Biography: SHOWTIME PROFILE

At the age of 31, Rafael Marquez has been fighting as a pro for nearly 11 years. He won the IBF bantamweight world title in February 2003, and has made six successful title defenses. He currently is riding a 14-fight winning streak dating back to December 2000.

Marquez' upcoming fight against Silence Mabuza (Aug. 5 on SHOWTIME) is a rematch. In the first encounter, Marquez scored a fourth-round TKO on Nov. 5, 2005.

Rafael and his older brother, former IBF and WBA featherweight world champion, Juan Manuel, are Mexico City stablemates, and are managed/trained by Nacho Beristain in Beristain's Romanza Gym.

Marquez was surprised by Mabuza's speed during the first bout.

"What surprised me in the fight was that Mabuza was really fast," Marquez said. "That shocked me. But, I am working with fast sparring partners right now to prepare for that. I am working on my counterpunching and boxing. Mabuza is a pretty strong fighter and very quick, but I do not see any problems with fighting him again."

Marquez has been sparring with Jose Beranza, who is fighting on the same Aug. 5 card, as well as Jaime 'Carocol' Ortiz.

COMMON OPPONENT: Ricardo Vargas - Marquez won a 12-round decision over Vargas in May 2005, while Mabuza won a 12-round decision against Vargas in April 2006.

Marquez has scored sensational victories against some of the top fighters in the division. He was a 5-1 underdog when he challenged IBF bantamweight world champion Tim Austin for the title on February 15, 2003, but scored a devastating eighth-round TKO. Austin had held the title for more than five-and-one-half years, was making his 10th title defense.

A year earlier on Feb. 23, 2002, Marquez scored his second consecutive win - also by devastating knockout - against former two-time world champion Mark "Too Sharp" Johnson. Johnson also was a clear favorite to win, and was considered to be one of the world's best at any weight.

Marquez became the first Mexican to hold a world title at 118 pounds in 10 years. Victor Rabanales held the WBC bantamweight crown until March 1993. In an odd coincidence, Marquez made his disastrous pro debut against Rabanales in 1995.

Exactly two weeks before Marquez won the bantamweight world title, his older brother, Juan Manuel, won the IBF featherweight world title.

They are the fourth pair of Mexican brothers to win world titles, joining Rene and Ricardo Arredondo, Erik and Diego Morales, and Gabriel and Rafael Ruelas.

Marquez is experienced against top opposition, and has fought former world champions Mauricio Pastrana twice (eighth-round TKO, 12-round decision), Tim Austin (eighth-round TKO), Mark Johnson twice (eighth-round TKO, 10-round decision), and Victor Rabanales (knocked out in eighth round).

Key Fights - 2005 - SIXTH IBF BANTAMWEIGHT WORLD TITLE DEFENSE - In his last fight on 11-5-05 in Stateline, Nev., Marquez TKO'd Silence Mabuza (18-0 going in). Marquez scored a knockdown with a left hook in the first round, and rocked Mabuza with a series of punches just before the bell. In the second, Mabuza was cut under his left eye. He then was cut over his right eye in the third. After two timeouts for the doctor to examine the cuts in the fourth round, the referee stopped the fight on the cut over Mabuza's right eye at 2:08. After three rounds, Rafael led 30-26 on all three scorecards.

"There was a head butt during the fight, but the cut was caused from a punch from my left hand," Marquez said. "Losers make excuses. I feel like I won every round. It was even easier than I thought it would be. Mabuza was a very strong fighter, but I hit him perfectly from the start."

FIFTH IBF BANTAMWEIGHT WORLD TITLE DEFENSE - On 5-28-05 in Los Angeles, Marquez won a 12-round unanimous decision (118-110 and 116-111 twice) over former NABF and Mexican bantamweight champion Ricardo Vargas (38-10-3 going in). The fight was one of the featured attractions on the Julio Cesar Chavez' "Adios Los Angeles" fight card at STAPLES Center. Marquez came on strongly in the second half, staggered Vargas in the 10th round and scored a knockdown in the 12th.

2004 - FOURTH IBF BANTAMWEIGHT WORLD TITLE DEFENSE - On 11-27-04 in Las Vegas, Nev., Marquez TKO'd former two-time IBF light flyweight world champion Mauricio Pastrana (31-4-1 going in). Marquez started fast in the rematch and outworked Pastrana in the first three rounds. Pastrana was cut over the left eye by a clash of heads in the third. He rallied in the fourth and fifth rounds, but Marquez steadily wore him down. Pastrana's right eye was swollen in the seventh, Marquez rocked him with a series of punches late in the eighth, and Pastrana's corner stopped matters after the round.

THIRD IBF BANTAMWEIGHT WORLD TITLE DEFENSE - On 7-31-04 in Las Vegas, Marquez scored a spectacular one-punch knockout over former Mexican junior bantamweight champion Heriberto Ruiz (31-2-2 going in). Marquez scored a knockdown with a right uppercut in the third round that dropped Ruiz flat on his face. The referee stopped the fight without a count at 2:11.

SECOND IBF BANTAMWEIGHT WORLD TITLE DEFENSE - On 1-31-04 in Phoenix, Ariz., Marquez TKO'd IBF No. 1 contender Pete Frissina (27-3-1 going in). Frissina charged out at the opening bell, but Marquez quickly overpowered his opponent and scored two knockdowns late in the first round. Marquez staggered Frissina early in the second, as the fighter reeled across the ring and fell into the ropes. The referee stopped the fight at 0:22.

2003 - FIRST IBF BANTAMWEIGHT WORLD TITLE DEFENSE - On 10-4-03 in Los Angeles, Marquez recorded a 12-round unanimous decision (118-110 twice and 117-111) over former two-time world champion Pastrana (30-3-1 going in). Marquez staggered his foe in the seventh round and outworked him throughout.

WON IBF BANTAMWEIGHT WORLD TITLE - On 2-15-03 in Las Vegas, Marquez TKO'd previously undefeated defending champion Tim Austin (25-0-1 going in). Marquez rocked Austin in the third and fourth rounds, but slowed his pace and Austin rallied. Marquez came back in the eighth and scored a knockdown that left Austin flat on his back, through the ropes and on the ring apron. Austin got up, but Marquez rocked the champion again and the referee stopped the fight at 2:20. After seven rounds, Austin led 68-65 twice and 67-66.

"The fight was very tough," Marquez said. "I did not go for it early because Austin hit me with some shots to the body that really hurt. My corner told me I had to quit wasting time, so I just went for it all. I am very happy to join my brother as a world champion. I dedicate this belt to all of Mexico."

2002 - On 7-12-02 in McAllen, Texas, Marquez TKO'd Jorge Otero (16-5-1 going in). Marquez scored a knockdown in the first round, staggered Otero in the second, and Otero did not answer the bell for the sixth round.

WON VACANT USBA BANTAMWEIGHT TITLE - On 2-23-02 in Las Vegas, Marquez knocked out Johnson (40-2 going in). Marquez scored a knockdown late in the seventh round that left Johnson dazed, than scored two more knockdowns in the eighth that left Johnson flat on his back. The referee stopped the fight without a count at 2:41.

2001 - On 10-6-01 in Corpus Christi, Texas, Marquez won a 10-round split decision over Johnson (40-1 going in). Johnson, who was a 3-1 favorite to win, was penalized one point in the eighth round for low blows and another in the ninth for holding.

The scores were originally announced as a split decision win for Johnson (94-93 and 95-94 for Johnson, 96-91 for Marquez), but soon after, a mistake was discovered on the card favoring Marquez. The score was corrected to 95-92. Then, about one-and-one-half hours later, another mistake was discovered on a card favoring Johnson and was corrected to a 94-93 score for Marquez. After the corrections, the scores were 95-92 and 94-93 for Marquez, 94-93 for Johnson. Johnson had already left the building when the final change was announced, while Marquez was gambling in the casino.

WON FEDECENTRO BANTAMWEIGHT TITLE - On 7-6-01 in Tijuana, Mexico, Marquez scored a fourth-round TKO over hometown favorite Gerardo Espinoza (12-1 going in).

On 4-1-01 in Reno, Nev., Marquez knocked out former WBC International champion Jovy Chan in the third round.

2000 - WON WBA-LA BANTAMWEIGHT TITLE - On 12-16-00 in Maracay, Venezuela, Marquez TKO'd former Venezuelan champion Aquiles Guzman in the seventh round.

On 11-12-00 in Denver, Colo., Marquez was knocked out in the second round of a non-title fight against WBC Continental Americas champion Genaro Garcia (22-3 going in).

On 8-20-00 in Tucson, Ariz., Marquez scored a second-round knockout over former world title challenger Tomas Rivera.

On 6-23-00 in Merida, Marquez TKO'd Arturo Estrada in the second round.

On 4-14-00 in Merida, Marquez recorded a first-round TKO over hometown favorite Ricardo Barrera (16-3-1 going in). The win was Marquez' second against Barrera.

1999 - On 5-10-99 in Inglewood, Calif., Marquez scored a first-round knockout over former world title challenger Angel Almena (14-3 going in).

On 3-8-99 in Anaheim, Calif., Marquez knocked out Guadalupe Gastellum in the sixth round.

1998 - On 10-24-98 in Las Vegas, Marquez registered a first-round knockout over Ricardo Barrera (15-1-1 going in).

Marquez made his pro debut at age 20 on 9-14-95 in Campeche, Mexico, and was knocked out in the eighth round by former WBC bantamweight champion Victor Rabanales (39-14-2 going in). The bout represented one of the most extreme mismatches of experience ever seen in a boxing ring, as it pit the 20-year-old novice, Marquez, against a 32-year-old former world champion and veteran of 55 fights.

"I only fought Rabanales because no one else wanted to fight him in his hometown," Marquez said. "We were stablemates, and I saw no harm in helping him out in what I understood to be nothing more than an exhibition for his fans."

AMATEUR, PERSONAL BACKGROUND: Born and raised in Mexico City, Marquez has two brothers and five sisters. A former fighter, Marquez' father took Rafael to the gym when he was quite young.

"I must have been about six years old when I went to the gym," Marquez said. "My brother, Juan Manuel, is older and he had already started boxing. I just followed him one day and I stayed with it.

During his amateur career, Marquez compiled a 59-1 record, and earned numerous medals and trophies throughout Mexico.

Marquez is married with a four-year-old son. His wife and Juan Manuel's spouse are sisters.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: 10 years, 11 months...38 fights...155 total rounds...49 world championship rounds
AVERAGE LENGTH OF BOUTS: Four rounds
KNOCKOUT PERCENTAGE: 81 percent
DISTANCE FIGHTS: 12 rounds - two (2-0)...10 rounds - one (1-0)...Eight rounds - four (3-1)