Dallas based bantamweight prospect Robert Marroquin has created a small buzz within the industry after his impressive first round beat-down of Robert Perez last month.¬ 
The undefeated prospect (3-0, 3 KOs) and full-time college student has been one of Dallas’ best kept secrets but following his impressive showing on Telefutura the secret may be out.¬ Recently Ring Report had the chance to speak with the 18 year-old fighter during a break in his busy schedule.¬ Ring Report:¬ What got you into boxing? Robert Marroquin:¬ Well actually before I got into boxing I played baseball.¬ The season was over so my dad was like; well I donÄôt want you to be in the streets or anything like that.¬ I want you to be involved in a sport so you just wonÄôt be out there doing bad stuff or stuff you are not supposed to be doing.¬ So we went to this flea market and there was some sparring going on and my dad looked at me and said hey would you like to try boxing.¬ I was like yeah sure!¬ I was still hoping to play baseball but I started to like boxing after a month or two and I kept on going, thatÄôs how IÄôm here.¬ It was just a coincidence that I started liking it and everything and kept on going with it.¬ RR:¬ What position did you play in baseball? RM:¬ I was the pitcher and a shortstop.¬ RR:¬ How old were you when you got into boxing? RM:¬ I was actually eight years old around that time.¬ RR:¬¬And you’ve¬been boxing ever since… RM:¬ Yep, then I tried to play baseball back in high school.¬ I played one or two games but it wasnÄôt the same anymore. RR:¬ So what happened?¬ Did you lose the passion? RM:¬ Well not the passion.¬ I love baseball, I like playing and everything like that it was just it was too advanced for me.¬ I was rusty and everything so I was like let me just stick to boxing.¬ RR:¬ What was your amateur career like? RM:¬ The only national title I got was the Pan Am box-off which made me qualify for the Pan Am games in 2007.¬ After going to the Pan-Am I made the Olympic trials and I lost to Gary Russell in a double elimination in the finals.¬ I had to fight him three times in a week.¬ It was pretty tough competition back then.¬ I lost by four points I believe.¬ It was a close fight, I thought I had it.¬ It was hard to go in there an beat the favorite (Russell).¬ I had a more professional style and they didnÄôt want a slow guy going into the Olympics. RR:¬ And by professional style, that means you hit hard. RM:¬ Yeah but the other guy did too.¬ (Luaghs) I though I did better then him in the fights and actually I caught him and he was out in the last round.¬ The referee had to clap in his face to get him back into the fight.¬ In the final seconds he just ran and ran and ran.¬ RR:¬ So after that you decided to turn pro? RM:¬ Yeah.¬ They actually made an offer to me to stay an amateur for another four years and try to make the Olympics.¬ I was like well I had already paid for school and everything.¬ I go to Northwood University in Cedar Hill, TX¬and we had gotten the loan and everything and I just didnÄôt want to throw that away.¬ Later on Top Rank came with a deal and I went with it and decided to go pro.¬ That was in January. RR:¬ So are you still in school? RM:¬ Yes sir, IÄôm a sophomore now.¬ RR:¬ What is your major? RM:¬ Accounting. RR:¬ So how did Top Rank get involved? RM:¬ Well, we were talking to Golden Boy before Top Rank.¬ Golden Boy was going to sign me but they wanted me to go two or three fights as a pro and then they would see if they sign me but Top Rank was like well you did enough in your amateur career.¬ They were like you donÄôt have to prove yourself to us.¬ So I was like alright then plus the way I saw it Golden Boy has so many boxers that they donÄôt pay attention to an individual.¬ Bruce [Trampler] and all these guys at Top Rank have made a pretty good schedule for me as a professional.¬ Eric Gomez, he was over here telling me I had to prove to him that I was going to do something as a professional.¬ And IÄôm like what is there to prove?¬ They wanted me to fight against this undefeated guy, you know IÄôm 18, IÄôm trying to take it slow.¬ There is no rush with me and that is what Top Rank said, we are just going to take it slow for now.¬ We know your background as an amateur so you donÄôt have to prove anything to us.¬ And that is what I wanted, I donÄôt want to be rushing myself right now and I got college to go to.¬ IÄôm a full time student.¬ RR:¬ Was part of your decision to go with Top Rank based on their record of building up fighters? RM:¬ Yeah that is what my coach and father were telling me.¬ They said look at it this way, you see all these fighters, De La Hoya, Mayweather, Cotto, they came up with Top Rank and that is who made them.¬ I was actually ready to sign with Golden Boy until my father was telling me all of this stuff.¬ I was like he actually has a point. Bruce and all these guys from Top Rank have been moving me pretty well.¬ I donÄôt have to be in a rush.¬ I also donÄôt want to be fighting fighters that are like 0-8, I have to prove myself but not against top fighters [at this stage of my career]. RR:¬ So how do you balance being a full time student with being a professional boxer? RM:¬ ItÄôs pretty hard.¬ I go to school, come back home and try to get the homework done.¬ I go back to the gym and then I come back home around 8 or 9 and try to finish homework.¬ Sometimes I have to stay up all night trying to finish homework.¬ ItÄôs the same routine all week.¬ I try to get a little bit of rest on the weekends but usually I donÄôt.¬ ItÄôs pretty complicated but IÄôm trying to get it done as fast as I can.¬ I donÄôt want to have any regrets at all.¬ If I donÄôt have nothing to do in boxing then at least I have something to rely on.¬ Photo courtesy of Ed Garza
Exclusive Interview With Robert Marroquin
Posted by Tim Starks on Aug 20, 2008 02:45
