# Raúl Márquez

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

## Personal life

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 2022.

## Amateur career

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:
** Defeated David Defiagbon (Nigeria) 8–7
** Defeated Rival Cadeau (The Seychelles) 20–3
** Lost to Orhan Delibaș (Netherlands) 12–16

## Professional career

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

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

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

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. 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.
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.

## 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.

## Professional boxing record

| 47 fights | 41 wins | 4 losses |
| By knockout | 29 | 4 |
| By decision | 12 | 0 |
| Draws | 1 | 1 |
| No contests | 1 | 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. | |