Israel Vazquez gained a split decision over Rafael Marquez to retain his WBC super bantamweight title.

In the third meeting between the pair, Vazquez looked in trouble when knocked to the canvas in the fourth round but he finished the bout strongly.

It was enough for judge Max De Luca to score it 114-111 in his favour while James Jen Kin had Vazquez winning 113-112. Tom Kaczmarek gave Marquez a 114-111 edge.

A relieved Vazquez said: "I gave it my all. I had to make a statement. I knew I had to finish strong."

Marquez, who was stripped of a point for hitting below the belt in the tenth, was stunned to have lost the fight.

"I boxed early and dominated throughout the entire fight," he bemoaned.

The three-fight series has been one of the most memorable in recent history,

Marquez winning the first last March, Vazquez unable to continue after the seventh round.

However Varquez took his revenge in September, knocking his opponent out in the sixth despite being cut above both eyes.

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