Tom Casino/Showtime

Don't blink: Vazquez, left, and Marquez can change the course of a fight with one punch.

Vazquez, Marquez ready to rumble again

In 2007, junior featherweight champ Israel Vazquez and former champ Rafael Marquez waged two hellacious battles.

Marquez won the 122-pound title in March via a seventh-round TKO in a fight that ended when his Mexican countryman retired on his stool, unable to breathe because of a severely broken nose.

It was such an electrifying fight that many immediately declared that it would win fight of the year honors -- even though nine months remained in the year.

It may have indeed won, but in August, Marquez and Vazquez met again. This time, Vazquez reclaimed the title with a sixth-round TKO in a fight that was even more exciting and dramatic than the duo's first encounter. Several media outlets, including ESPN.com, Ring magazine and Yahoo! Sports, honored the rematch as fight of the year. The fight's third round also was heralded as round of the year.

Now, it's trilogy time.

Like the epic three-fight series between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, Riddick Bowe and Evander Holyfield and Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales, the Vazquez and Marquez series is poised to take its place in the pantheon of all-time trilogies.

Few expect anything less than another slugfest when they meet again on Saturday night (Showtime, 9 ET/PT) at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., the site of their first classic.

"I don't think this trilogy in my mind can be compared to anything," said Gary Shaw, who handles Marquez and promoted all three fights. "I think this may go down as the greatest -- we won't know obviously until after [Saturday]. But, if I know both fighters like I think I do, and I know the camps and the trainers and everyone else, I believe that this might go down as the greatest trilogy of all time."

Said Marquez: "This fight definitely has the possibility of being better than the last two."

As they did before each of the first two bouts, both fighters are promising another memorable collision.

"Please don't miss this fight. It is going to be a war," said Marquez, the former bantamweight champion and younger brother of junior lightweight champ Juan Manuel Marquez. "The first two fights were wars, and this is going to be a classic battle."

Said Vazquez: "Fans will be treated to a spectacular show. I know a lot of boxers say that to hype up a fight, but I think it means a little more when I say it. The proof is in our last two fights. Everyone loved those battles and everyone will love our third fight, too."

Shaw, who has been involved with boxing since the early 1970s, said he'll never forget their fights.

"I don't want to get emotional and I don't want to talk like a promoter, but I believe this trilogy will be a part of history," Shaw said. "I can tell you at the end of the round of the year of the second fight, what I will remember is [copromoter] Scott Woodworth [of Sycuan] behind me banging me on my shoulder pulling me up by my neck off the chair, saying, 'Can you believe this? Can you believe this?' Now, that's a promoter of the opponent to my fighter. We are against one another, and he's banging me and lifting me up and can't believe it.

"I will always have memories of these two fighters that have huge hearts. I did the first Micky Ward-Arturo Gatti fight when I was with Main Events. Not taking anything away from Arturo Gatti or Micky Ward, but when they had that trilogy they were not A-plus fighters. These are A-plus fighters."

Nacho Beristain, who trains Marquez, doesn't expect Saturday's fight to be much different from the previous two.

"I don't see anything that's going to be a difference. It's going to be a war," he said. "The first two fights were wars, and I don't see this third one any different. They are going to give everything in the ring, and I'm just hoping that Marquez makes a little bit different fight than he did in the second one so we can [win]."

One of the endearing elements about the Vazquez-Marquez rivalry is the respect they have shown for each other through all three promotions. Instead of becoming bitter and nasty toward each other, like Ali and Frazier and Barrera and Morales, they've been sportsmen.

"Deep down in my heart, I know and believe I am going to win by knockout Saturday night," said Vazquez, who aspires to unify 122-pound belts or move up to challenge featherweight titlist Jorge Linares if he wins. "I have the utmost respect for Marquez -- everybody knows that -- but in the ring it is a totally different story. I have to win by knockout. There is no other option. This is a very important fight for boxing, but it is more important for my career and my legacy. This fight will go down in history.

When they mention Marquez's name, my name will be tied to him because of the legendary trilogy that we fought against each other."

Said Marquez, "There is no bad blood between Vazquez and myself. We are professionals and we want the same thing, to win fights and world championships."

Diaz eyes Pacquiao

Lightweight titlist David Diaz and junior lightweight star Manny Pacquiao are on a collision course to meet this summer in Macau, China, but both have critical bouts before then.

Pacquiao, of course, faces 130-pound titleholder Juan Manuel Marquez in a much-anticipated rematch of their wild 2004 draw on March 15 (HBO PPV) at Las Vegas' Mandalay Bay.

Diaz is on the pay-per-view in a nontitle bout against little-known Ramon Montano in order to keep him fresh for the possible Pacquiao fight. Diaz said that he hasn't let the possibility of a Pacquiao bout detract from his preparation for Montano.

"I'm sure Montano is preparing for the fight of his life. It's his opportunity of a lifetime," Diaz said. "As for me, when we touch gloves before the fight, we're going to do what we do and see who's the better fighter. Bottom line is I know I must beat Montano to get a shot at Pacquiao."

Still, Diaz is looking forward to facing one of the best in the business.

"I know the deal. If I beat Montano and Manny beats Marquez, he's going to move up to 135 to try and take my title," Diaz said. "Good for him. I like the fact that he wants to fight for my title. If we both win on March 15, I'll be the first one to meet him at the postfight press conference to welcome him to 135. As far as I'm concerned, they can officially announce the fight right then and there.

"He wants to move up and try to continue collecting belts, and I want to test myself against the very best -- and that's what they call him. He beat Barrera twice, Morales twice, already has the draw with Marquez, beat Velasquez, Larios and Solis. He's been on quite a run; if he beats Marquez, maybe he's the best fighter in boxing."

Toney trudging on

Although British media this week jumped all over the prospect of heavyweight James Toney (70-6-3, 43 KOs) heading to England to face former title challenger (and Mike Tyson conqueror) Danny Williams this spring, that is merely one of several bouts being discussed for Toney, promoter Dan Goossen told ESPN.com.

"I've had conversations about a Williams fight in England, but I've also had conversations with a promoter in Russia and one from South Africa," Goossen said. "We'll go for the biggest fight."

Goossen said the proposed bout in Russia would pit Toney against Dennis Bakhtov (26-5, 16 KOs). The match in South Africa would come against Francois Botha in May. Another possibility is a rematch of a draw with ex-champ Hasim Rahman, Goossen said. Rahman manager Steve Nelson said they've discussed the fight, which could take place overseas.

"I have to see what's real and then make a decision with James," Goossen said. "None of these fights are done, but we'll get something done. James would rather fight in the United States, but I told him, if I have to sit next to him to keep his nerves down on the plane, I will because he hates to fly."

Toney, a former three-division champion, hasn't fought since May, when he outpointed Dan Batchelder. However, they both tested positive for steroids afterward and were suspended. It was Toney's second steroid-related suspension.