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 Boxing has taken center stage here in Dallas with the arrival of Manny Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey and their impending mega-fight taking place in the billion dollar Cowboys Stadium this Saturday. But while the majority of the hoopla has been centered on the main event fighters, Saturday night may mean the anticipated break out of one of North Texas’ most talented pugs.
Oak Cliff’s Robert Marroquin has held the distinction of being one of the most ballyhooed young prospects to emerge from Dallas. Marroquin seemed destined for the fame and bright lights of championship boxing rattling off win after win, all while carefully being nurtured by promotional giant, Top Rank Inc. While Marroquin steamrolled over opponents designed to get him accustomed to the nuances of the professional fight game, in recent months it appears that Top Rank has begun to feed the young fighter marginally stiffer competition. But in spite of Marroquin’s fighting career taking place outside of the familiar confines of the DFW Metroplex, he has managed to create a very large fan base locally.
Part of the reason attributed to Marroquin’s immense popularity here in North Texas lies in his humble demeanor and laid back persona. While a fighter of Marroquin’s pedigree may feel entitled to boast and brag, Marroquin finds a way to maintain an aura of humility. This trait was on full display this past August as Marroquin was mobbed by a throng of fans following his stoppage victory over Steven Johnson at Quick Trip Park in Grand Prairie. Despite having just finished a fight, Marroquin took the time to sign countless autographs and pose for numerous photos. This is the reason why his popularity continues to rise on what seems like a daily basis.
But this Saturday night may be Marroquin’s ascension into the national conscious when he faces the always tough Sammy Sanchez in a battle of Dallas prospects. While Pacquiao and Clottey may be commanding all the attention, make no mistake about it, fighters on the undercard stand to see their popularity bolstered by the nearly 50,000 pairs of eyes that will be in attendance in Cowboys Stadium. For a fighter like Marroquin, the enormity of the situation is not lost on him. In fact, he seems eager to again fight in front of his hometown fans.
“Well you know what; it’s been a great experience, especially the fight in Grand Prairie, being here at Cowboys Stadium, I can’t imagine how it’s going to be on that night”, Marroquin explained in an interview with North Texas Fisticuffs. “I’ll be ready for it though.”
So far the response to Marroquin’s addition has the local boxing scene abuzz. Many look at his inclusion in the biggest fight of the year as a testament to our surging Dallas boxing scene. Marroquin admits that he is well aware of the buzz and support and hopes that the fans show up in droves.
"I know it man, just with my own family coming. I don’t know about tickets,” Marroquin says with a laughs. “If they make it, just having them here would be great. I have big family support and my friends, having them will be great. It will be a great crowd, and I seriously have a lot of fans here in the DFW that really support me.”
While most young fighters would feel the pressure of performing under the bright lights of such a big stage, but for Marroquin, who has fought on the undercards of some of the biggest fights if the last year, this will be nothing new. In fact, fighting on such a stage only serves as motivation for Marroquin.
“Definitely,” explains Marroquin. “Especially [fighting on] the Pacquiao-De La Hoya undercard, it was my first big card and I was the first undercard fight. There weren’t a lot of people there but it was special being around all these great guys, these famous guys and getting tips from fighters like Marco Antonio Barrera, it motivated me.”
Further compounding matters is the fact that in addition to being a full-time fighter, Marroquin is also a full-time college student. Seeking a degree in Accounting, all the while training for professional boxing matches may sound like an insanely arduous task; Marroquin takes it all in stride.
"It’s been tough having the boxing thing going and being back in school,” Marroquin concedes. “I’m running getting my physicals here, and then I have to worry about exams and everything. It’s a lot of pressure, but it’s great.”
(Photo credit: Ed Garza)
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