Reigning IBF bantamweight champion Rafael Marquez moved up to claim the WBC super-bantamweight crown by stopping Israel Vazquez at the end of the seventh round in Los Angeles.

Vazquez told his trainer Freddie Roach to stop the contest as he was struggling to breathe from a broken nose he had sustained in the first round of an enthralling clash.

But Vazquez had had some success in this eagerly-anticipated clash of Mexico City natives, flooring Marquez in the third round before his injury hampered his chances.

Marquez said: "I proved I am the best champion. Vazquez hit me so hard and proved that he too is a great champion. He deserves a rematch."

Vazquez's trainer Roach confirmed: "I stopped the fight. Vazquez told me after the first round he had broken his nose. He gave everything he had but then could not do it any more."

Also in Los Angeles, Australian Vic Darchinyan retained his IBF flyweight title for the sixth time with a final-round stoppage over Mexican Victor Burgos.

The unbeaten Darchinyan extended his unbeaten record to 28 fights when a flurry of blows wobbled Burgos and prompted the referee's intervention one minute 27 seconds into the round.

The timing proved correct, as Burgos later collapsed in his corner but regained consciousness before he was taken to a nearby hospital as a precautionary measure.

Unbeaten Indonesian featherweight Chris John retained his WBA title with a unanimous points victory over Venezuelan Jose Rojas in Jakarta.

John was in control throughout the bout and claimed judges' scores of 118-108, 117-107, 116-110 against the 35-year-old, who stayed upright despite tiring in the last two rounds.