The 30-year-old Vazquez, a native of Mexico City who lives in the Los Angeles suburb of Huntington Park, came within seconds of winning by knockout.

His barrages of punches sent Marquez slumping into the corner ropes in the waning seconds, and Russell looked as if he was ready to end it. But Marquez said he could continue, and by the time the two fighters were ready to re-engage, the final bell sounded. Check out the video of the 12th round here

Vazquez had reclaimed the crown in September in their rematch in Hidalgo, Texas. With gashes above both eyes, he still knocked Marquez down in the sixth round of that bout and stopped him at 1:16 of the seventh.

Marquez won their first meeting, also in Carson, last March after he landed a right in the first round that broke Vazquez’s nose. Despite having difficulty breathing, Vazquez continued to trade punches, but decided after the seventh round that he could not go on.

Vazquez (43-4, 32 knockouts) weighed the limit of 122 pounds. The 32-year-old Marquez (37-5, 33 knockouts), from Mexico City, weighed 121 1/2 .