Jack Welsh
www.ringsports.com

The newest brother combination of world champions in boxing surfaced when underdog Rafael Marquez came frpm behind to win the IBF bantamweight crown the other night with an eighth-round TKO of previously undefeated Tim Austin in HBO’s main event before 3,500 fans at Caesars Palace’s Pavilion in Las Vegas.

Just two weeks earlier, Juan Manuel Marquez, two years older at 29, also out of Mexico City, was equally impressive in winning the vacant IBF featherweight title with a two knockdown, seventh-round TKO of former four-time champion Manuel Medina at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

There were three upsets on the eight-bout card promoted by Don King but nothing compared to the handiwork of Marquez, who spoiled the solid of reign the 32-year-old Austin, who was making his 10th defense since winning the title in 1996.

Austin, who fought only once last year when several bouts fell out, earned $300,000 but indicated he would likely move up to122 pounds with an eye on Marco Antonio Barrera, undisputed featherweight champ, and a mega-bucks showdown.

Fate delivered a cruel blow to this slick boxer-puncher who had stopped 22 of his 25 victims (plus one draw) when Marquez was the next adversary listed as the IBF’s top contender with a 28-3, 26 KOs resume, earning a $50,000 purse.

Austin, going back to the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, has always been a take-your-time southpaw with a snapping right jab that has set up many ambitious rivals for a short evening.

The heralded Cincinnati Kid was catching Marquez with that long jab during the first two rounds but the Hispanic begin tø land solid combinations in th third and fourth rounds to make it an even fight.

Coming out in round five, the fluid Austin began to handle the slow Marquez like he invented him with a heavy attack inside. In the sixth and seventh rounds, Austin appeared to shake Marquez, a 4-1 underdog, with three-punch combinations.

Opening the eighth round, the boxers traded sølid rights and then combinations. Marquez hurt Austin with a right and rushed him across the ring with a right-left-right that left him on the ring apron with his legs tangled in the lower rope strand.

Showing what being a champion is all about, Austin beat referee Vic Drakulich’s count and had one big exchange with Marquez at mid-ring but it wasn’t enough.

The end was near as the challenger drove the champion into the ropes with a left-left-right-left. Austin was still erect but when Marquez moved in with a six-punch salvo, the referee wisely stopped it at 2:20 of the eighth round.

Going into the eighth round, Austin led on all judges’ scorecards with Burt Clements and Glen Feldman having it 68-65 while Adelaide Byrd saw it 67-66, all for Austin. Boxing Flash’s tab was 68-65 for the champion.

Marquez, in the post-fight recap said he was “pleased tø join my brother, Juan, as a world champion.”

“Juan is my older brother and I’ve always looked up to him. When he won the title, it was a big motivation for me. The night he beat Medina, I phoned him to congratulate him. Juan said , ‘now it’s your turn, let‘s make it complete. Let‘s get it done,’”, the new champion reflected.

“Austin is a great fighter and great champion. I wasn’t any hurry but my corner told me to quit wasting time, so I just went for it all. I didn’t go for it early because Austin hit me with some body shots that really hurt.”

Austin, though disappointed, made no excuses in suffering his first loss after 11 years as a pro, having won the title from African Mbulelo Botile on a eighth round TKO July 19,1997 in Nashville, TN.

“My fighting was off for a fighter like Marquez, he’s a great fighter and maybe having only one fight last year was a problem. I’m always looking for opportunities and going up in weight may help me. It’s not over, I’m still living and I’ll be back,” said one of the prime bantams in boxing.

BURGOS TKO’s SANCHEZ IN 12TH FOR JR. FLY TITLE

Jose Victor Burgos, 107, Puebla, MX., maintained pressure in the last five rounds and exploded in the 12th round with an unchecked offense to TKO Alex Sanchez,107, Ponce, PR, to win the vacant IBF junior flyweight crown in the co-feature.

Burgos, improving to 36-13-2, 31 KOs, lived up tø his status as the IBF’s top contender when he rocked Sanchez, the No.2 challenger, early in the 12th round with a hard combination and finished up inside the distance with an eight-punch combination, prompting referee Joe Cortez tø halt the action at1:50 in his 156th championship fight.

Burgos, who lost his four fights as a pro in 1993, finally settled the issue with Sanchez after the mighty mites battled to a 12-round draw May 11, 2002 in San Juan, PR.

“I looked for this championship for 10 years and now that I have no weight problems,I.” will have more opportunities ahead of me,” said the 28-year-old Burgos. “I gained confidence as the fight went on and once I could see Sanchez slowing down, I closed out the show strong by winning the rounds at the end. Sanhez fought a good fight and he was always coming at me looking for a
knockout

Sanchez, whose record dips to 29-3-1, 20 KOs, worked well with his jab in the early action but after he sixt h round, he never won another round against the dominating Burgos.

Sanchez, 27, felt being inactive since his draw with Burgos hurt his effectiveness.

“There were too many head butts in the early rounds and I started to lose my vision. Burgos fought a great fight, he deserved the championship but Iwould like to fight him again if he has the title.”

SUBBING VALENZUELA UPSETS TOUTED WILLIAMS

For bruising action, Juan Valenzuela’s 10-round unanimous upset of previously undefeated Ricardo Williams was arguably the best fight of the night. Valenzuela was an 11th hour replacement for Juan Carlos Rubio, who was grounded by a perforated retina.

There were no knockdowns but it was war frøm bell tø bell as Valenzuela, 143.5, Fountain Valley,a., improved to 16-6, 6 KOs, while Williams,144, Cincinnati,
Oh., the silver medalist at the 2000 Australian Olympics, dipped to 8-1, 5 KOs.

In the official scoring, judges Duane Ford and Dalby Shirley had it 97-93, while Carol Castellano saw it 98-92, all for Valenzuela.

Williams had a strong ninth round with double combinations that caught Valenzuela on the ropes, but the Hispanic fighter came back in the10th to score well with a seven-punch flurry.

Valenzuela, taking the fight on very short notice, declared he “ was very happy to beat a tough guy like Williams.”

Williams didn’t complain. “Thank God, nobody got hurt. We both føught our butts off. I trained every hard for this fight. I’m going back to the gym but I’ll be back.”