Former world champion Rafael Marquez travelled to the  Mahanaim Rehabilitation Center, which treats alcoholism and drug addiction, in the Guadalupe Tepeyac neighborhood of Mexico City.

Rafa spoke with inmates about his treasure chest of experiences as a boxer,  and how complicated it was to reach the top, culminating in becoming world champion.

Accompanied by the director of the rehabilitation center, Amehd Lopez Trejo and Mr. Ezequiel Vilchis, Rafa Marquez explained to all present that the most powerful motivation to get ahead in life is: "Discipline, but also to be well with oneself."

"If you fall, you have to get up in the ring. It happened to me many times and I won. I am what I am today, due to my family and for what I did," said the boxer from Iztapalapa, when questioned by one of the patients who had the opportunity of happily chatting with the former double world champion.

The former bantamweight and super bantamweight champion stressed that family is a very important factor for anyone who wants to get ahead.

"My dad Rafael Marquez Enriquez taught me and my brother Juan Manuel boxing, in the neighborhood where we lived in the east of the city. There was crime and there were problems. But thanks to my dad we never fell.  He was fundamental for all of us, forming the foundation of  what we are today, along with love and education."

Rafael, who had four fierce, spectacular, brilliant  and memorable fights against his compatriot Israel Vazquez, explained that he, along with his brother Juan Manuel Marquez, had to work, study and train to be able to support themselves financially along with their entire family.

This Saturday in the Hall of Mirrors of Coyuya, at the Iztacalco neighborhood, Rafael Marquez will be presented with a tribute for his boxing career. The Delegate of Iztacalco, Carlos Estrada and Deputy Elizabeth Mateos, will be there to recognize him along with other stars of boxing.