Tijuana, Baja California Norte, Mexico
Many times as I sit ringside at El Foro or el Auditorio in TIjuana, MX, I listen to those around me talk about the golden era of Tijuana boxing. Many of these old timers consider the 80′s and the early 90′s the golden era of boxing in Tijuana, when Memo Mayen used to put on fights every Monday at the Municipal Auditorium. In the early eighties to the middle years of the decade, it wouldn’t be surprising to find a young Julio Cesar Chavez, Manuel “Mantecas” Medina or Raul “Jibaro” Perez plying their trade in the Auditorium and then in the mid nineties Erik “Terrible” Morales or Jorge “Travieso” Arce also lacing them up and fighting in front of the loyal Tijuana fight fans.
I think there is a resurgence of talent in Tijuana now.
This Saturday, you will find two transplants competing at the highest levels of the sport, two fighters that have reached the pinnacles of their careers so far while living and training in Tijuana. Cristobal “Lacandon” Cruz, originally of the southern Mexican state of Chiapas but living in Tijuana for quite some time, will defend his IBF featherweight title this Saturday against his one time previous conqueror Jorge “Coloradito” Solis. The fight will take place in Cruz’s home state of Chiapas. Also performing this weekend will be Antonio DeMarco of Los Mochis, MX. The 23-year-old has been living in Tijuana since the tender age of fourteen when he followed an uncle to the CREA gym to follow his dream of becoming a world champion under the tutelage of Don Romulo Quirarte. DeMarco captured the NABO lightweight title earlier this year by stopping Kid Diamond in Anaheim, CA, and now will be battling Agnes Adjaho in a WBC title eliminator that if he wins, will give him the right to face current WBC lightweight champion Edwin Valero later this year.
Although suspended by the CSAC until at least early next year, nobody can forget that TIjuana boasts the three time welterweight champion Antonio Margarito as one of their own. Despite the fact that Margarito was actually born in the LA area, he has always maintained Tijuana as his true home and began his career here at fifteen years of age.
Former two time super welterweight WBA champion Alejandro “Terra” Garcia is a native of Tijuana who grew up in the rough and tumble Colonia El Rubi and made his name in his division in the early part of this decade and still looking for one more opportunity for a run at a title despite the fact that he has not had that much luck lately, losing more fights that he has won.
Besides the current or former world champions that call Tijuana home, there is a new wave of up and coming prospects that are still sharpening their weapons in the tough Tijuana gyms and who some of them are ready for the next step in their careers.
From the Ulloa Gym, flyweight Arturo “Fuerte” Badillo is on the cusp of making a major move in his career, rumor having it that he is preparing to make his U.S. debut later this year.
“Jibaro” Perez, now a trainer who holds court in a gym in the Zona Norte of the city, has in his stable Javier Gallo who although tasted defeat at the hands of Badillo last year, is still considered a top prospect in the city as well as the Estrella brothers, Omar and Jose who also train with Perez.
At the Moran Gym located next to the Auditorium, super featherweight Emilio Bojorquez continues to train along Fernando “Cuervito” Garcia and formerly world ranked Omar Salido. Bojorquez recently made the jump across the border and fought numerous times in San Diego but has been plagued with injuries and personal issues that stalled his rise in the ranks.
The most prolific gym in the city is the CREA gym helmed by the local legend Romulo Quirarte and his sons Romulo Jr. and Bobby. Among DeMarco and current WBC super featherweight champion Humberto Soto who train there, the CREA gym also boasts a multitude of talent who can honestly be claimed as the creme of the crop as far as the city’s new prospects. David De La Mora, “Che Che” Lopez, Alejandro “Mantequitas” Rubio and Marvin Quintero are only the most known of the Quirarte proteges among the many who converge at the gym on a daily basis.
Other notable mentions are Juan Luis “Perla Negra” Hernandez, Javier “Cobrita” Mendoza and David “Flecha” Gaspar.
Although San Diego is in close proximity to Tijuana, it does not boast a similar boxing scene and a crop of fresh talent as extensive as its sister city. The fact that Tijuana is the portal to the United States for many people from other parts of Mexico looking for a better life, including fighters, might be a reason for the difference. One can only dream of when the same amount of talent can be found on either side of the border.
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