SHOWTIME will replay last Saturday’s instant classic slugfest—the WBC Super Bantamweight World Championship rematch between Rafael Marquez and Israel Vazquez—on Wednesday, Aug. 8, at 11 p.m. ET/PT.  The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast also will re-air on network multiplex channels at the following times:

Monday, Aug. 6 (Tonight!)       8 p.m. ET/PT            SHO Extreme
Tuesday, Aug. 7         9 p.m. ET/PT            SHO Too

        And anytime at SHOWTIME On Demand beginning Tuesday Aug. 7 through September 3. 

The anticipated rematch far exceeded the already high expectations set after the pair’s first all-action scrap last March on SHOWTIME, in which Marquez rallied from an early knockdown to dethrone Vazquez at the end of round seven.

       

        Dubbed “Round Eight,” Saturday’s rematch featured tremendous give-and-take from the offensive minded fighters, a touch of controversy and talk of a rubber match.  In a classic and bloody battle, Vazquez stopped Marquez at 1:16 of the sixth round at the Dodge Arena in Hidalgo, Texas, to regain the WBC 122-pound belt that he lost to his rival earlier this year.

In the third round, which is the leading contender for “Round of the Year,” Vazquez (42-4, 32 KOs) landed vicious left hooks to the body and head of Marquez (37-4, 33 KOs), swelling and cutting his right eye. Marquez fired back with an arsenal of powerful shots to open cuts near both of his opponents’ eyes.

Powerful exchanges continued until early in the sixth, when Vazquez, with blood flowing steadily from a deep gash over his left eye, landed a devastating combination right hand, left hook that sent Marquez to the canvas.  A weary Marquez rose, shook off the sting and immediately engaged Vazquez.  With the fighters trading punches along the ropes, referee Guadalupe Garcia stepped in to stop the fight, some say, prematurely.