Rafael Márquez (boxer)

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Statistics
Rafael Márquez
Real name	Rafael Márquez Mendez
Nickname
Weight	Bantamweight
Nationality	Mexican
Birth date	March 25, 1975
Birth place	Mexico City, Mexico
Style	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	39
Wins	36
Wins by KO	32
Losses	3
Draws	0
No contests	0

Rafael Márquez (born March 25, 1975 in Mexico City, Mexico) is a boxer in the bantamweight division. His record is 36-3 (32 KOs). He is the current IBF and IBO world bantamweight champion.

Márquez's professional boxing debut was an eighth-round knockout loss to former WBC bantamweight champion Victor Rabanales.^[1]

Marquez first gained recognition by defeating perennial pound for pound legend Mark Johnson (boxer) twice. Marquez upset Johnson by a narrow split decision in 2001, marred by two point deductions for Johnson. In the rematch, Maruqez took apart Johnson, winning by TKO in the 8th round.

Márquez then fought against Tim Austin on February 15, 2003 for the IBF bantamweight championship. Márquez was behind on all three judges' scorecards when he ended the bout with a TKO victory in round 8.^[1] Márquez has successfully defended the title seven times since he won it. His notable defenses were two victories over Mauricio Pastrana (who defeated Márquez in the amateurs), a decision victory over Ricardo Vargas, and two knock out victories over former IBO bantamweight champion Silence Mabuza, who he defeated for the second time on August 5, 2006, which Marquez has said will be his last defense of his 118 lbs title.^[1]

Márquez is ranked number seven in The Ring magazine's pound-for-pound rankings.^[2] He is ranked as The Ring's number one bantamweight.

Marquez's brother is former WBA and IBF featherweight champion Juan Manuel Márquez.

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes and references

^ ^a ^b ^c BoxRec.com editors. "Rafael Marquez." BoxRec.com. URL accessed 5 July 2006.
^ The Ring editors. The Ring Ratings. 3 July 2006. The Ring. URL accessed 5 July 2006.