Rafael Marquez
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- Birth Name: Rafael Márquez Méndez
- Birth Place: Contribute
- Born: March 25, 1975
- Died: Contribute
- Age: 49
- Height: 5′ 5½″
- Weight: Contribute
- Reach: 68″
- Stance: Orthodox
- Pro Debut: September 14, 1995
- Nationality: Mexico
- Status: Inactive
- Manager: Contribute
- Promoter: Contribute
- Total Bouts: 50
- Total Rounds: 237
Rafael Márquez, a Mexican former professional boxer, has often been regarded as one of the greatest fighters in his country's history. Over the course of his more than 17-year career, Márquez fought in a total of 50 bouts and ended with a record of 41-9, which included 37 knockout wins and three title wins. Márquez won three world titles across two weight classes and successfully defended them in seven bouts. Seven of his victories came via knockout during title fights, and he suffered seven of his nine losses by knockout as well. The International Boxing Hall of Fame inducted Márquez in 2023, cementing his legacy in the sport.
On September 14, 1995, Márquez made his professional boxing debut against Victor Rabanales at the young age of 20. Although he was unable to secure a victory in his debut, Márquez went on to win 12 consecutive fights, with 11 of his victories coming through stoppages. Márquez would get his first shot at a world title on February 15, 2003, after 31 professional fights, facing off against Tim Austin for the bantamweight IBF title. Márquez defeated Austin via 8th round Technical Knock Out (TKO) to become the bantamweight champion of the world.
Throughout his career, Rafael Márquez faced off against numerous top-tier fighters, including Hall-of-Famer Mark Johnson, Israel Vázquez, Silence Mabuza, Heriberto Ruiz, Peter Frissina, and Jose Francisco Mendoza. One of Márquez's most notable performances came on February 23, 2002, when he defeated Mark Johnson via 8th round TKO. The win over Johnson paved the way for Márquez's successful defense of his title against Peter Frissina, winning via 2nd round TKO on January 31, 2004. Márquez's title defenses continued on July 31 of that year, with a victory against Heriberto Ruiz via 3rd round KO. In addition to his title defenses, Márquez won the bantamweight title from Silence Mabuza on November 5, 2005, and successfully defended the IBF bantamweight title against him via a 9th round Referee Technical Decision (RTD) in 2006.
Márquez's impressive career also included a win against Israel Vázquez, where he won the WBC and The Ring super-bantamweight titles from him on March 3, 2007. His final notable performance was on May 22, 2010, when he defeated Vázquez via 3rd round KO. Márquez boasts a career that not only includes multiple world titles but is also filled with memorable performances against impressive opponents.
As with many fighters, Rafael Márquez's career did not come without its share of setbacks. Over the course of his career, he suffered nine defeats, four of which occurred during title bouts, and five of which took place during non-title fights. His first loss came in his debut match against Victor Rabanales via 8th round KO. Although he suffered seven losses via knockout, he was stopped only twice via decision.
Unfortunately, Rafael Márquez's last professional fight marked a low point in his career. He faced Efrain Esquivias in a non-title bout on September 7, 2013, losing the fight via 9th round KO. This fight marked the end of a long and illustrious career that cemented his status as one of Mexico's top boxers. Márquez retired from professional boxing with three impressive world titles across two divisions, including his consistent title defenses that helped solidify his championship status.
It's been over nine years since Rafael Márquez's last professional fight, but the Mexican boxer remains a legend in his country's boxing history. His remarkable performances, including his title wins, successful title defenses, and notable victories over top-tier opponents, all contribute to his reputation as one of the greatest boxers in Mexican history. Márquez's induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2023 is a testament to his dedication and excellence throughout his more than 17-year career. Fans of the sport will continue to remember Rafael Márquez as one of the best to ever step into the ring.
Rafael Márquez Fight Record
| # | Date | Age | Opponent | Result | Via |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | Sep 7, 2013 | 38 | Efrain Esquivias | Loss | KO9 |
| 49 | Oct 27, 2012 | 37 | Cristian Mijares | Loss | TKO9 |
| 48 | May 5, 2012 | 37 | Eric Aiken | Win | KO1 |
| 47 | Oct 1, 2011 | 36 | Toshiaki Nishioka | Loss | UD |
| 46 | Jul 16, 2011 | 36 | Eduardo Becerril | Win | RTD6 |
| 45 | Nov 6, 2010 | 35 | Juan Manuel López | Loss | RTD8 |
| 44 | May 22, 2010 | 35 | Israel Vázquez | Win | KO3 |
| 43 | May 23, 2009 | 34 | Jose Francisco Mendoza | Win | TKO3 |
| 42 | Mar 1, 2008 | 32 | Israel Vázquez | Loss | SD |
| 41 | Aug 4, 2007 | 32 | Israel Vázquez | Loss | TKO6 |
| 40 | Mar 3, 2007 | 31 | Israel Vázquez | Win | RTD7 |
| 39 | Aug 5, 2006 | 31 | Silence Mabuza | Win | RTD9 |
| 38 | Nov 5, 2005 | 30 | Silence Mabuza | Win | TKO4 |
| 37 | May 28, 2005 | 30 | Ricardo Vargas | Win | UD |
| 36 | Nov 27, 2004 | 29 | Mauricio Pastrana | Win | TKO8 |
| 35 | Jul 31, 2004 | 29 | Heriberto Ruiz | Win | KO3 |
| 34 | Jan 31, 2004 | 28 | Peter Frissina | Win | TKO2 |
| 33 | Oct 4, 2003 | 28 | Mauricio Pastrana | Win | UD |
| 32 | Feb 15, 2003 | 27 | Tim Austin | Win | TKO8 |
| 31 | Jul 12, 2002 | 27 | Jorge Otero | Win | RTD6 |
| 30 | Feb 23, 2002 | 26 | Mark Johnson | Win | TKO8 |
| 29 | Oct 6, 2001 | 26 | Mark Johnson | Win | SD |
| 28 | Jul 6, 2001 | 26 | Gerardo Espinoza | Win | TKO4 |
| 27 | Jun 1, 2001 | 26 | Miguel Ochoa | Win | TKO2 |
| 26 | Apr 1, 2001 | 26 | Jovy Chan | Win | KO3 |
| 25 | Dec 16, 2000 | 25 | Aquiles Guzman | Win | RTD7 |
| 24 | Nov 12, 2000 | 25 | Genaro Garcia | Loss | KO2 |
| 23 | Aug 20, 2000 | 25 | Tomas Rivera | Win | KO2 |
| 22 | Jun 23, 2000 | 25 | Arturo Estrada | Win | TKO2 |
| 21 | Apr 14, 2000 | 25 | Ricardo Barrera | Win | TKO1 |
| 20 | Aug 23, 1999 | 24 | Adrian Cristian Ochoa | Win | TKO4 |
| 19 | May 10, 1999 | 24 | Angel Almena | Win | KO1 |
| 18 | Mar 8, 1999 | 23 | Jose Guadalupe Gastelum | Win | RTD6 |
| 17 | Oct 24, 1998 | 23 | Ricardo Barrera | Win | KO1 |
| 16 | Aug 22, 1998 | 23 | Dario Diaz | Win | TKO2 |
| 15 | Jun 20, 1998 | 23 | Ivan Salazar | Win | KO3 |
| 14 | May 2, 1998 | 23 | Francisco Mateos | Loss | TKO3 |
| 13 | Apr 6, 1998 | 23 | Beldevear Meza | Win | KO3 |
| 12 | Mar 4, 1998 | 22 | Jose Felipe Garcia | Win | TKO1 |
| 11 | Jan 24, 1998 | 22 | Julian Mujica | Win | TKO1 |
| 10 | Oct 22, 1997 | 22 | Evaristo Primero | Win | TKO4 |
| 9 | Sep 27, 1997 | 22 | Jose Guillermo Sanchez | Win | TKO3 |
| 8 | Jul 14, 1997 | 22 | Gabriel Tinajero | Win | KO2 |
| 7 | Apr 21, 1997 | 22 | Juan Mendoza | Win | UD |
| 6 | Dec 9, 1996 | 21 | Oscar Zamora | Win | KO2 |
| 5 | Oct 28, 1996 | 21 | Robert Enriquez | Win | KO4 |
| 4 | May 15, 1996 | 21 | Mucio Castillo | Win | TKO1 |
| 3 | Mar 27, 1996 | 21 | Sergio Lopez | Win | TKO2 |
| 2 | Mar 3, 1996 | 20 | Jose Godinez | Win | TKO2 |
| 1 | Sep 14, 1995 | 20 | Victor Rabanales | Loss | KO8 |
