LOOKING IN ON: BOXING

Friday, July 27, 2007 | 7:26 a.m.

As he prepares for the rematch of one of the year's top action fights, Israel Vazquez cannot duck questions about the state of his smashed-up schnozz.

In a world super bantamweight title fight in March, Vazquez and Rafael Marquez, two of Mexico's most exciting and accomplished boxers, traded shots for seven rounds before a severe nose injury forced Vazquez to retire on his stool.

They'll go at it again for supremacy in the 122-pound division on Aug. 4 in a Showtime (Cox cable channel 240, 9 p.m.) bout from Hidalgo, Texas.

Marquez is about a 5-2 betting favorite to retain his title belt, but the match itself rates as an odds-on favorite to emerge as the fight of the year - if Vazquez's nose holds up, that is.

"There's no need to be concerned," said Vazquez (41-4, 30 knockouts) . "The results and diagnosis of the doctor have been very encouraging. Thank God it wasn't a dangerous condition. I've been able to continue with sparring.

"In fact, if it weren't that people stop and ask me how my nose is feeling, I would have forgotten that I had a problem."

Vazquez was told that inflammation in his nose, caused by the pulverizing blows of his opponent, led to a complete blockage of his left nostril and a 90 percent blockage of his right nostril. His breathing problems threw off his whole game plan, Vazquez said.

"It was a tough night and a difficult loss," he said. "I feel good now. My nose feels good."

Both enthusiastic subscribers to the code of machismo, Marquez and Vazquez vowed before their first fight, in Carson, Calif., to fight to the death if necessary. Vazquez opted to live to fight another day.

"If I had decided to stay in there and let myself die, I wouldn't have a second opportunity and have an opportunity for this rematch," Vazquez said.

With 16 consecutive victories, Marquez (37-3, 33 KOs) has steadily climbed the unofficial rankings of the sport's best fighters, pound-for-pound. His brother Juan Manuel Marquez, the reigning world super featherweight champion, fights Jorge Barrios on Sept. 15 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Marquez is planning on meeting a healthy Vazquez next Saturday.

"The nose, it won't be a factor," he said.

Hopkins-Wright redux

It's a shame the defining moment of last week's Bernard Hopkins-Winky Wright fight at Mandalay Bay was also its ugliest.

Hopkins opened a deep gash by Wright's left eye in the third round with a head butt that was ruled accidental.

The cut, which periodically gushed blood for the rest of the fight, prompted speculation about whether it was really accidental or wink-wink (no pun intended) accidental. It also overshadowed a strong performance by the 42-year-old Hopkins, who went on to win a unanimous decision in the fight for The Ring magazine light heavyweight title.

"This is the hurt business, man," Hopkins said of the clash of heads. "It's the way the game goes."

A replay of the fight will air Saturday on HBO (Cox cable channel 200, 10:15 p.m.) along with the Vernon Forrest-Carlos Baldomir junior middleweight bout from Tacoma, Wash.

De La Hoya's dreams

Some fans weren't satisfied with the slow pace of the Oscar De La Hoya-Floyd Mayweather fight May 5 at the MGM Grand - and neither was De La Hoya.

Nearing the end of his career in the ring, De La Hoya wants his farewell fight to be a sensational slugfest rather than a tactical match. He lost a split decision to Mayweather.

De La Hoya is planning a return to welterweight and mulling fights against Miguel Cotto or Ricky Hatton, both brawlers.

"Those are the dream matches," De La Hoya said.