 5 losses, including 32 by knockout. In the ring, he was as formidable as he was friendly outside of it.

Vázquez turned professional in 1995 and recorded an impressive record of 22 wins and 2 losses during his first four years fighting in Mexico.

Over the next few years, he went on a ten-game winning streak before suffering a last-round loss to Oscar Larios for the WBC (interim) super bantamweight title in May 2002.

Vázquez scored three more victories before capturing his first world title in the spring of 2004, winning the IBF super bantamweight belt. He made two defenses of this title before adding the WBC super bantamweight title to his record in December 2005. After two defenses of this title, he lost to Rafael Marquez in the spring of 2007, thus kicking off their series of fights.

Between the summer of 2007 and his retirement in 2010, he had four more fights, including three against Marquez. Vázquez won two of those fights, but lost his last to Marquez, leveling their series at 2-2. A serious eye injury forced him to retire after his last fight in May 2010.

In his life after boxing, Vázquez worked as a commentator. Sadly, boxing lost this legendary Mexican fighter in December this year, at the age of 46, after a difficult battle with cancer.

Rest in peace, Israel.

Richie Sandoval — Born in Pomona, California, in October 1960, Richie was the brother of boxer Albert “Superfly” Sandoval. The boxing world was saddened to hear the news of the death of the former WBA bantamweight champion, announced by Bruce Trampler, promoter of Top Rank Boxing: “Boxing and the Top Rank family have lost one of us last night (July 21, 2024) with the passing of Richie Sandoval”.

Sandoval won the WBA bantamweight title in April 1984 and made two title defenses over the next few years. In his last fight, he suffered a near-fatal stoppage against Texan Gaby Canizales. Struggling with the weight cut, Sandoval fell several times and lost consciousness shortly after the fight. Brain surgery saved his life, but he never returned to the ring. Bob Arum, the boss of Top Rank, offered him a job for life after his retirement.

Sandoval turned professional in November 1980 with a perfect 22-0 record before meeting bantam champion “Joltin” Jeff Chandler in the spring of 1984. In a memorable victory, he defeated the long-time titleholder and performer. then his 10th defense.

Between the fall of 1984 and his last fight in the spring of 1986, he fought seven fights, making several title defenses before being defeated by Canizales in his final encounter.

Sandoval, an exceptional boxer with a relentless work rate, retired with a record of 29-1-0, including 17 knockouts. In July of this year, Sandoval, who was a longtime resident of Las Vegas, succumbed to a fatal heart attack while visiting his son in California.

Rest in peace, Richie.