Raúl Márquez

Raúl Márquez
Statistics
Real name Raúl Márquez
Nickname(s) El Diamante
Rated at Super middleweight
Middleweight
Light middleweight
Height 5 ft 11 in (182 cm)
Reach 75 in (192 cm)
Nationality Mexican American
Born (1971-08-21) August 21, 1971
Valle Hermoso, Tamaulipas, Mexico
Stance Southpaw
Boxing record
Total fights 75
Wins 69
Wins by KO 37
Losses 4
Draws 1
No contests 1
Raúl Márquez
Medal record
Representing  United States
Men’s Boxing
World Amateur Championships
1989 Moscow Welterweight
Goodwill Games
1990 Seattle Light middleweight
World Challenge
1992 Light middleweight

Raúl Márquez (born August 28, 1971) is a Mexican American former boxer,[1] and the former IBF champion at light middleweight.[2] Márquez also represented the U.S. at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.[3]

Personal life

Márquez resides in Houston and works as a color commentator for Showtime. He is a father to Raúl Jr., Arturo, and Govanni; all three of whom are amateur boxers.

Amateur career

Márquez came to the U.S. in 1976 and began his boxing amateur career. His highlights included:

Professional career

Márquez began his professional career after the 1992 Olympics and got off to an impressive start, winning his first 25 bouts.[4]

IBF light middleweight title challenge

All those bouts set up a shot at the Vacant IBF Light Middleweight Title against Anthony Stephens.[5] Márquez won by TKO to capture the belt. Raúl successfully defended his title twice, including a victory over Keith Mullings, before getting TKO'd by Mexican legend Luis Ramon Campas.[6]

Márquez vs. Vargas

In 1999, Márquez challenged then-undefeated IBF light middleweight champion Fernando Vargas, but was dominated and stopped in the eleventh round. Márquez took on another elite fighter in 2003, Shane Mosley, in a fight which ended in a bloody no contest after a clash of heads. In 2004, now campaigning at middleweight, Márquez took on the much stronger and then-undefeated Jermain Taylor, who won by TKO after Márquez's corner decided to pull him out in round nine.[7]

IBF middleweight title run

On June 21, 2008, Márquez defeated Giovanni Lorenzo by unanimous decision in an IBF middleweight title eliminator. The fight took place at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida.[8] Márquez applied pressure, while Lorenzo tried to box from the outside. Márquez's workrate gave Lorenzo problems, for which he often no answer. Márquez was cut over the right eye in round ten, but Lorenzo was docked a point for a headbutt in the same round and the fighters continued to fight after the bell. Scores were 114–113 across the board for Márquez.[9]

On November 8, 2008, at the age of 37, Márquez lost to then-defeated Arthur Abraham via sixth-round technical knockout at the Bamberg's Jako Arena, in what was the 8th defense of his IBF middleweight title.[10]

Broadcasting

Márquez currently works on the announcing team for Showtime on their Spanish-language broadcasts, as well as the English-language ShoBox: The New Generation series. He has also worked for HBO, NBC, Telefutura and many other networks.

See also

Preceded by
Terry Norris
Vacated		 IBF light middleweight champion
12 April 1997–6 December 1997 		Succeeded by
Yory Boy Campas

References

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