Rafael Márquez (boxer)


Rafael Márquez Méndez is a Mexican former professional boxer who competed from 1995 to 2013. He is a two-time world champion in two weight classes, having held the IBF bantamweight title from 2003 to 2007; and the WBC, Ring magazine, and lineal super bantamweight titles in 2007. He also held the IBO bantamweight title from 2005 to 2007, and challenged once for WBO featherweight title in 2011. Márquez was known for his formidable knockout power and relentless pressure fighting style. His older brother Juan Manuel Márquez is also a professional boxer and multiple-time world champion.

Professional career

Márquez began his professional boxing career with an eighth-round knockout loss to former WBC Bantamweight champion Victor Rabanales.
He gained recognition by defeating two division world champion and future hall of fame member Mark Johnson by a split decision. In a rematch, Márquez knocked out Johnson in the eighth round in an IBF bantamweight title eliminator bout.

Bantamweight

On February 15, 2003, he came from behind to knock out Tim Austin to claim the IBF Bantamweight title, in what was considered to be a big upset. Austin had been undefeated in 10 title fights until that loss. Márquez went on to successfully defend his title seven times. His notable title defenses were two victories over former light flyweight champion Mauricio Pastrana, a decision win over Ricardo Vargas and two knockout victories over former as well as future IBO Bantamweight champion Silence Mabuza, whom he defeated for the second time on August 5, 2006 in his final defense.

Super Bantamweight

Márquez moved up a weight division to challenge and defeat WBC and lineal super bantamweight champion Israel Vázquez in seven rounds. However, in a rematch in July 2007, Márquez lost his title after being defeated by Vázquez in the sixth round when the referee stopped the fight. The rematch was named the 2007 fight of the year. In the rubber match of their trilogy, Rafael lost a split decision, with scores of 113-112 and 114-111 to Vázquez, with one judge seeing it 114-111 for Márquez. Márquez may not have lost this bout if not for a point deduction for a low blow in the tenth round. Marquez and promoter Gary Shaw claimed that the punch was on the belt line and should not have elicited any deductions. Márquez was able to knock Vázquez down for the first time in the trilogy in this third fight, but Vázquez in turn put Márquez down in the final seconds of the 12th round, securing the victory and giving Márquez his fifth defeat.
Márquez was ranked number three in The Ring magazine's pound-for-pound rankings. and ranked as the Ring Magazine's number one Bantamweight boxer. He later became the top ranked boxer in the Super Bantamweight division before his loss to Vázquez.

Featherweight

Márquez was inactive for over a year as he recuperated from the trilogy with Vázquez. On May 23, 2009, he returned to the ring by scoring a 3rd-round TKO over José Francisco Mendoza in the featherweight division.
In the first week of May 2010, Márquez announced his 4th and final match with Israel Vásquez. After three epic battles, Vázquez and Márquez fought for a fourth time on May 22, 2010 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The bout was appropriately titled "Once and Four All" and carried live by Showtime. Márquez scored a third-round TKO victory over Vázquez to even their series at two wins each.
Afterwards, Márquez stated; "The fifth one could be a possibility if the fans vote for it. That is what I live for. Israel Vásquez is a great fighter."
In his next fight, he was scheduled to challenge undefeated WBO Featherweight champion Juan Manuel Lopez on September 18, 2010, however, the fight had to be postponed by several weeks when Márquez suffered a thumb injury which prevented him from training. Márquez would ultimately lose the bout by 8th-round TKO after he was unable to continue due to a shoulder injury. After the fight, Márquez said that he had chosen to proceed with the bout despite a right shoulder injury suffered before the contest because he did not wish to cause a second delay. According to Márquez, he re-aggravated that injury in the third round during a flurry of punches. He also expressed his eagerness to face Lopez in a rematch. It was later revealed that Márquez had suffered a hairline fracture in his right shoulder blade during the fight and would require 6 months to recover from the injury.

Return to Super Bantamweight

On 16 July 2011, Márquez made his comeback in Cancún on the same card as his brother, Juan Manuel, against Eduardo Becerril. Both fights were tune-ups and the younger Márquez brother comfortably dealt with his opponent, knocking him down once on the way to a 6th-round TKO.
Márquez fought against WBC Super Bantamweight champion Toshiaki Nishioka on 1 October at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Marquez lost by unanimous decision.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
50Loss41–9 Efrain EsquiviasKO9, 0:19Sep 7, 2013 Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S.
49Loss41–8 Cristian MijaresTKO9, 1:59Oct 27, 2012 Mexico City Arena, Mexico City, Mexico
48Win41–7 Eric AikenKO1, 2:26May 5, 2012 Auditorio Municipal, Tijuana, Mexico
47Loss40–7 Toshiaki NishiokaUD12Oct 1, 2011 MGM Grand Marquee Ballroom, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.For WBC super bantamweight title
46Win40–6 Eduardo BecerrilRTD6, 0:10Jul 16, 2011 Plaza de Toros, Cancún, Mexico
45Loss39–6 Juan Manuel LópezRTD8, 3:00Nov 6, 2010 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.For WBO featherweight title
44Win39–5 Israel VázquezKO3, 1:33May 22, 2010 Staples Center, Los Angeles, California, U.S.Won vacant WBC Silver featherweight title
43Win38–5 Jose Francisco MendozaTKO3, 2:26May 23, 2009 Monterrey Arena, Monterrey, Mexico
42Loss37–5 Israel VázquezSD12Mar 1, 2008 Home Depot Center, Carson, California, U.S.For WBC, The Ring, and lineal super bantamweight titles
41Loss37–4 Israel VázquezTKO6, 1:16Aug 4, 2007 Dodge Arena, Hidalgo, Texas, U.S.Lost WBC, The Ring, and lineal super bantamweight titles
40Win37–3 Israel VázquezRTD7, 3:00Mar 3, 2007 Home Depot Center, Carson, California, U.S.Won WBC, vacant The Ring and lineal super bantamweight titles
39Win36–3 Silence MabuzaRTD9, 3:00Aug 5, 2006 MontBleu, Stateline, Nevada, U.S.Retained IBF and IBO bantamweight titles
38Win35–3 Silence MabuzaTKO4, 2:08Nov 5, 2005 Caesars Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada, U.S.Retained IBF bantamweight title;
Won IBO bantamweight title
37Win34–3 Ricardo VargasUD12May 28, 2005 Staples Center, Los Angeles, California, U.S.Retained IBF bantamweight title
36Win33–3 Mauricio PastranaTKO8, 3:00Nov 27, 2004 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Retained IBF bantamweight title
35Win32–3 Heriberto RuizKO3, 2:11Jul 31, 2004 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Retained IBF bantamweight title
34Win31–3 Peter FrissinaTKO2, 2:00Jan 31, 2004 Dodge Theatre, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.Retained IBF bantamweight title
33Win30–3 Mauricio PastranaUD12Oct 4, 2003 Staples Center, Los Angeles, California, U.S.Retained IBF bantamweight title
32Win29–3 Tim AustinTKO8, 2:20Feb 15, 2003 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Won IBF bantamweight title
31Win28–3 Jorge OteroRTD6, 0:10Jul 12, 2002 La Villa Real Convention Center, McAllen, Texas, U.S.
30Win27–3 Mark JohnsonTKO8, 2:41Feb 23, 2002 Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Won vacant USBA bantamweight title
29Win26–3 Mark Johnson10Oct 6, 2001 Memorial Coliseum, Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S.
28Win25–3 Gerardo EspinozaTKO4 Jul 6, 2001 Jai Alai Frontón Palacios, Tijuana, MexicoWon vacant WBA Fedecentro bantamweight title
27Win24–3 Miguel OchoaTKO2 Jun 1, 2001 Poliforum Zamna, Mérida, Mexico
26Win23–3 Jovy ChanKO3, 1:05Apr 1, 2001 Peppermill, Reno, Nevada, U.S.
25Win22–3 Aquiles GuzmanRTD7, 0:10Dec 16, 2000 Forum Bicentenario, Maracay, VenezuelaWon vacant WBA Fedelatin bantamweight title
24Loss21–3 Genaro GarciaKO2, 1:36Nov 12, 2000 Regency Hotel, Denver, Colorado, U.S.
23Win21–2 Tomas RiveraKO2, 1:12Aug 20, 2000 Convention Center, Tucson, Arizona, U.S.
22Win20–2 Arturo EstradaTKO2 Jun 23, 2000 Poliforum Zamna, Mérida, Mexico
21Win19–2 Ricardo BarreraTKO1 Apr 14, 2000 Poliforum Zamna, Mérida, Mexico
20Win18–2 Adrian Cristian OchoaTKO4, 0:47Aug 23, 1999 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, U.S.
19Win17–2 Angel AlmenaKO1, 2:53May 10, 1999 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, U.S.
18Win16–2 Jose Guadalupe Gastelum6, 3:00Mar 8, 1999 Arrowhead Pond, Anaheim, California, U.S.
17Win15–2 Ricardo BarreraKO1Oct 24, 1998 Tropicana, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
16Win14–2 Dario DiazTKO2Aug 22, 1998 Tropicana, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
15Win13–2 Ivan SalazarKO3, 1:04Jun 20, 1998 Tropicana, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
14Loss12–2 Francisco MateosTKO3 May 2, 1998 Arena Coliseo, Mexico City, Mexico
13Win12–1 Beldevear MezaKO3Apr 6, 1998 Arrowhead Pond, Anaheim, California, U.S.
12Win11–1 Jose Felipe GarciaTKO1Mar 4, 1998 Arena Coliseo, Mexico City, Mexico
11Win10–1 Julian MujicaTKO1Jan 24, 1998 Arena Coliseo, Mexico City, Mexico
10Win9–1 Evaristo PrimeroTKO4, 1:06Oct 22, 1997 Tropicana Las Vegas, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
9Win8–1 Jose Guillermo SanchezTKO3 Sep 27, 1997 Caesars Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada, U.S.
8Win7–1 Gabriel TinajeroKO2 Jul 14, 1997 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
7Win6–1 Juan Mendoza6Apr 21, 1997 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
6Win5–1 Oscar ZamoraKO2Dec 9, 1996 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
5Win4–1 Robert EnriquezKO4Oct 28, 1996 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
4Win3–1 Mucio CastilloTKO1May 15, 1996 Mexico City, Mexico
3Win2–1 Sergio LopezTKO2Mar 27, 1996 Mexico City, Mexico
2Win1–1 Jose Godinez2Mar 3, 1996 Mexico City, Mexico
1Loss0–1 Victor Rabanales8Sep 14, 1995 Campeche City, MexicoProfessional debut

Outside the ring

He was recently in a car accident in Cuernavaca, Mexico. He was on his way to the airport in Mexico City to go to New York to receive the award for fight of the year, where he fought Israel Vázquez.
He made his appearance on Fight Night Round 2 launched in 2005.