"The pros are you know the other guy's weakness and you know how to exploit them. The cons are that the other guy knows your weakness and can exploit them (laughing). It's much more difficult than facing a new opponent...in this fight, I'm going to switch it up a little more. I want to box more in this fight. It's important to give Marquez a new look. I want to show him something that he was not preparing for," stated former super bantamweight champion Israel Vazquez as he talked about his highly-anticipated fourth clash with Rafael Marquez this Saturday, May 22, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California and televised live on Showtime. Check it out!
PC: How Are you doing Israel?
IV: I'm doing well, thank you!
PC: We are only a couple of days away from your 4th fight against Rafael Marquez. How has your preparation been?
IV: My preparation has been good. Justin Fortune has helped me work on my conditioning and Rudy Perez has been working on the gameplan. The hard work is all done. Now it's just about controlling my weight 'till Friday.
PC: This is truly a throwback fight. It's very few guys that have fought each other 4 times or more, of course LaMotta and Ray Robinson come to mind. What are the pros and cons of fighting a guy numerous times?
IV: The pros are you know the other guy's weakness and you know how to exploit them. The cons are that the other guy knows your weakness and can exploit them (laughing). It's much more difficult than facing a new opponent.
PC: When you are so familiar with a guy and they are so familiar with your tendencies, like I'm sure you and Marquez are with each other, how important is it to switch things up? Or being that you won 2 of the previous 3, do you even feel the need to switch things up?
IV: Yes, in this fight, I'm going to switch it up a little more. I want to box more in this fight. It's important to give Marquez a new look. I want to show him something that he was not preparing for.
PC: How are you health-wise right now?
IV: I'm feeling great.
PC: Both of you guys have faced another opponent after the trilogy. What was it like for you to be in there with someone other than Marquez and how do you feel about your performance against Priolo, coming off of a layoff of over a year?
IV: It felt great to hear the fans and perform for them again. I did feel rusty and that's why I wanted to take a tune-up fight. It was important for me to get the kinks out.
PC: In most cases, the rematch isn't better than the original and the 3rd fight is even worse. All 3 of your fights with Rafael have been amazing. Can you guys do it one more time?
IV: We are both warriors and have that will to win. We fight for our fans and always want to give it our all.
PC: He's been as inactive as you have been lately. Would this fight been a little more difficult to take had he been active?
IV: Yes, it would have. In a way, we are in the same boat, so I don't think either of us need to worry how active the other was.
PC: What do you feel are the keys to you going 3-1 against Marquez on the 22nd?
IV: Well, I don't want to say exactly what I'm going to do, but that's why the fans are going to have to watch on May 22nd on Showtime! But as always, the fans will come out the winner.
PC: There is currently a super middleweight tournament going on. Would you like to be involved in that style of tournament in the 126-pound division as well?
IV: Of course! I think that would be great for boxing. I want to fight the best and the 126-pound division is hot right now.
PC: What are your thoughts on some of the younger talents in the division, like Juan Manuel Lopez, Gamboa and Caballero, and do any one of them stick out to you more than the other?
IV: All three of them stick out. They are great champions. I hope they fight each other at some point, or myself! Marquez and I have proven if you want to be the best, you have to fight the best.
PC: What can the fans expect from Israel Vazquez on May 22nd?
IV: The fans should know by now. When you come to a Vazquez fight, you're going to get a great fight and that's exactly what they will get on May 22nd.
PC: Good luck. I look forward to the fight. Is there anything you want to say in closing; anybody you want to thank?
IV: Yes, I would like to thank all my fans and FightHype for this interview. Make sure you watch on May 22nd on Showtime! It's going to be a great night!
[ Follow Percy Crawford on Twitter @MrLouis1ana ]