– Combat Sports

Mexican boxing mourns the loss of Israel ‘Magnificent’ Vázquez, former world champion, who died at 46. Vázquez passed away in California, USA, due to complications from an aggressive cancer. His departure leaves a void in the boxing world, where he will be remembered as one of the sport’s greatest warriors. A GLORIOUS CAREER Israel Vázquez debuted in 1995 and quickly gained attention by winning the Golden Belt tournament for rising talents. Although his path to stardom wasn’t immediate, in 2004, he was crowned world champion, a title he claimed three times. With a professional record of 44 wins (32 by knockout) and 5 losses, the Mexican boxer starred in some of the most memorable rivalries in modern boxing. His series of four fights against Rafael Márquez is regarded as one of the greatest of all time, with two of those bouts earning the title “Fight of the Year” in 2007 and 2008. Vázquez also faced great challenges against Óscar ‘Chololo’ Larios and served as a sparring partner for legends like Manny Pacquiao, with whom he came close to an official fight. His success in the ring and fighting spirit earned him a nomination for the International Boxing Hall of Fame. HEALTH CHALLENGES IN RECENT YEARS The health of ‘Magnificent’ Vázquez deteriorated over time. He lost an eye due to a detached retina and was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, which affected his mobility and physical condition. However, the hardest blow came months ago when he was diagnosed with stage 4 sarcoma, an aggressive cancer that ultimately took his life. Despite these challenges, Vázquez never lost his fighting spirit. “Despite everything, I don’t regret a single moment of what I experienced and did in boxing. I gave it my all, body and soul, for myself and those who supported me,” he said in a 2020 interview. SUPPORT FROM THE BOXING COMMUNITY When news of his cancer diagnosis broke, the boxing community united to help him. Mauricio Sulaimán, president of the World Boxing Council (WBC), led a fundraising effort to cover medical expenses and support his family. “Our dear champion received a devastating diagnosis. The WBC stands by his side, ensuring he receives the care he deserves,” Sulaimán expressed at the time. Vázquez’s wife, Laura, shared emotional moments from the former champion’s final days: “He’s very weak, almost unable to speak. He doesn’t want to be remembered like this but as the strong and brave boxer he was.” AN ETERNAL LEGACY The legacy of Israel ‘Magnificent’ Vázquez will live on in boxing history. His fighting spirit, dedication, and charisma made him a true icon of the sport. “Thank you, Israel, for the countless memories you gave us inside and outside the ring. You are now eternal. Rest in peace,” Mauricio Sulaimán declared after his passing. Mexico has lost one of its great champions, but the memory of his greatness and passion will continue to inspire future generations. Rest in peace, Israel ‘Magnificent’ Vázquez.  

The national para taekwondo team returned to CNAR with new talents after completing a successful cycle with medals in Paris 2024, Santiago 2023, and Veracruz 2023. They plan to compete in the 2025 World Championship.  The national para taekwondo team resumed training at the National Center for Sports Talent Development and High Performance (CNAR), now integrating new athletes after closing the previous cycle with two medals at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.      “We have a team with both experience and youth, so they are coming together to work as one. They are going through a general phase at the end of the year to leave behind the Paralympic Games in Paris, motivate themselves, get to know each other, and build unity so that next year we can start working more firmly,” said national coach Jannet Alegría Peña in an interview with CONADE (National Commission for Physical Culture and Sports).  The Mexican team had an outstanding performance in the recent Paralympic cycle, earning nine medals (two gold, five silver, and two bronze) at the Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games, three medals (gold, silver, and bronze) at the Veracruz 2023 World Championship, and two more (gold and silver) at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.  Also of interest: Mexico successfully concluded its participation in the 2024 Para Swimming World Series in Guadalajara  “The most important event we have next year is the World Championship, which will take place between October and November. It is a fundamental event where we aim to have several para taekwondo athletes on the podium. We hope for a comeback from Luis Mario, who narrowly missed a medal at Veracruz 2023. We want him on the podium next year, alongside Claudia Romero, Fernanda Vargas, and Jessica García. We also hope for success from new athletes joining the team. They have roughly 10 or 12 months to prepare and achieve great results,” Jannet Alegría emphasized.      The coach, recognized as the best para taekwondo coach by the Pan American Taekwondo Union, announced the addition of five new young athletes aged 14 to 17.  “This truly fills us with joy. These youngsters will compete at the Brazil Open in April to qualify,” said the coach, who shares leadership responsibilities with triple Olympic medalist María Espinoza.  Finally, Alegría expressed her gratitude for the support of the national para taekwondo team. “We want to thank everyone who supported us during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. It was incredibly motivating.”

The update to the Pan American Judo Confederation ranking highlights several Mexican judokas in top positions as they aim to secure their qualification for the Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025. The Pan American Judo Confederation’s latest ranking update highlights several Mexican judokas in top positions as they aim to secure spots for the 2025 Junior Pan American Games in Asunción.      Following the 2024 Pan American Cup in Montreal, where Mexico earned seven medals—one gold, three silver, and three bronze—Mexican athletes have improved or solidified their rankings.  Top-ranked judokas include Frida Maya, leading the -57 kg category with 420 points; Aylin Ávila, second in -52 kg with 620 points; Renata Sandoval, second in -70 kg with 380 points; and Eduardo Sagastegui, third in -60 kg with 490 points.  You might also be interested in: William Arroyo to Compete in the 2024 Taekwondo Poomsae World Championship in Hong Kong  Other standout Mexican judokas ranked among the top eight in their categories include María Cruz (-63 kg), Yamileth Juárez (-70 kg), Rafael Ramírez (-73 kg), Carlos Hernández (-60 kg), Gerardo Castelán (+100 kg), Paula Sánchez (-78 kg), Bárbara Sánchez (+78 kg), and Ian Aguirre (-66 kg).      The final two tournaments for ranking points are the Junior Pan American Cup and the Junior Pan American Championship, scheduled for April 2025. Mexico will aim to secure the maximum number of spots in these events.  The qualification system for Asunción 2025 grants spots to the top seven in each category, an additional spot for the host nation, and a maximum of one competitor per country per weight division.

Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez revealed on *The Full Send* podcast that he would consider facing Jake Paul in an exhibition match, but only after retiring from professional boxing. Despite repeatedly dismissing the influencer’s challenges, “Canelo” surprised everyone by no longer ruling out the possibility of such a fight in the future. “When I’m done with boxing at the highest level, why not? Maybe I’d do it,” the Mexican champion said. According to the Guadalajara native, these types of fights bring value by attracting new fans to boxing, especially those who don’t typically follow the sport. You may also be interested in: “Canelo” Álvarez defeated Edgar Berlanga by unanimous decision