From the Street to the Ring, Marqus Bates Aims for 4th KO Win Saturday in Rhode Island

On Saturday night, fast-rising Massachusetts boxer Marqus Bates tries to improve to 6-2 as a pro when he returns to action against Jair Ramos for CES Boxing in Lincoln, R.I. Before that, the hard-hitting welterweight spoke with FightBook MMA.

How did you find boxing in the first place?

A close friend who recently passed, Justin Paulo, my son’s mother’s brother was already in involved in the sport for years by mid-2007. I wasn’t doing the right thing, I was in the streets and he introduced me to boxing in the hope that it would bring me away from the streets. I had a son on the way and he wanted to take my abilities and channel them towards something else. Justin Paulo was the one who turned me onto boxing.

How would your life be different if it weren’t for boxing?

My life was different. Shortly after I was introduced to boxing, after about a year and a half, I went back to the street – selling drugs, playing with guns, stuff like that. I wasn’t doing the right thing. Shortly after that, around 2011, I went to prison for three years. I took that time to get my mind and body right and figure out what I wanted to do with my life. I didn’t want to spend my life in prison, so, when I came home I was in-and-out of a couple of gyms until I moved to Rhode Island with my now-girlfriend, Heidi. I met my current trainer, Brian Johnson, in the summer of 2016, and it’s been full steam ahead from there. I won the novice division in the January 2016 Golden Gloves tournament for Southern New England. I made it to the finals in Lowell, MA, and I lost by decision. I had a few more fights after that as an amateur and made my pro debut in September 2016.

How do you feel about your accomplishments so far?

I feel good. There’s a lot more that I’ve set for myself to accomplish in the future. Right now, it’s just the break in the ice for me. I’ve done some things, but I’m my own harshest critic – so, in my eyes I haven’t done anything. I’m just going to keep plugging and pushing forward, until I get where I want to go. I’m proud of myself and the changes I’ve made in my life for my son, for myself, and for my family. I’m proud of my five wins and my couple of losses. Just to be able to handle the challenge the way I have, it’s a pat on the back from myself.

What should the fans expect Saturday?

My fans expect me to come out victorious and that’s what I plan to do. He’s a good fighter, he’s been in the game for a long time. He’s a humble guy, like myself, and he’s coming in like I am – he’s coming in to fight. I’m not going to badmouth him or anything like that. He’s coming in to fight, I’m coming in to fight – we’ve got to do what we’ve got to do and the best man’s going to win.

Who will that be?

I think it’ll be me. Just like he thinks he’s going to win, I think I’m going to win. I have to put in my work to get that win and that’s what I’m going to do.

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Roberto Villa is the CEO, Founder, Executive Writer, Senior Editor of FightBook MMA. Has a passion for Combat Sports and also a podcast host for Sitting Ringside. He’s also a former MMA fighter and Kickboxer.