By Evan ‘Hertzy’ Hertzog/RockyMountainBoxing.com

May 11th 2012, Red and Jerrys in Denver Colorado. This is the date and location of what was thought to be the final professional boxing match in the career of then 34-year-old veteran Stevie Marquez. He fought to a draw against Sean Wilson, a 5 and 10 fighter who he was favored over. After starting his career off strong jumping out to a (5-2-1) record, with four of his first five victories coming by way of knockout, he was forced to reconcile with history as he readied himself for retirement, staring at a (9-17-2) record.

He knew this was to his own undoing as he began taking any and every fight offered on a days’ notice if necessary, in the middle part of his career. Taking on all comers weather he was in full fight shape, injured, or having to travel cross country. Killers were around every corner for the game fighter, such as Hector Munoz, Tyrese Hendrix, and most notable Terrance “Bud” Crawford. Marquez will be the first to admit that his career wasn’t managed exactly how it could or should have been but none the less he was at peace with it ending regardless of his record at the time.

His daughter was 8 at the time of his last fight but it was when she turned eleven that the comeback of Stevie Marquez started. He recalls her asking to box and him agreeing. They took a trip down to the House of Pain boxing gym, ran by coach Steve Mestas. As their trips to the gym became more frequent, Mestas began to hound Marquez about lacing the gloves up to make one more run at this boxing stuff. The idea started to gain momentum in his head and once he was up to sparring 20 rounds at the age of 36 he began to fancy the thought more and more. With the final push coming by way of absolute support from his wife and family, Stevie decided he would take the fight game once again. This time under new management and coaching, which would and have proved to be exactly what the renewed and re-inspired fighter needed.

He made his return almost exactly 3 years to the day since he made his decision to first retire. He eased his way back into things with a unanimous decision victory over Steve Victor, followed by a second-round knockout win against Zamir Young, just three short months later. These victories in 2015 marked Marquez’s first back to back wins since the summer of 2006. Little did we know this was just the start of a remarkable run for the 37-year-old Colorado fighter. Including two huge knockout victories over Brad Jackson who owned a win over Marquez in 2009, which gave the unlikely trilogy to Marquez.

Overall, the “fountain of youth” fighter, who has “Nyquil”, in both hands per coach Steve Mestas, has strung together 6 straight victories, tripling his best win streak of two. With four of those six coming in the form of knockouts including his last three straight.

No doubt about it my friends. Stevie Marquez is riding the “Mile High Magic”, as much as anyone has before in the fight game and is going to ride it for as long as he can.

The next stop on the comeback tour takes place Saturday January 14th at the Glitter Dome Event Center in Denver Colorado when he takes on the super game Daniel Calzada in the main event of Airtight boxings first show of 2017. This is a huge fight going forward for Marquez and will answer many questions on just how far the reborn fighter can take his new-found glory.

Only time will tell but it seems that “Time”, is on his side.