It didn’t look that way at first; Vazquez lost his debut back in Jan. 1981. He didn’t lose again for five years when he challenged Miguel “Happy” Lora for the WBC bantamweight title, losing a spirited unanimous decision, despite dropping the Colombian in the fourth frame.

His bantamweight title reign was rather unspectacular; Vazquez drew against former champion Takuya Muguruma, who was bidding to win back the title he had lost to Park the previous year. One fight later, Vazquez would lose the strap to Khaokor Galaxy on a split decision in Thailand just seven months after winning it.

Vazquez lost his comeback fight when future two-division world champion Raul Perez outboxed him in Los Angeles and, three fights later, he lost again against future two-time bantamweight beltholder Israel Contreras, who stunningly stopped him in the opening round.

At this point, it seemed Vazquez’s best days were likely behind him. However, he stepped up to junior featherweight and, after a couple of rehabilitation fights, he was matched with old adversary Perez for the WBA 122-pound strap. This time he didn’t let the Mexican get into his stride, dropping him in the second and again in the third before the fight was waved off.

The globetrotting continued and the wins mounted up. Over the next three years, Vazquez further established his credentials with nine successful defenses against the likes of Thierry Jacob (TKO 8 and KO 10), Luis Mendoza (UD 12) and Orlando Canizales (SD 12).

Ironically, Vazquez, who ultimately took part in 21 world title fights, went 16-4-1 with nine stoppages with all but one coming at home. The only time he fought in Puerto Rico was when he was dethroned of his WBA 122-pound title by Antonio Cermeno. In his 68-fight career, Vazquez fought on the Island just 19 times.

Again he stepped up in weight, this time, at featherweight, after three comeback wins, “El Orgullo de Puerto Rico” (the Pride of Puerto Rico) took on WBA and lineal champion Eloy Rojas on the undercard of Felix Trinidad-Freddie Pendleton at The Mirage Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas,Nev. Although he was trailing badly on the cards, Vazquez rallied, dropping the Venezuelan twice before the latter was rescued midway through the penultimate round in what earned the “Knockout of the Year” award by THE RING magazine in 1996.

It’s also the fight that Vazquez believes was the best win of his career: “When I beat Eloy Rojas and made history by becoming the first fighter to win titles in three different divisions but the same organization [the WBA].”

Following four successful defenses, he was offered the opportunity to fight WBO titlist Naseem Hamed for a reported career-high payday thought to be in the region of $600,000. When he wasn’t allowed to defend his championship, he vacated the belt. Though he put up an honest effort, he was picked off by Hamed, who dropped Vazquez four times before the action was called off in the seventh round.