Juan Manuel Márquez facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Juan Manuel Márquez
Márquez in 2012
Statistics
Real name	Juan Manuel Márquez Méndez
Nickname(s)	Dinamita ("Dynamite")
Rated at	Featherweight Super featherweight Lightweight Light welterweight Welterweight
Height	5 ft 7 in
Reach	67 in
Born	(1973-08-23) August 23, 1973 (age 51) Iztacalco, Mexico City, Mexico
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	64
Wins	56
Wins by KO	40
Losses	7
Draws	1

Juan Manuel Márquez Méndez (born August 23, 1973) is a famous Mexican former professional boxer. He competed from 1993 to 2014. Márquez won many world championships in four different weight classes. These classes ranged from featherweight (lighter boxers) to light welterweight (slightly heavier boxers). He also held the important lineal championship in the lightweight division.

During his career, which lasted over twenty years, Márquez was known for being a very fast and smart boxer. He was great at putting together many punches in a row (called combinations) and hitting back right after his opponent punched (called counterpunches). But he was also brave enough to get into tough, close fights. He was also known for being very strong and never lost a fight by stoppage. Some of his most famous fights were his four matches against Manny Pacquiao. Another big fight was against his fellow Mexican boxer, Marco Antonio Barrera.

In 2012, The Ring magazine named Márquez their "Fighter of the Year." Many people think he is one of the best boxers ever. BoxRec, a boxing record website, ranks him as the thirteenth greatest boxer of all time. He is also ranked as the fifth greatest Mexican boxer of all time, considering all weight classes (this is called pound for pound). In 2020, he was honored by being added to the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Amateur Boxing Career

Before turning professional, Juan Manuel Márquez had a great amateur boxing record. He won 82 fights and only lost 4. A large number of his wins, 72, were by knock-out.

Professional Boxing Journey

Juan Manuel Márquez started his professional boxing career when he was 19 years old. His first fight was on May 29, 1993. He lost this fight by disqualification to Javier Duran. After that, Márquez stayed undefeated for six years. During this time, he built a record of 29 wins and only 1 loss. He won against future champions like Agapito Sanchez and Alfred Kotey.

In 1997, Márquez won the WBO NABO Featherweight title. He successfully defended this title seven times. People often called him the "best fighter without a world title" because he was so good. For almost two years, he was supposed to fight the WBO Featherweight Champion, Naseem Hamed. But the WBO allowed Hamed to fight other boxers instead. During this time, Márquez also worked as an accountant. He kept this job until he won his first world title in 2004.

First Shot at a World Title

In 1999, Márquez fought Freddie Norwood for the WBA Featherweight title. Márquez was knocked down in the second round. He also scored a knockdown in the ninth round. However, Márquez lost the fight by a decision that many people disagreed with.

Later in 1999, Márquez defeated Remigio Molina. In 2000, he beat former champion Daniel Jimenez. Five fights later, he defeated future champion Robbie Peden. With this win, he captured the NABF and USBA Featherweight titles.

Becoming a Featherweight Champion

Márquez got his second chance at a world title on February 1, 2003. He defeated former four-time Featherweight Champion Manuel Medina. This win made him the IBF Featherweight champion. Márquez knocked Medina down twice, and the fight was stopped in the seventh round.

Later that year, he defeated Derrick Gainer in a fight to combine titles. Márquez won the WBA Featherweight title, becoming the WBA (Super) Champion.

Márquez vs. Pacquiao I

In May 2004, Márquez fought Manny Pacquiao, who held the Lineal and The Ring Featherweight titles. In the first round, Márquez was knocked down three times. But he fought back strongly for the rest of the fight. The fight ended in a controversial draw. The scores were very close, and one judge even admitted to making a mistake.

Defending His Titles

On September 18, 2004, Márquez defended his titles against Orlando Salido. He won by a unanimous decision. On May 7, 2005, he defended his titles again, beating Victor Polo. In August 2005, Márquez lost his WBA and IBF Featherweight titles. This happened because he couldn't defend them against other boxers.

Márquez vs. John

In 2006, Márquez tried to win back a title. He fought undefeated Indonesian boxer Chris John for the WBA Featherweight Championship. Márquez lost this fight by a unanimous decision. After this loss, The Ring magazine removed Márquez from its pound for pound list.

Later in 2006, Márquez won the Interim WBO Featherweight title. He defeated Thai boxer Terdsak Jandaeng. He then defended it against Filipino boxer Jimrex Jaca. Márquez became the full world champion in December 2006. This happened when the previous champion, Scott Harrison, gave up his title. Márquez then gave up his Featherweight title to move up a weight class. He wanted to challenge WBC Super Featherweight Champion Marco Antonio Barrera.

Moving to Super Featherweight

Márquez vs. Barrera

On March 17, 2007, Márquez became the WBC Super Featherweight Champion. He defeated Marco Antonio Barrera in Las Vegas by a unanimous decision. Márquez's first defense of this title was against Rocky Juarez on November 3, 2007, which he also won.

Márquez vs. Pacquiao II

On November 29, 2007, Márquez announced he would fight Pacquiao again. On March 15, 2008, Márquez lost his Super Featherweight title to Pacquiao. It was a very close fight, decided by a split decision. Márquez was knocked down in the third round, which made the difference in the final scores.

Becoming a Lightweight Champion

Márquez vs. Casamayor

Márquez then moved up to the lightweight division. He fought The Ring Lightweight Champion Joel Casamayor on September 13, 2008. Márquez defeated Casamayor in the 11th round after knocking him down twice. With this win, he captured his sixth world title in three different weight classes. After this victory, The Ring magazine ranked Márquez as the number one boxer in the lightweight division.

Márquez vs. Diaz I

On February 28, 2009, Márquez defeated former WBA, WBO, and IBF Lightweight Champion Juan Díaz. Díaz started strong, but Márquez fought back. Márquez knocked Díaz down twice in the ninth round, and the referee stopped the fight. Márquez kept his The Ring Lightweight title and won the WBO and WBA (Super) Lightweight titles. This fight was named "Fight of the Year" for 2009 by The Ring magazine and ESPN.com.

Moving to Welterweight

Márquez vs. Mayweather

Márquez moved up to the welterweight division to fight undefeated champion Floyd Mayweather Jr.. The fight was set for September 19, 2009. Mayweather weighed more than the agreed limit, so he had to pay a penalty. Mayweather controlled the fight and won by a unanimous decision. He even knocked Márquez down in the second round.

This fight was very popular, selling over one million pay-per-views. It was one of the biggest non-heavyweight fights in boxing history.

Back to Lightweight

Márquez vs. Diaz II

Márquez decided to return to the lightweight division. He said he lost too much speed at welterweight. He then fought Juan Díaz again on July 31, 2010. Márquez won the rematch by a unanimous decision. After this fight, Márquez said he was interested in fighting Manny Pacquiao for a third time.

Márquez vs. Katsidis

On November 27, 2010, Márquez defended his lightweight titles against Michael Katsidis. Even though Katsidis knocked him down in the third round, Márquez came back strong. He defeated Katsidis by a technical knockout in the ninth round. Márquez kept his lightweight belts. At the time, Márquez was the oldest world champion in the lightweight division's history.

Moving to Light Welterweight

Márquez moved up to the light welterweight division. He fought Likar Ramos on July 16, 2011, in Mexico. This fight was seen as a warm-up before his third match with Manny Pacquiao. Márquez won the fight by technical knockout in the first round.

Third Time at Welterweight

Márquez vs. Pacquiao III

Márquez faced some questions when he hired a strength coach who had been linked to performance-enhancing drugs in the past.

On November 12, 2011, Márquez lost to Pacquiao by a majority decision. Many people disagreed with this decision. The Ring Magazine readers even voted it the "Robbery of the Year" for 2011.

Back to Light Welterweight

Márquez vs. Fedchenko

On April 14, 2012, Márquez defeated Ukrainian boxer Serhiy Fedchenko. He won by a clear unanimous decision. This win earned him the interim WBO light welterweight title. The WBO later made him the full WBO Champion.

Fourth Time at Welterweight

Márquez vs. Pacquiao IV

Márquez fought Manny Pacquiao for the fourth time on December 8, 2012. This fight was for the WBO's "Champion of the Decade" belt. Márquez knocked Pacquiao down in the third round. Pacquiao knocked Márquez down in the fifth round. In the sixth round, with only one second left, Márquez hit Pacquiao with a powerful right punch. Pacquiao fell to the canvas and was knocked out. Pacquiao had not been knocked out in over 13 years! This fight was named The Ring magazine's "Fight of the Year" and "Knockout of the Year." Márquez was also named "International Fighter of the Year."

Márquez vs. Bradley

Márquez fought Timothy Bradley on October 12, 2013, for Bradley's WBO welterweight title. Márquez was trying to win a title in a fifth weight class. The fight lasted all 12 rounds. Márquez lost by a split decision. After the fight, Márquez said he believed he had won and felt he had been "robbed" of the victory.

Márquez vs. Alvarado

On May 17, 2014, Márquez fought Mike Alvarado. This was a welterweight fight. The winner would get a chance to fight Manny Pacquiao again. Márquez defeated Alvarado by a unanimous decision. Alvarado was knocked down in the eighth round, and Márquez was knocked down in the ninth.

Taking a Break and Retiring

For almost three years, Márquez did not fight. There were talks about a fight between Márquez and Miguel Cotto. But they could not agree on the weight for the fight.

On August 4, 2017, Márquez officially announced his retirement from professional boxing. He had a 21-year career. Márquez explained that injuries made him decide to stop. He said it hurt him to retire, but it was the right time. He wanted to have one last fight to say goodbye in the ring, but his body told him it was time to stop. He ended his career with 56 wins, 7 losses, and 1 draw, with 40 knockouts.

About Juan Manuel Márquez

Márquez was born in Mexico City. He grew up in a tough area called Iztacalco. Many of his childhood friends faced difficult lives, but he chose boxing. Márquez has shared that he was always a good student and liked working with numbers. He studied to become an accountant and worked for government offices for a while. Eventually, he decided to focus completely on his boxing career.

He started boxing when he was eight years old. His father's training inspired him. Márquez has said that he likes to "eat well" and does not follow any special diet. His brother, Rafael Márquez, is also a former world champion in boxing. Both brothers trained with Ignacio Beristáin. At one point, both Juan Manuel and Rafael were ranked among the top ten boxers in the world, pound for pound. They are one of only four sets of Mexican brothers to both hold world titles.

Márquez and his wife, Erika, have two sons and a daughter.

Since 2011, Márquez has been a commentator on the ESPN boxing show Golpe a Golpe. He also appears in the 2005 video game Fight Night Round 2.

Professional Boxing Record

Pay-Per-View Fights

These are some of Juan Manuel Márquez's fights that people paid to watch on TV.

See also

In Spanish: Juan Manuel Márquez (boxeador) para niños

• List of featherweight boxing champions
• List of super-featherweight boxing champions
• List of lightweight boxing champions
• List of light-welterweight boxing champions
• List of boxing quadruple champions
• List of Mexican boxing world champions
• Notable boxing families