Raúl Márquez (born August 28, 1971) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1992 to 2008.[1] He held IBF junior middleweight title between April and December 1997.[2] Márquez also represented the U.S. at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.

Raúl Márquez
Born
Raúl Márquez

(1971-08-28) August 28, 1971 (age 53)
NationalityAmerican
Other namesEl Diamante
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 10+12 in (179 cm)
Reach74 in (188 cm)
StanceSouthpaw
Boxing record
Total fights47
Wins41
Wins by KO29
Losses4
Draws1
No contests1
Medal record
Representing  United States
Men's Amateur boxing
World Amateur Championships
Bronze medal – third place 1989 Moscow Welterweight
Goodwill Games
Silver medal – second place 1990 Seattle Light middleweight

Personal life

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Márquez resides in Houston and works as a color commentator for Showtime. He is married to Jeannette Marquez. He is a father of four boys and one daughter. Raúl Jr., Arturo, Giovanni, Liam and Alina. His son Giovanni was a top amateur boxer who turned professional in March of 2022.

Amateur career

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

  • 1987 United States Jr. Olympic welterweight champion
  • 1989 United States amateur welterweight champion
  • 1991 United States amateur light middleweight champion
  • 1991 AIBF light middleweight world amateur champion
  • Represented the United States at the 1992 Olympics at light middleweight. His results were:

Professional career

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

IBF light middleweight title challenge

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All those bouts set up a shot at the Vacant IBF Light Middleweight Title against Anthony Stephens. 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 Yori Boy Campas.

Márquez vs. Vargas

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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.

IBF middleweight title run

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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.[3] 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.[4]

On November 8, 2008, at the age of 37, Márquez lost to then-undefeated Arthur Abraham via sixth-round technical knockout at the Bamberg's Jako Arena, in what was the 8th defense of his IBF middleweight title.[5]

Broadcasting

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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.

Professional boxing record

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47 fights 41 wins 4 losses
By knockout 29 4
By decision 12 0
Draws 1
No contests 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
47 Loss 41–4–1 (1) Arthur Abraham RTD 6 (12) Nov 8, 2008 Brose Arena, Bamberg, Upper Franconia, Germany For IBF middleweight title
46 Win 41–3–1 (1) Giovanni Lorenzo UD 12 Jun 21, 2008 Hard Rock Live, Hollywood, California, U.S.
45 Draw 40–3–1 (1) Bronco McKart MD 10 Mar 29, 2008 Soaring Eagle Casino, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, U.S.
44 Win 40–3 (1) Jay Pina TKO 2 (10) Aug 8, 2007 Hard Rock Live, Hollywood, California, U.S.
43 Win 39–3 (1) Jonathan Corn TKO 1 (10) Mar 16, 2007 Hard Rock Live, Hollywood, California, U.S.
42 Win 38–3 (1) Elco Garcia KO 7 (10) Sep 22, 2006 Convention Center, Pasadena, California, U.S.
41 Win 37–3 (1) Sergio Rios TKO 5 (10) Jul 8, 2006 Coushatta Casino Resort, Kinder, Louisiana, U.S.
40 Win 36–3 (1) Miguel Hernandez TKO 9 (10) Apr 29, 2006 Coushatta Casino Resort, Kinder, Louisiana, U.S.
39 Loss 35–3 (1) Jermain Taylor RTD 9 (12) Jun 19, 2004 Home Depot Center, Carson, California, U.S.
38 Win 35–2 (1) Humberto Aranda KO 4 (10) Oct 23, 2003 Reliant Arena, Houston, Texas
37 NC 34–2 (1) Shane Mosley NC 3 (12) Feb 8, 2003 Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
36 Win 34–2 Anthony Brooks UD 8 Mar 8, 2002 Civic Center, Kissimmee, Florida, U.S.
35 Win 33–2 Roberto Baro KO 7 (10) Aug 23, 2001 Aerial Theater, Houston, Texas, U.S.
34 Win 32–2 Tony Menefee TKO 4 (10) May 18, 2001 La Villa Real Convention Center, McAllen, Texas, U.S.
33 Win 31–2 Rob Bleakley TKO 5 (10) Feb 15, 2001 Aerial Theater, Houston, Texas, U.S.
32 Loss 30–2 Fernando Vargas TKO 11 (12) Jul 17, 1999 Caesars Tahoe, Circus Maximus Showroom, Stateline, Nevada, U.S. For IBF junior middleweight title
31 Win 30–1 Michael Lerma UD 10 Mar 19, 1999 Astro Arena, Houston, Texas, U.S.
30 Win 29–1 Jose Flores UD 10 Sep 25, 1998 Foxwoods Resort, Mashantucket, Connecticut, U.S.
29 Loss 28–1 Yori Boy Campas TKO 8 (12) Dec 6, 1997 Caesars Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. Lost IBF junior middleweight title
28 Win 28–0 Keith Mullings SD 12 Sep 13, 1997 Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. Retained IBF junior middleweight title
27 Win 27–0 Romallis Ellis TKO 4 (12) Jul 5, 1997 Isle of Capri Casino, Lake Charles, Louisiana, U.S. Retained IBF junior middleweight title
26 Win 26–0 Anthony Stephens TKO 9 (12) Apr 12, 1997 Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. Won vacant IBF junior middleweight title
25 Win 25–0 Rafael Williams RTD 5 (12) Jan 10, 1997 Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville, Connecticut, U.S.
24 Win 24–0 Scott Smith KO 2 (10) Dec 6, 1996 Lawlor Events Center, Reno, Nevada, U.S.
23 Win 23–0 Skipper Kelp UD 12 Mar 5, 1996 Scope Arena, Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.
22 Win 22–0 James McCray TKO 6 (8) Jan 30, 1996 Medieval Times, Lyndhurst, Hampshire, England
21 Win 21–0 Ernie Houser TKO 4 (8) Jul 9, 1995 Reno-Sparks Convention Center, Reno, Nevada, U.S.
20 Win 20–0 Floyd Williams UD 10 Apr 11, 1995 Bismarck Pavillon, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
19 Win 19–0 Alain Bonnamie UD 10 Jan 10, 1995 Pontchartrain Center, Kenner, Louisiana, U.S.
18 Win 18–0 Jorge Vaca UD 10 Nov 5, 1994 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
17 Win 17–0 Darryl Cherry TKO 6 (10) Oct 1, 1994 Scope Arena, Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.
16 Win 16–0 Alex Rios KO 1 (10) Aug 23, 1994 Cowtown Coliseum, Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
15 Win 15–0 Jacobo Garcia KO 1 (6) Jul 27, 1994 Tijuana, Mexico
14 Win 14–0 Patrick Swann TKO 9 (10) Apr 16, 1994 Caesars Palace Sports Pavilion, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
13 Win 13–0 John Jeter PTS 8 Feb 22, 1994 Arena Theatre, Houston, Texas, U.S.
12 Win 12–0 Reggie Strickland TKO 1 (8) Jan 14, 1994 Carmel High School, Mundelein, Illinois, U.S.
11 Win 11–0 Eduardo Ayala PTS 8 Jul 24, 1993 Houston, Texas, U.S.
10 Win 10–0 Tommy Small UD 8 Jun 26, 1993 Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
9 Win 9–0 Mark Allman TKO 1 (6) May 28, 1993 Houston, Texas, U.S.
8 Win 8–0 Jose Angel Garcia TKO 4 (6) Mar 23, 1993 HemisFair Arena, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
7 Win 7–0 Leo Edwards TKO 3 (6) Feb 27, 1993 Showboat Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
6 Win 6–0 Tyrone Haywood TKO 1 (6) Feb 6, 1993 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
5 Win 5–0 Andre Brown TKO 1 (6) Jan 9, 1993 Houston, Texas, U.S.
4 Win 4–0 Ivory Teague TKO 2 (6) Dec 1, 1992 Pavilion Convention Center, Virginia Beach, U.S.
3 Win 3–0 Jose Gonzalez RTD 1 (6) Nov 13, 1992 Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
2 Win 2–0 Andre Watkins KO 1 (6) Oct 24, 1992 Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland, Oregon, U.S.
1 Win 1–0 Rafael Rezzaq TKO 4 (6) Oct 3, 1992 HemisFair Arena, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Warriors Boxing Signs Veteran Raul Marquez". Boxingscene. 17 January 2007. Retrieved 2019-01-26.
  2. ^ "Raul Marquez: "I'm going to shock the boxing world"". Boxingnews24. 28 October 2008. Retrieved 2019-01-26.
  3. ^ "Former champ watches son win at Golden Gloves". Houston Chronicle. 31 January 2010. Retrieved 2019-01-26.
  4. ^ "Marquez upsets Lorenzo!". Fightnews. Archived from the original on 2008-10-06. Retrieved 2019-01-26.
  5. ^ "Arthur Abraham Expects Tough Bout With Raul Marquez". Boxingscene. 4 September 2008. Retrieved 2019-01-26.
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Sporting positions
Amateur boxing titles
Previous:
Alton Rice
U.S. welterweight champion
1989
Next:
Emmett Linton
Previous:
Paul Vaden
U.S. junior middleweight champion
1991
Next:
Robert Allen
World boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Terry Norris
IBF junior middleweight champion
April 12, 1997 – December 6, 1997
Succeeded by