Norcalboxing.net
Hercules light heavyweight Paul Vasquez, whose inspiring story was featured on CSNBayArea.com earlier this week, fought heavily favored Elvir Muriqi tooth-and-nail over eight rounds in Whippany, N.J.
However, Muriqi (40-5, 24 KOs) would emerge with his hand raised by a small margin, capturing a narrow majority decision (76-76, 77-75 twice) over the East Bay upstart.
After the fight, Vasquez (9-3-1, 3 KOs), who will donate his entire paycheck to Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, spoke to Norcalboxing.net.
ON THE DECISION:
"It was a close fight, but I knew I'd be fighting the promoter, the crowd, and the refs. My coach was saying I won six out of eight rounds. Someone from the [New Jersey] State Athletic Commission apologized and even the promoter came up to me and said I won the fight. But I know how it goes."
ON THE FIGHT:
"I staggered Muriqi multiple times. His legs just wobbled in the seventh and eighth [rounds]. I hardly have any marks on my face. I didnt feel his power whatsoever. Everytime I'd get him in the corner, the referee would stop the action and push him out of the corner, and that's when I was going to do my damage."
ON WHAT'S NEXT:
"I'm not done at all. I'm glad I got to do some good with my cause and that a few more people know about it. I'll head home to the Bay tomorrow, see my wife and kids, and get back in the gym soon."
Norcalboxing.net's Ryan Maquiñana is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and Ring Magazine’s Ratings Panel. E-mail him at rmaquinana@gmail.com, check out his weekly column for Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, his archive for BoxingScene.com, or follow him on Twitter: @RMaq28.
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