Born: March 25, 1975
Bouts: 50
Won: 41
Lost: 9
KOs: 37
Induction: 2023
Born March 25, 1975 in Mexico City, Mexico.
Marquez turned pro in 1995 with a loss to Victor Rabanales (KO by 8). Trained and managed by Nacho Beristain, Marquez was undeterred and compiled a 25-3 record before upsetting Mark “Too Sharp” Johnson (W 10) in 2001 and winning the vacant USBA bantamweight belt via 8th round TKO in the rematch the next year. In 2003 he stopped Tim Austin (TKO 8) for the IBF 118-pound strap and successfully defended seven times including a pair of wins over Mauricio Pastrana (W 12, TKO 8) and Silence Mabuza (TKO 4, TKO 9). He added the IBO belt in his first win over Mabuza in 2005. Marquez became a two-division champion with a 7th round stoppage win over Israel Vazquez for the WBC, The Ring and lineal super bantamweight titles in the first meeting of their four-fight series. Vazquez defeated Marquez in the second (TKO 6) and third (W 12) bouts of their series with each fight earning “Fight of the Year” honors (2007 and 2008 respectively). The rivalry concluded at 2-2 after Marquez scored an emphathic 3rd round knockout in their fourth bout in 2010. Marquez unsuccessfully challenged Toshiaki Nishioka for the WBC super bantam belt (L 12) and ultimately retired in 2013 with a professional record of 41-9 (37 KOs).
Rafael Marquez
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