Home again: Cibola grad, Bad Boy champ boxing in from of family

When Ricardo Kato-Marquez won a Bad Boy Boxing Tournament lightweight division last year in Phoenix, he did so without family members in attendance.

Now that the tournament is in Yuma for the first time, the Cibola graduate can put on a show for family and friends.

The tournament for fighters with limited boxing tournament experience will start at 8 p.m. tonight at Paradise Casino.

At a media event Friday, Kato-Marquez said he's looking forward to tonight's bout.

"It's kind of exciting," Kato-Marquez said. "Now my family actually gets to see me fight now for the first time. Everybody's excited, and I'm excited. At the same time nervous, but it's all about the adrenaline. It's a whole different world out here."

The 26-year-old Phoenix parks and recreation employee said while he's glad to be back in Yuma, he is aware of the pressure that comes with returning home.

"At the same time, I don't want my family to see me lose," Kato-Marquez said. "I don't want to come here and lose. It's kind of unnerving."

In the heavyweight division, a late addition was made, with Yuma High graduate Gabe Marquez entering the tournament after David Encinas had to withdraw.

Marquez had been training for this event for months, but missed the registration and was tagged as an alternate. In his first boxing tournament, he said he's looking forward to a "re-match" against Illario Castro.

The two grappled at a mixed-martial arts tournament in Mexicali, with Castro getting the win.

"I never lost in my life, I'm a competitor," Marquez said. "I don't consider that I lost; just that I gassed out myself. But now it's up to me and I don't feel that I'm going to gas out."

Marquez said the possibility of facing Marquez again.

"He's a great fighter, and he did get the 'W,'" Marquez said. "I did lose, but in my eyes, I didn't lose. But I do have to give him the credit - he came out the better fighter."