The Tiebreaker: Israel Vazquez vs. Rafael Marquez III

---

The only one of their four fights to go the distance, this intense life-and-death struggle was consensus Fight of the Year for 2008. Vazquez's knockdown of Marquez in the final round proved to be the difference on the scorecards. Ironically, it was Marquez who emerged out of their rivalry fresher and with more fights left in the tank. 2008 BWAA Fight of the Year 2008 Ring Magazine Fight of the Year 2008 ESPN Fight of the Year 2008 Yahoo! Fight of the Year