ABOUT MARLEN

Marlen Esparza began her boxing career at the age of 12. Since then, she spent years training and competing in the sport to become a barrier-breaking internationally recognized boxing force.

During the 2012 Olympics, Marlen not only qualified to compete, but she also became the first American woman to qualify for the Olympics in the first year that women’s boxing made its debut. Marlen, known for her stamina and durability, won the bronze medal in the Women’s Flyweight Division during the Olympics in London and a gold medal at the 2014 AIBA (International Boxing Association) Women’s World Boxing Championships.

By her early 30s, she had already begun her professional boxing career - making history once again as the first female fighter to be signed by Golden Boy Promotions, a boxing firm established by 11-time world champion Oscar de la Hoya. Over the years, she has appeared in commercials for Coca-Cola and McDonald’s, along with earning a Nike sponsorship.

In her first professional two-round match, Marlen took on Rachel Sazoff, also known as the Black Widow, and won. She has also competed against Samantha Salaza, along with Aracely Palacios and Karla Valenzuela, which she received unanimous decision wins against. She continued on this winning streak with a TKO victory against Laetizia Campana in 2018 and then a unanimous decision victory against Jhosep Vizcaino the following year. In 2019, in an eight-round flyweight fight against Sonia Osorio, Marlen won with a KO.

Just weeks before tonight’s Athletics Hall of Fame event, Marlen went toe to toe in a 10-round fight against Japan’s legendary Naoko Fujioka. After exchanging multiple right and left hooks in a fast-paced fight, Marlen is now the unified Flyweight WBC champion.

The 5’3” 113 lbs. boxer has a professional record of 12-1-0.

Marlen graduated from Pasadena High School in 2007 where she ran crosscountry and competed in swimming and debate. Marlen was inducted into the PHS Alumni Hall of Honor in 2020.