Sunday, February 16, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Marquez hands Austin first loss, takes IBF title

By ROYCE FEOUR
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Tim Austin lies on the apron after being knocked out by Rafael Marquez in the eighth round of their IBF bantamweight title bout at Caesars Palace. It was Austin's first loss in 26 fights. Photo by K.M. Cannon. Rafael Marquez lands a left to Tim Austin during the first round at Caesars Palace. Photo by K.M. Cannon.

It was a night of upsets Saturday at Caesars Palace.

Rafael Marquez of Mexico City stopped previously undefeated Tim Austin in the eighth round to capture the IBF bantamweight championship in their scheduled 12-rounder.

Austin, of Cincinnati, was a 4-1 favorite and had successfully defended his 118-pound title nine times since winning it in 1997.

In the other HBO-televised fight, late substitute Juan Valenzuela won a unanimous 10-round decision over previously unbeaten junior welterweight prospect Ricky Williams, also from Cincinnati. Valenzuela's upset was so big that the Caesars Palace sports book hadn't even posted odds on the fight.

Marquez, 118, fought cautiously for most of the first seven rounds before unloading a right-left-right combination in the eighth round that knocked Austin through the ropes and onto the apron.

"I didn't go for it earlier because he hit me to the body," Marquez said. "But my corner told me to quit wasting time, so that's when I went for it all."

A dazed Austin, also 118, managed to climb back in the ring, but Marquez went for the finish with fury.

Marquez was throwing bombs with such force that he knocked himself off balance and his glove touched the canvas. But Marquez also landed left and right hands to the reeling Austin and referee Vic Drakulich of Reno stopped the fight at 2:20 of the eighth round.

"I'm very happy to join my brother as a world champion," Marquez said.

Marquez's older brother, Juan Manuel Marquez, won the IBF featherweight title Feb. 1 by stopping four-time champion Manuel Medina in the seventh round at Mandalay Bay.

Rafael Marquez, 27, was the IBF's No. 1 contender going into the bout and improved to 29-3.

Austin, 31, led on all three scorecards through the seven completed rounds. Judges Burt Clements and Glen Feldman had Austin ahead 68-65 and Adalaide Byrd had Austin leading 67-65.

Marquez won rounds three and four on all three scorecards, but until the eighth round Austin was busier and landing more punches.

Nacho Beristain, Marquez's trainer, said, "Tim Austin hurt him to the kidney. (Austin) is very smart. That's why he was an undefeated champion. Rafael was being cautious because of the body shots. But when he landed that one punch (right hand), he knew what he had to do."

Austin, who fell to 24-1-1, received $230,000 while Marquez collected $50,000.

Valenzuela, of Culiacan, Mexico, took the fight against Williams, a 2000 Olympic silver medalist for the U.S., until Thursday because original opponent Juan Carlos Rubio couldn't fight because of a perforated retina.

Valenzuela, 16-6, had lost two straight fights, while Williams fell to 8-1.

For results of card, see Scoreboard, 10C.