McALLEN — San Juan’s Esteban Garza has a fitting middle name — Ali.
The boxer comes from a fighting family and said his mom knew the name would fit just right.
The 18-year-old Garza has proven her correct thus far as he stands 1-0 in his professional boxing career and is looking to stay unbeaten when he fights in the co-main event at Border Wars on July 28 at Payne Arena in Hidalgo.
“I’ve been working my ass off since May when they gave me the call to fight in the co-main event, and I’m going to make a statement come July 28,” Garza said at Border Wars media day Wednesday at University Draft House in McAllen. “My uncles fought, my grandpa fought, my family fought, so boxing is in my blood. I’m excited, and it’s more motivation to fight here in my hometown. It’s a blessing.”
| San Juan’s Esteban Ali Garza set to fight in the Border Wars co-main event on July 28 at Payne Arena in Hidalgo. Bryan Ramos |
Garza began his professional boxing career March 25, scoring a first-round knockout against Reynosa’s Hector Gonzalez Elizondo. He’s now slated to fight against Donna’s Bryan Santiago, who will be making his professional debut. The two will fight four rounds at 115 pounds.
The Border Wars boxing card features six fights with a battle of undefeated boxers as Edinburg’s Fabian Diaz (4-0, 2 KOs) takes on Ivan Alvarado (5-0, 3 KOs) of Monterrey, Mexico, in the 137-pound weight class fighting in the main event.
“I’m going for the knockout. I’m going to put on a show and show everybody I’m about it,” Diaz said.
The undercard features Corpus Christi’s Travis Crawford (4-2) against Laredo’s Jesus Maldonado (2-4) at 144 pounds, Edinburg’s Rigoberto Rivera against Mission’s Isaac Matamoros (2-0) at 140 pounds, Elsa’s Jesus Adolfo Gallegos against Juan Alberto Flores (2-2-1) Monterrey, Mexico, and McAllen’s Francisco Javier Castillo against Donna’s Roberto Pina at 145 pounds.
Matamoros, who was recently preparing for an MMA fight before his opponent backed out due to injury, is set to return to the ring for the first time since 2017.
| Mission’s Isaac Matamoros speaks at Border Wars boxing Media Day on Wednesday, July 19 at University Draft House in McAllen. Bryan Ramos |
“I’ve boxed before, but I was running through my whole camp preparing for MMA for my first fight back in a few years, so now I just have to knock out the takedowns, kicks and put that aside,” he said. “I wouldn’t say it’s too different leading up to it. Once you’re in there, it’s about putting the kicks away, putting away the groundwork, and just focusing on the hands. That’s where you find out if you got the tools or not.”
Tickets for Border Wars on July 28 at Payne Arena in Hidalgo can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com or in-person at the Payne Arena box office.