Marlen Esparza

Marlen Esparza

Keynote Speaker: Professional Boxer, 2012 Olympic Bronze Medalist & World Champion

Marlen Esparza Biography

Marlen Esparza was born in Houston, Texas and grew up in a family that adored the sport of boxing. Her introduction to the ring came at age 11, when she started babysitting her younger brother while he worked out at a local gym. Esparza was soon begging her father and the gym’s trainer to let her try the sport. They were hesitant, but soon gave in under one condition: She had to behave in school. She kept her end of the bargain and by her senior year she was named class President and graduated with a 4.6 GPA. Although, she had won two Women’s Boxing U.S. National Championships (2006, 2007) and captured bronze at the 2006 World Championships, Esparza was ready to quit the sport and go to Rice University, where she had been previously accepted.

All of that changed in 2009 when the International Olympic Committee announced that women’s boxing would debut at the 2012 London Olympic Games. Soon after this announcement, Nike, Coca-Cola, and CoverGirl signed Esparza to sponsorship deals. This was huge because she was able to quit her job – she had been working as a dental assistant - and her focus on training became even more intense for the only title left for her to win.

Esparza went on to win the 2009, 2010, and 2011 U.S. National Championships and qualified to the Olympic Games at the World Championships in China. This would clinch her spot in history as the first ever American female boxer to ever compete in an Olympic Games. In the debut of women’s boxing at the 2012 London Olympic Games, Esparza brought home the bronze medal. Her original plan was to leave the sport after the Olympic Games, but after bringing home the bronze she realized she wasn’t quite finished with boxing.

Esparza kept her U.S. National Championship winning streak alive by taking the title in2013,2014, and 2015. She also took home the gold medal at the 2014 Women’s World Championships for the first time in her career.

In 2017, Esparza turned pro, signing with Golden Boy Promotions and becoming their first ever female boxer. She dominated her pro debut on ESPN and is currently 14-1in her professional career. She won her first WBC World Title by unanimous decision and most recently became the unified WBO, WBA, WBC, and Ring Magazine Flyweight Champion of the World.

In January 2019, Esparza welcomed her first child, Saint Diego Figueroa.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Marlen Esparza and other top speakers and celebrities.

Marlen Esparza Speaking Topics

A Lady's Fight: Pioneering the First Olympic Women's Boxing Games

Speaker Marlen Esparza was the first US female boxer to qualify for London 2012 in an Olympic sport that didn't even allow women to compete until 2009. A pioneer in the industry, Esparza not only opened the door to all other women wanting to get into boxing, but as the first US female boxer to medal with a bronze, she proved that they could excel in the sport. Esparza shares her journey -- candidly admitting that it wasn't always easy and glamorous, as there were days when she simply did not want to train and had to drag herself out of bed -- and motivates all women to follow their dreams, no matter how daunting they might seem.

Fiercely Latina: Channeling Your Heritage's Spirit in the Ring

As the first Latina boxer -- and the first to have top sponsors such as CoverGirl, Coca-Cola, McDonalds, and Nike -- Marlen Esparza hopes to open the door to future generations of Latinos, encouraging them to compete in women's boxing and all sports in general. In this keynote, she discusses how Latinos don't have to fall prey to typical stereotypes, such as not graduating from high school, and instead should feel empowered to pursue their dreams. She shares her story and her plans to go back to college as a pre-med student while training for Rio 2016 and working on launching her own beauty and fashion line. Her message is simple but powerful: if you can dream it and believe it, then you can do it.

Going for the Gold: Achieving Your Goals Against All Odds

As a little girl, speaker Marlen Esparza passed up Barbies and Polly pockets in favor of a slightly more unusual game: boxing. Watching it on television with her dad and brothers and accompanying them to the gym to watch them practice, she developed an irreversible passion for the sport. But it came with a serious challenge: her father and coach told her she couldn't box because she was a girl. Undeterred, she started training -- and winning -- proving them all wrong. In this keynote, Esparza shares her story of fighting obstacle after obstacle in order to achieve her goals -- from being taken seriously as a female boxer to competing in the Olympics.

Marlen Esparza Videos

Pro boxer Marlen Esparza to fight three months after giving birth
Marlen Esparza Welcomes New Okay to Say™ Supporters
Marlen Esparza Shares Her Mental Health Experience

How do I book Marlen Esparza to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Marlen Esparza for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Marlen Esparza, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Marlen Esparza or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Marlen Esparza for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Marlen Esparza, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fee for a virtual event is $10,000 - $20,000. For the most current speaking fee to hire Marlen Esparza, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

What topics does Marlen Esparza speak about?

Marlen Esparza is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Boxing, Sports Motivation, Women, Diversity & Inclusion, Athlete, College, Hispanic Heritage, Inspirational, Motivational, Influential Women, Sports, Olympic Athlete, Women's Health, Empowerment, Women's Empowerment and Culture.

Where does Marlen Esparza travel from?

Marlen Esparza generally travels from Houston, TX, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Marlen Esparza?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Marlen Esparza for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Marlen Esparza for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Marlen Esparza or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.


Marlen Esparza is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Boxing, Sports Motivation and Women. The estimated speaking fee range to book Marlen Esparza for virtual events is $10,000 - $20,000. Please contact us for live event fees. Marlen Esparza generally travels from Houston, TX, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Dave Dravecky, Shayla Rivera and Linda Alvarado. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Marlen Esparza for an upcoming event.

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 12/02/2024.

Marlen Esparza Speaking Topics

  • A Lady's Fight: Pioneering the First Olympic Women's Boxing Games

    Speaker Marlen Esparza was the first US female boxer to qualify for London 2012 in an Olympic sport that didn't even allow women to compete until 2009. A pioneer in the industry, Esparza not only opened the door to all other women wanting to get into boxing, but as the first US female boxer to medal with a bronze, she proved that they could excel in the sport. Esparza shares her journey -- candidly admitting that it wasn't always easy and glamorous, as there were days when she simply did not want to train and had to drag herself out of bed -- and motivates all women to follow their dreams, no matter how daunting they might seem.

  • Fiercely Latina: Channeling Your Heritage's Spirit in the Ring

    As the first Latina boxer -- and the first to have top sponsors such as CoverGirl, Coca-Cola, McDonalds, and Nike -- Marlen Esparza hopes to open the door to future generations of Latinos, encouraging them to compete in women's boxing and all sports in general. In this keynote, she discusses how Latinos don't have to fall prey to typical stereotypes, such as not graduating from high school, and instead should feel empowered to pursue their dreams. She shares her story and her plans to go back to college as a pre-med student while training for Rio 2016 and working on launching her own beauty and fashion line. Her message is simple but powerful: if you can dream it and believe it, then you can do it.

  • Going for the Gold: Achieving Your Goals Against All Odds

    As a little girl, speaker Marlen Esparza passed up Barbies and Polly pockets in favor of a slightly more unusual game: boxing. Watching it on television with her dad and brothers and accompanying them to the gym to watch them practice, she developed an irreversible passion for the sport. But it came with a serious challenge: her father and coach told her she couldn't box because she was a girl. Undeterred, she started training -- and winning -- proving them all wrong. In this keynote, Esparza shares her story of fighting obstacle after obstacle in order to achieve her goals -- from being taken seriously as a female boxer to competing in the Olympics.

Marlen Esparza Videos

Pro boxer Marlen Esparza to fight three months after giving birth
Marlen Esparza Welcomes New Okay to Say™ Supporters
Marlen Esparza Shares Her Mental Health Experience

Marlen Esparza News

  • How do I book Marlen Esparza to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Marlen Esparza for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Marlen Esparza, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Marlen Esparza or any other speaker of your choice.
  • How much does it cost to book Marlen Esparza for a speaking engagement?

    Speaking fees for Marlen Esparza, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fee for a virtual event is $10,000 - $20,000. For the most current speaking fee to hire Marlen Esparza, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Marlen Esparza speak about?

    Marlen Esparza is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Boxing, Sports Motivation, Women, Diversity & Inclusion, Athlete, College, Hispanic Heritage, Inspirational, Motivational, Influential Women, Sports, Olympic Athlete, Women's Health, Empowerment, Women's Empowerment and Culture.
  • Where does Marlen Esparza travel from?

    Marlen Esparza generally travels from Houston, TX, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
  • Who is the agent for Marlen Esparza?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Marlen Esparza for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Marlen Esparza for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Marlen Esparza or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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