At Thursday’s press conference, female MMA sensation Gina Carano and the fiery Charles “Krazy Horse” Bennett were on hand at the Key Club in West Hollywood. Promoter Gary Shaw invited the pair to the dais for photos.
Attached photo (from left): Krazy Horse Bennett, WBC Super Bantam Champ Israel Vazquez, IBF Flyweight Champ Vic Darchinyan, Carano and IBF Bantamweight Champ Rafael Marquez.
THE MEDIA HAS SPOKEN!
“The anticipation for this fight is so strong… it’s already being anointed as Fight of the Year.” ~ Daily News (New York)
“Even the most casual fan knows Vazquez is in for the fight of his life March 3 against Marquez. The same holds true for Marquez.” ~Newark Star Ledger
“We are going to get exactly what we have been asking for — to see Marquez move up to junior featherweight for a career-defining fight against champion Israel Vazquez.” ~ ESPN.com
“We appreciate Showtime’s commitment to buying important fights that figure to be competitive and exciting…Vazquez-Marquez fits that philosophy perfectly. Sounds like the formula that rival HBO has abandoned…” ~ ESPN.com
“The anticipation that will surround next Saturday’s super bantamweight title fight between champion Israel Vazquez and challenger Rafael Marquez at Home Depot Center in Carson should be tremendous.” ~ Daily News (Los Angeles)
” It’s one of the most anticipated ‘fight fan’s fights’ of 2007.” ~ MaxBoxing.com
“This is must see TV.…this is the fight I’m most excited about.” ~ The Sweet Science (.com)
“Showtime is seemingly more interested (than HBO) in putting on great fights.” ~ The Sweet Science (.com)
“While HBO may have the big names, in recent times it’s Showtime that has had the more entertaining and compelling bouts on a consistent basis.”
~ Maxboxing.com
“If you watch one fight all year, make it this one. It’s as can’t miss as Christmas.” ~ El Paso Times
“Showtime has consistently brought the fans evenly matched fights featuring top ranked contenders against each other…they are not tune ups to future events like HBO is putting on.“ ~ RingsideReport.com
Jim Cawkwell (The Boxing Blog): If you want to see war in a boxing ring, tape Miguel Cotto’s fight on HBO and tune in to Showtime for the headliner this weekend featuring Israel Vazquez fighting Rafael Marquez.