Three-time super bantamweight boxing champion Israel Vázquez has died at the age of 46, Mauricio Sulaiman, president of the World Boxing Council, confirmed on Tuesday.

Vázquez has been diagnosed with cancer, reported the WBC, which organized an online fundraiser last month to help cover the cost of his medical care.

“Israel Vazquez finally rests in peace. May God give strength and support to his wife Laura, their children, their family and their friends in these difficult times,” Sulaiman wrote in a post to X on Tuesday. He added that Vázquez will always be “el Magnífico,” a reference on the boxer’s nickname, which means “the great one”.

Israel Vazquez finally rests in peace. May God give strength and support to his wife Laura, their children, their family and their friends in these difficult times. Gracias campeón por dejar una huella tan special. Siempre serás el Magnífico

— Mauricio Sulaiman (@wbcmoro) December 3, 2024

One of Mexico’s greatest boxers, Vázquez rose to fame in the early 2000s and was best known for his rivalry with his compatriot Rafael Márquez. The boxers competed against each other in four title fights from 2007 to 2010 and finished 2-2. After Vázquez withdrew from his first fight in March 2007 due to breathing problems caused by a broken nose, he avenged his loss to Márquez five months later. He scored a sixth-round TKO over Márquez to regain his super bantamweight title and defended the title with a split decision triumph in March 2008.

The split decision victory came at a price; Vázquez suffered a detached retina that kept him away from the ring for 19 months. After three surgeries, Vázquez returned in October 2009 with a victory over Angel Antonio Priolo via knockout, setting up another rematch with Márquez. This time, Márquez defeated Vázquez in the third round to win the WBC featherweight silver belt. It was the last fight of Vázquez’s career.

In a total of 49 fights, Vázquez recorded 44 wins (32 by knockout) and five losses.

(Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)