Giovanni Marquez shows charisma on Overtime Boxing
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José de Jesus Ortiz, Founder & Editor in Chief
- March 25, 2024
Undefeated Giovanni Marquez is confident about his skills
Soon after the ref stopped him from delivering more damage last August in Atlanta, Giovanni Marquez ran toward one corner of the ring. He jumped on the ropes, let out a primal roar and lifted his arms in triumph.
Then he jogged to the opposite corner and repeated his celebration as the Overtime Boxing crowd roared. He had done the same thing after all five of his previous professional bouts, but Giovanni Marquez added a twist for the Overtime crowd.
The son of former world champ Raul Marquez went to the center of the ring and performed popular Mexican singer Peso Pluma’s signature dance moves.
Giovanni Marquez adds flair
“Yeah, it was just in the moment,” Giovanni Marquez said of the new dance moves. “You’re hyped up. It was for the raza, the Peso Pluma dance. This fight I’m looking to perform and maybe we’ll see another dance.”
After improving his professional record to 7-0 in October and 8-0 in December, Marquez will return to the Overtime Boxing platform Friday night. The card will be streamed on DAZN. Giovanni Marquez will face Puerto Rican Jayson Velez (30-13-1) in the first of a five-fight commitment with Overtime Boxing, which is part of the popular Overtime Elite basketball platform.
“We’re looking to get a knockout,” Giovanni Marquez says. “We’re looking to impress, win in dominant fashion and make a statement.”
The former national Golden Gloves champion has been busy since making his professional debut on March 11, 2022. Giovanni has not gone more than 4 ½ months between fights since his professional debut. He has steadily improved along the way.
Perfect record on the line
With the goal of fighting for a world championship within the next two years, Giovanni Marquez and his father have steadily built the super lightweight’s boxing resume. The good looking native of Houston is also growing his brand while showcasing his personality.
He has appeared to smile a bit more. Giovanni even exchanged pre-fight trash talk before his Overtime debut. He vowed to “catch a body” after Nicky Vatone called him a little boy before their bout last August.
More importantly, he delivered on his promise. He battered Vatone, knocking him down in the first round before ending it via TKO in the second round. Two wins later, Giovanni will take a perfect 8-0 record to the ring on Friday night.
Giovanni Marquez has made clear strides since his professional debut a little more than two years and two weeks ago.
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“There’s no nerves,” he says “I just feel ready to go out there and perform and get better each and every day. So I would say my confidence is the biggest thing that’s grown. Along with that just my skills have grown. My speed, my power, everything.”
Family affair
Giovanni has been trained by his father Raul and older brother Arturo. Raul, a member of the U.S. boxing team at the 1992 Olympics, is pleased with Giovanni’s progress.
Raul Marquez’s pride is evident when he talks about Giovanni’s development and maturation as a boxer over the last two years. They are also excited about the potential benefits of excelling on Overtime Boxing.
“I think Overtime Boxing is huge right now,” Raul Marquez said. “It’s making a big name. It’s growing. They’re really big on social media. I think it’s great for up-and-coming prospects like Giovanni.
“They keep him busy. He’s going to fight five times this year on Overtime. The most important thing for a guy when he’s coming up like someone like Giovanni, who is 8-0 with five knockouts, is to keep them busy.”
Raul is adamant that Giovanni, 23, cannot afford to just fight once or twice a year at this stage in his development. Overtime will keep Marquez busy this year, and he is eager to capitalize.
José de Jesus Ortiz
Founder & Editor in Chief
Award-winning writer José de Jesus Ortiz, a former lead sports columnist at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, has covered Major League Baseball since 1997 in Los Angeles, St. Petersburg, New York and Houston. He was the first Latino to serve as president of the Baseball Writers' Association of America.
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