They are the pride of two countries and a living reflection of what Hispanic Heritage is, a celebration that takes place this month.
Boxers like Abner Mares, Leo Santa Cruz, Mikey Garcia, Andy Ruiz Jr., to name a few, belong to two countries. Sometimes they are cheered and other times they are not so loved for this very reason.
Former world champion and now promoter Óscar De La Hoya lived this first-hand for much of his career. Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, of Mexican parents, he was not fully accepted south of the border, due to various situations, but mainly for representing the United States at the 1984 Olympics Games.
De La Hoya always said he felt Mexican, to the extent that in 2002 he received his citizenship at the Mexican Consulate in Los Angeles.
Most of these boxers have made their careers in the United States, in cities with high Mexican populations, although when they leave those comfort zones even as champions, they may not be well received.
Abner Mares boxed as a Mexican amateur
Mares, a native of Guadalajara, Mexico, grew up mostly in the United States after his parents moved to Hawaiian Gardens in California when he was seven years old.
He was subsequently sent by his family to Mexico at the age of 15.
In Mexico, he represented his country as an amateur, winning a gold medal at the Central American and Caribbean Games in 2002, silver at the 2003 Pan-American Games (where he lost to Guillermo Rigondeaux), while he fell in the second round at the Olympic Games. 2004.
He signed professionally in 2005, and has won world titles in the bantamweight, super bantamweight and featherweight divisions. He has, fought his entire career in the United States.
“I fight for my fans, who know that I was born in Mexico and live in the United States,” Mares said in 2015. “This month is important for me to show everyone the pride, heritage and history that makes us who we are. From the music that I listen to when I train, to the culture and traditions that I celebrate, I am proud to be Latino and to be Mexican ”.
Leo Santa Cruz shares his culture through boxing
Santa Cruz was also born in Mexico, in Michoacán, although he resides in the United States. He has won championships in four different categories: bantamweight, super bantamweight, featherweight, and super featherweight.
His interest in boxing began in his native Mexico, although he decided to try his luck in the pro ranks of the United States, where he made his debut in 2006.
Santa Cruz, however, has made four of his 37 fights as a professional boxer in Mexico, concentrating his activity on US soil in Texas, Nevada and California.
“As a Mexican American, it is important for me to share my culture, my heritage and my dedication to this sport with my fans,” Santa Cruz said in 2015. “Boxing is in my blood, and it is an important part of my culture. ”.
Mikey García has boxing in his blood
Garcia, on the other hand, was born in the United States to Mexican parents. He represented the US in various amateur competitions during his youth, while winning championships as a professional in four different categories: featherweight, super featherweight, lightweight, and welterweight.
He was not born in Mexico and fought only three times there, concentrating most of his activity in the same U.S. centers of high Mexican population as Mares and Santa Cruz.
Boxing runs in the family blood. His father Eduardo was an amateur boxer and trained former world champion Fernando Vargas, his brother Roberto, was a world champion and has been his trainer throughout his career. His older brother, Daniel, also boxed professionally.
García does not want to be remembered only for his Mexican origin, he wants his legacy to be based on his entire career, “I want to be remembered not only as a Mexican boxer,” Garcia said in 2020. “I want to be remembered and considered as one of the best boxers, you know, of this generation, of this era.”
Ruiz is always proud of his heritage
Andy Ruiz’s case is different.
Born in the United States of Mexican immigrants, Andy Ruiz had his first fight at the age of 7 in San Diego, and later represented Mexico in various international tournaments, including the Mexican National Championship as well as pre-Olympic qualifiers. He is the only boxer with Mexican roots to win the heavyweight title, when he entered as a last-minute substitute to face Anthony Joshua, whom he knocked out in eight rounds to take the WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO world boxing titles.
He was received as a national hero in Mexico after his victory and was recognized by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who invited him to the Presidential Palace.
Andy Ruiz made his professional debut in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, and also fought there for his next two fights. He has boxed in Saudi Arabia, Macau, and New Zealand.
Ruiz has also always taken much pride in his Mexican roots. “The hard working Mexican worker tries to come here (USA) in search of opportunities, because America is one of the greatest countries in the world. For me, I am American and I am Mexican. I live here, and it hurts me the way many people talk about Mexicans when I know that we are dedicated and hard-working ”.