Raul Marquez Nickname - "El Diamante" Height - 5-10 Weight - 160 (middleweight) Date of Birth - August 28, 1971 Hometown - Reynosa , Mexico Resides - Houston , Texas Record - 35-2, 1 No Contest (24 Knockouts)

It may be safe to say that Raul Marquez is the toughest color commentator in sports today. And though the Houston resident loves talking about the action in his duties for HBO Latino, the former US Olympian and world champion can't get enough of being between the ropes.

"I like the competition, the atmosphere, the crowd, the adrenaline flowing," said Marquez. "I love boxing. I've been doing it since I was seven years old."

Ever since starting his career in the sweet science, the southpaw Marquez has operated at a high level. As an amateur, he compiled an amazing 128-11 record that included the following accolades: 1987 Jr. Olympic National champion and US National champion in 1989 and 1991.

Needless to say, Marquez' success earned him a shot at the 1992 US Olympic team, and he made the most of the opportunity, defeating future pro standouts Antwun Echols, Lonnie Bradley and Robert Allen to gain the coveted spot.

At Barcelona , Marquez defeated foes from Nigeria and Seychelles before dropping a close decision in the quarterfinals to Orhan Delibas of the Netherlands , who later went on to win the Silver medal.

After capping off his amateur career in the Olympic games, Marquez turned pro at 21 on October 3, 1992. His opponent, Rafael Rezzaq, was stopped in four rounds before an appreciative crowd in San Antonio . Marquez went on to compile 21 more victories before earning a shot at the USBA junior middleweight title on March 5, 1996, against hard-hitting Skipper Kelp.

Marquez scored a 12 round decision over Kelp in Norfolk , Virginia , to win his first title, and then he set his sights on bigger game. After one defense of his title (TKO 5 Rafael Williams), Marquez brought his 25-0 (18 KOs ) record into the ring against Anthony Stephens. At stake on April 12, 1997, was the vacant IBF world junior middleweight title.

And though Stephens hung tough for much of the championship bout, Marquez was too much, and shortly after a ninth round knockdown, the fight was stopped at the 1:47 mark, and "El Diamante" was a world champion.

Unlike some champions, Marquez didn't sit idly on the throne; he became a people's champion, willing to defend his crown anywhere against anyone. Three months after winning the title, Marquez took apart highly regarded Romallis Ellis in four rounds, and followed that up two months later with a close decision win over Keith Mullings.

Unfortunately, in the Mullings fight Marquez suffered serious cuts around both eyes (requiring 70 stitches), and against better judgment, he took a fight in December of 1997 against tough Mexican Yory Boy Campas, less than three months after his war with Mullings - not nearly enough time to let his eyes heal.

Needless to say, Marquez was bleeding over both eyes by the third round, and despite his warrior's mentality, the fight was stopped in the eighth round in favor of Campas. At the time of the stoppage, Marquez, despite his handicap, was leading on one scorecard and even on another.

After a long break to allow himself to heal, Marquez returned to the ring on September 25, 1998 with a clear cut ten round unanimous decision over rugged Jose "Shibata" Flores . Six months later, before an excited Houston crowd (it was Marquez' first home fight since 1994), Raul shut out Michael Lerma over ten rounds.

With two wins under his belt, Marquez got an opportunity to win back his title against rival Fernando Vargas on July 17, 1999. With bad blood between the two hanging in the air, both fighters went to war, but it was Vargas' superior speed that allowed him to take control in the fight. Marquez was stopped in the 11 th round, but never stopped trying to win, a trademark of a warrior.

After the bout, Marquez retired from the ring, but he got the urge to return two years later, and ran off four consecutive victories (three by knockout) in 2001 and 2002. In February of 2003, Marquez returned to HBO's airwaves, but not behind the microphone. He took on former lightweight and welterweight champion Shane Mosley in Las Vegas , and though the fight had the makings of an entertaining scrap, two accidental headbutts opened cuts over Marquez' eyes, causing the fight to be stopped and declared a no contest in the third round.

Marquez rebounded from the disappointing end of the Mosley fight with a fourth round knockout of Humberto Aranda in an HBO Latino-televised bout on October 23, 2003.

In 2004, Marquez, still handling commentating duties for HBO Latino, as well as NBC, is preparing for another big fight (against highly regarded Jermain Taylor on June 19) in which he will look to make his mark once again between the ropes.

Marquez, who lives in Houston , is married with three sons.