A heavy right hand dropped Miguel Vázquez seconds before the end of the third round. The former IBF world champion beat the count, but did not come out for the fourth. Yosif Panov had secured a stoppage win at MaxFight 59 in Sveti Vlas on 20 July 2024.
It was Yosif’s 26th professional win and his 24th in a row. What made it stand out was the opponent: Vázquez had spent years testing himself against some of the best fighters in the world.
Miguel Vázquez as IBF world champion
Vázquez won the IBF world lightweight title in August 2010 by beating South Korea’s Ji-Hoon Kim. He held it until September 2014 and made six successful defences — against Ricardo Dominguez, Leonardo Zappavigna, Ammeth Diaz, Marvin Quintero, Mercito Gesta and Denis Shafikov.
It was a long championship reign in which the Mexican established himself among the leading boxers in his division. His boxing relied on distance, movement, an awkward rhythm and the ability to find the right punch. For opponents, the hardest part was often getting him to fight on their terms at all.
Twice against Canelo, once against Bradley
Vázquez made his professional debut against Saúl ‘Canelo’ Álvarez in January 2006, losing a split decision. Canelo also won their ten-round rematch in 2008. Between those meetings, Vázquez went ten rounds with Timothy Bradley, who later became a world champion in multiple divisions.
Later, he also faced Josh Taylor, who went on to unify all four major world belts at super lightweight. Vázquez knew huge stages such as the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, and in 2021 he added the regional WBA Fedelatin title by beating Oliver Flores. His experience spanned different generations, styles and boxing traditions.
A champion’s education
A native of Guadalajara, Vázquez worked with Javier Capetillo during his championship years. Part of his preparation for the 2014 defence against Shafikov took place at Daniel Ponce de León’s gym in Montebello, California. This was the environment in which he refined his technical, hard-to-read style.
Vázquez was 37 when he faced Panov, with a 44–12 record. We knew his experience made him dangerous: he had faced enough styles and situations to capitalise on a mistake. Yosif needed patience and a clear plan.
The punch that decided the night
Panov found his opening near the end of round three. A heavy right hand dropped Vázquez just before the bell. From our corner, we felt Yosif had taken control and was ready to build on the knockdown.
Vázquez did not come out for the fourth round. Panov won by retirement after the third — RTD 3. Following the heavy knockdown, the fight ended on the stool in the Mexican corner, and The Viper could raise his arms before the Bulgarian crowd.
Why this win mattered
The bout was scheduled for eight rounds at welterweight, with no belt at stake. Yosif was already UBO world champion; in Sveti Vlas, he added a win over a man who had reigned as IBF champion for four years. For us, it was one of his big nights and further confidence that he could pursue significant opponents.
The build-up appears in ‘Yosif Panov vs Miguel Vázquez: MAX FIGHT 59’, a film from Valentis’s ‘Beat Yourself’ initiative. It captures the preparation and expectations behind a fight decided by Panov’s right hand in the third round.
Yosif Panov vs Miguel Vázquez · MaxFight 59
Before Panov–Vázquez · “Beat Yourself”
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