Israel Vázquez, a renowned Mexican boxer and three-time world champion in the super bantamweight division, has passed away at the age of 46.

Mauricio Sulaiman, confirmed on Tuesday that the renowned boxer, who hailed from Mexico City, passed away after being diagnosed with cancer.

Vázquez, renowned for his aggressive and crowd-pleasing boxing style, earned the moniker “Magnifico.” His most notable achievement was his epic tetralogy with fellow Mexican Rafael Márquez. The two fighters engaged in four confrontations between 2007 and 2010, culminating in one of boxing’s most intense and captivating rivalries.

Their third encounter, staged in Carson, California, in March 2008, was proclaimed by Ring magazine as the fight of the year, with the fourth round being designated as the round of the year. Vázquez demonstrated remarkable skill, fortitude, and resilience in rallying for a split-decision victory after sustaining a fourth-round knockdown.

The bloody four-fight series featured razor-thin margins, relentless exchanges and career-defining moments for both men. Márquez won the first (RTD 7) and fourth (KO 3) meetings, while Vázquez took the second (TKO 6) and third (SD 12).

A series of injuries, including a detached retina, ultimately compelled his retirement in 2010. His professional record at the time stood at 44 wins (with 32 by knockout) and five defeats in 49 fights.

“Thank you champion for leaving such a special mark,” Sulaiman wrote. “You will always be Magnifico.”

Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach called Vázquez “one of the best boxers I ever had the privilege of working with” in a statement to BoxingScene.

Our thoughts at TopClassBoxing go out to the Israel’s family at his time.

Sleep well champ….