| Name |
Juan Manuel Marquez |
| Height |
5 ft 7 in |
| Naionality |
Mexican |
| Date of Birth |
23-August-1973 |
| Place of Birth |
Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico |
| Famous for |
Boxer |
Juan Manuel Marquez is a Mexican professional boxer and the current WBO light-welterweight champion. He is the 1st Mexican-born boxer to become a four-division world champion, winning seven world titles in five different boxing weight classes.
Ring Magazine currently ranks Marquez as the number three pound-for-pound boxer in the world and number one in the junior welterweight division. He is considered by analysts to be among the greatest Mexican boxers of all-time. He made his professional boxing debut at age 19 on May 29, 1993, losing via disqualification to Javier Duran. Marquez remained undefeated for six years, compiling a 29–1 record that included a wins against future champions Agapito Sanchez, Julio Gervacio and Alfred Kotey. In 1997, Marquez won the WBO NABO Featherweight title, which he defended seven times. During this time, he was referred to as the "best fighter without a world title." Marquez was WBO Featherweight Champion Naseem Hamed's mandatory challenger for 22 straight months. However, the WBO allowed Hamed to schedule other fights instead. Marquez moved up to the welterweight division and fought undefeated and number one pound for pound champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. The fight was scheduled to take place at 144 lbs on July 18, 2009 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena; but was postponed due to a rib injury sustained by Mayweather. The bout was rescheduled and held on September 19, 2009. During the official weigh in for their 144 lb bout, Marquez weighed in at 142 lbs and Mayweather weighed in at 146 lbs, thereby incurring a financial penalty as he was 2 pounds over the catchweight.
Although, it was later found out that both parties had agreed just before the weigh-in to allow Mayweather to come in over the catchweight. The day of the fight, Marquez looked very fat and slow with the move up in weight, whereas Mayweather looked 15-20 pounds heavier than Marquez and his muscles were well-defined, so he looked both in top shape and much heavier, contrary to his opponent. Mayweather knocked Marquez down in the 2nd round and won the fight by unanimous decision.
