Tanajara, Cortez, Impress in San Antonio Homecoming Fights!

Photo Credit: Alamo City MediaGroup

In the evening's main event, "El Finito" Hector Tanajara, of San Antonio, made it 2-0 in his comeback at 140 pounds, with a textbook, vintage, "El Finito" performance! Tanajara was as sharp as ever in scoring a lopsided unanimous decision over Johnny Arellano of Austin. Tanajara improved to 21-1-1 (6). The new weight seems to be a fit for the San Antonian. Tanajara has shown more pop on his punches. He was able to hurt Arellano time and again with clean, crisp combinations. He staggered Arellano in the second, again in the third, and nearly finished him a number of times, on his way to a lopsided victory by scores of 60-54xs and 59-55. It was the type of performance that reminds the world of the sharp skill, Tanajara posses that had him in the conversation with Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia. "I give myself maybe a B or a B+. I would have given myself an A if I got the stoppage." a victorious Tanajara said "I felt great in there. I felt calm, more like myself, and more aggressive. That's thanks to my team" It was vintage "El Finito" but the San Antonian wasn't satisfied or resting. The victorious San Antonian plans on being back in the ring in May and said he's going to be right back in the gym tomorrow "I'm going to be right back in the gym tomorrow. This was only a six-round fight. I feel great." a motivated Tanajara explained. As motivated as ever, he gave thanks to his Dad and Robert Garcia for the great work they did and said there's still work to do "I could have done some things better. I could have caught and shoot a little bit better." It's the best Tanajara has looked since his Alamodome victory over Juan Carlos Burgos back in 2020. It was a great sign that Tanajara is back and close to competing at the most elite level again. When asked what's next "We have one more fight in May." Tanajara said, "after that, sky's the limit. We are looking at any fighter at the top of 135 or 140... whatever is the best opportunity. If I get a fight at 135 with the right amount of time, I can make 135, but I like how I feel at 140, but if I have enough time, I can make 135 as well."

In the Co-main Daniel Cortez improved his record to 4-0 (2) with a first-round stoppage. The highly touted prospect from San Antonio, patiently stalked his much larger opponent, Ruben Martinez. Walking down his man, the 20-year-old Cortez was the physically strong man, and in complete control, Snapping off his jab, Martinez was uncomfortable from the opening bell. Cortez dropped his man with a single jab just past the midway point of the opening round, displaying his unique power. Martinez was able to make it to his feet. However, Cortez stepped up the pace a bit and ripped his opponent with a left hook to the body. He stayed on the attack and again rattled his opponent, this time with a one-two combination. Cortez struck again, Just before the bell rang to end the opening round. He put together a perfectly placed left-hook and right-hand combination that again put his outmatched opponent on the floor. Martinez reached his feet, but his corner had decided he had seen enough and stopped the fight. Giving Cortez the first-round TKO victory.

Also on the card was fan favorite Mayra Rodriguez of San Antonio. Rodriguez is also a professional model and ring-card girl. She can now add successful professional boxer to her impressive resume. Rodriguez scored a third-round TKO at the 1:31 mark and moved her record to 1-1 (1) by stopping Domonique Hernandez of Seguin fell to 0-1.

In two other fights of note, Jason "El Gallo" Limon outboxed Alexis "Bam Bam" Balderas, from the Rio Grande Valley, for the Texas State welterweight title. Limon needed to stay away from the heavy bombs from "Bam Bam" and he was largely successful in doing so. Bouncing back from his first career loss, Limon secured the biggest win of his career via unanimous decision by scores of 60-54x2 and 59-55 to move his record to 6-1-1 (2).

Another one of Robert Garcia's pupils Sylvestre Quinonez improved his record to 3-0 (1) picking up a third-round stoppage of Keith Smart. Quinonez scored a first and second-round knockdown. Overcoming a cut over his left eye, from a head butt, Quinonez stayed calm and in control and dropped Smart again right at the end of the second. In the third round, he again rocked his opponent with another clean left hook that staggered Smart. Quinonez pushed hard and unleashed a whirlwind of pinpoint power shots that poured in one after another until the referee came in to waive off the bout at 1:12 of round three.

In what may have been the most fan-friendly fight of the night, Luis Gallegos and Mustafa Malik traded knockdowns in the first round. Gallegos stayed on the aggressive and scored with a big right hand that rocked and wobbled Malik late in the second. Gallegos scored again moments later with another right hand that sent Malik into the corner. A massive right hand followed that up and put Malik down again right at the end of the second, this time for good. Giving Gallegos a second-round knockout to move his recur to 5-1 (5).

"El Finito" Hector Tanajara Returns in March on Loaded San Antonio Card

One of The Alamo City's brightest young stars Hector "El Finito" Tanajara, returns to the ring at the Shrine Auditorium in his home city, on Marvh12th. The fight will be held on a Sunday afternoon and is put on in conjunction with Gamez Law Firm, South Park Boxing, Robert Garcia Boxing Academy as well as Triple-A promotions.

Tanajara, a promising now junior welterweight fighter, ended a two-fight skid in 2021 and '22 that resulted in his first career blemishes a loss in 2021, and a draw in 2022. He returned home to San Antonio this past November to get back on track at a new weight and scored an impressive fifth-round TKO over Antonio Meija at the Tech Port Arena on the city's west side. It was an impressive return from the super-sharp contender who sports a 20-1-1 (6) and is still just 26 years old and still has world title aspirations to go along with world title skills that he reminded the boxing world of last November.

The card will feature a load of Robert Garcia fighters that will include surging prospect, Daniel Cortez of San Antonio who was one of the top Texas prospects to watch emerge in 2023. Plus the long and rangy Junior Middleweight prospect Sylvestre Quinonez who resides in the nearby hill country will be featured on the card. There will also be a loaded undercard that will feature highly touted and hard-hitting Super Featherweight Henry "World Star" Arredondo, who has gone viral for a variety of knockouts and has been featured on nationally televised PBC cards. Additionally, rising blue chip prospect Javy Fernandez, who was also featured as one of the best prospects to watch in Texas will be back in action and will look to move his career record to 13-. Plus, touted welterweight prospect and former amateur standout Jason Limon will be in action, all of San Antonio. In another special attraction fight, fans will get another look at fan-favorite women fighter and professional model Mayra Rodriguez. Rodriguez has previously worked as a ring girl and is the current face of, and official model for, Fade Life Clothing.

Six Shooters: Six Young Texas Fighers who Could Emerge in 2023

1. Fabian Diaz Edinburg 3-0 (1) There's nothing not to like about Diaz, the best young fighter in the RGV is absolutely electric. He strikes so much similarity to a young Teofimo Lopez, a Teofimo Lopez who "still had it"! Everything Diaz throws is hard and violent. He's a seek-and-destroy fighter with superb skills and is always on the hunt. It's not a matter of if it's a matter of when for Diaz. The "Unknown Warrior" made his pro debut in July in San Antonio on a PBC and ran his record to 3-0 (1). He scored his latest win, a first-round KO earlier this month on a Marines Promotions Card. Look for the youngster to be back in the ring on another PBC Card early in 2023

2. Juan Garcia Carrizo Springs 1-0 (1) If you have never heard of Carrizo Springs you're about to the south Texas town in Dimmit County is about 80 miles northwest of Laredo and has a population of about 5,000. Garcia is about to put the small south Texas town on the boxing map. A pure boxer-puncher with excellent fundamentals and one-punch power got off to an explosive start to his career. He made his pro debut on a P4P card in San Antonio and scored a first-round knockout. Unfortunately, The least experienced fighter on the list should be 3-0 but had two victories removed by the Texas Commission, so the only knock on the kid is that he might want to be a little more careful of who he hangs around.

3." Panterita" Jesus Martinez Del Rio 3-0 (1) The Future Of Boxing! The Phenom. The youngest fighter on the list. The 13x US National Champ and International Champ is as complete a fighter as a 17-year-old can be, and under the tutelage of Robert Garcia, the sky is truly the limit. An extraordinary athlete with terrific speed, one-punch power, a high ring IQ, plus all the accolades to back it up. Panterita caught the eye of former world champs Joe Calzaghe and Darren Baker and was the first fighter signed by their Management company ISG. Panterita has already fought on Matchroom Cards and has been streamed on DAZN.

4. Daniel Cortez San Antonio 3-0 (1) the 20-year-old is already being touted as San Antonio's next great one. Cortez trains alongside fellow Alamo City natives and world champions Bam Rodriguez and Josh Franco, he served as one of Franco's chief sparring partners in his lead-up to the unification bout with Ioka. Cortez is a raw talent with unlimited upside, who after a brief but successful amateur career turned pro. He caught the eye of trainer Robert Garcia and has gotten off to an exceptional start in his professional career. He has a style that is made for pro success more than the amateurs and can band on the inside and his elite-level power but has the ability to use his height and reach and box from the outside. A gifted offensive fighter who can box at all three distances.

5. Javy Fernández San Antonio 12-0 (6) Guaranteed action! Fernandez is a pressure fighter, a raw power puncher, who had a way too wide-base. Fernendez was discovered by trainer Rick Nunez of the South Park Boxing Academy and Nunez has his man on the verge of being a breakout star. Fernandez is no longer just a relentless come-forward swarmer. He has learned how to cut the ring off, force his opponents to exchange, and can wear them down. He also snappy jab he uses to get on the inside and much-improved footwork. When on the inside Fernandez is deadly and relentless.

6. Sammy Castaneda Mercedes 9-0-1 (7)- Of all the Fighters on the list we know that Castaneda has the heart. He has that dog in him! The 9-0-1 prospect took a major step up and took on the biggest fight of his career as big-time boxing returned to the RGV as he battled Julio Sanchez in a lackluster fight that he still appeared to win but had to settle for a draw in. Castaneda didn't want to move on and forget it happened and his status as an A-side prospect to avoid a rematch. He was obsessed with the rematch, got his rematch, and delivered. He got up off the canvas and erased a three-point deficit on the scorecard after a second-round knockdown, shook it off, and dominated Sanchez for the remainder of the fight to pick up the MD victory.

San Antonio's Next Great One, Daniel Cortez Returns on November 18th at Tech Port Arena

No other place in the boxing world has produced more elite talent in recent years than San Antonio. SATX is putting out elite-level fighters and world champions at an alarming rate. Josh Franco, Bam Rodriguez, Hector Tanajara, Mario Barrios, and the list goes on. The great fighting city has perhaps found its next great one, 19-year-old, super bantamweight, Daniel Cortez is off to a sensational start. The 2-0 (1) prospect returns to the ring on November 18th on the Garcia Promotions card at the Tech Port Arena, a card headlined by RGBA stablemate and fellow Alamo City native Hector Tanajara.

The undefeated teenager already has a massive fan base in his home city and it's not something Cortez takes for granted, " it feels amazing that I have so much support in San Antonio, and it feels amazing that I have all these people cheering me on" Cortez explained. That crowd will be on hand when he looks to push his record to 3-0 on the 18th.

Cortez had a good but not sensational amateur career. It was good enough to capture the attention of one of boxing's premier trainers, Robert Garcia, "They've known about me since I was an amateur, they followed my amateur career, and they've always liked my style. I've had a pro-style since I was little." the undefeated San Antonian explained who has been a part of what is possibly the best boxing camp in the country since deciding to turn pro.

Cortez has been working with some of the best fighters in the world, including world champions Josh Franco and Bam Rodriguez, who helped him transition to living in southern California. "It's definitely a culture shock. It's a lot different than San Antonio, but I like it out here. It's good [having Bam and Josh in California with him] it's easier to transition having all the San Antonio people out here. It helped with the transition because they've been through it."

Franco and Bam have helped in multiple ways, in addition to helping the Texan acclimate to live in California they've helped him in his professional development. "Working with Josh and Bam it's great to have them right here beside me... I am doing the things they are doing and they're world champions." Cortez has worked as one of Franco's main sparring partners for his super flyweight unification fight with Kaz Ioka in Japan on 12/31. Cortez talked about sparring with the super flyweight champ "he's going to do great! He's looking like a beast! He's strong, he's sharp."

It was Cortez's pro-style that has him on the fast track and It was a style Cortez knew was more fitted for the professionals, as he explained. "I've always known my style was more fitted for the pros. I knew that early on, I knew that since I was little. I just had to fight that way [as an amature] now that I'm a pro, I feel good. The results have certainly reflected that. Cortez took on a rugged challenger Daniel Duenez, from Gonzalez, Texas, in his pro debut at the Freeman Coliseum on a Team Morones Boxing card. Cortez ripped violent shots on the inside, working left hooks and uppercuts straight up the middle that staggered an overmatched Duenez multiple times. Cortez described it " I hit him with two flush left hooks and he buckled, but he was still there. He was still standing. That's when I knew I was going to be in with a tough guy." Cortez carried the action and did a solid job of beating up on the game but overmatched opponent, but he got good work and took a lot from the experience." I really saw my power kick in my second fight at my actual weight class. That's when I really showed my power... The 8oz gloves was the big change for me hitting someone and getting hit with 8-oz gloves is different."

Next up for the undefeated super bantamweight was Edward Richardson at the Tech Port Arena. The experience and growth were noticeable as Cortez settled in and destroyed Richardson. Stopping him in three very one-sided rounds. "I was able to take more chances. I was more loose. I wanted to take a little bit more chances and was able to get him out in the third round."

Next up is November 18th, on a major card in front of his hometown, but there's no rush for the blue-chip prospect who is just focused on the process and getting better and learning his trade. He isn't yet thinking about fighting for world titles or too far down the road. "We just take one fight at a time. When it comes, it comes, we just want to focus on getting one guy out of there at a time. When my coaches know I'm on that level to fight bigger fights they'll let me know." That time will certainly come for Cortez, who is viewed as the future. There are a lot of expectations on the 19-year-old. Despite those lofty expectations he remains humbled and grounded "we're the new guys [along with "Panterita" Jesus Martinez] we're just training hard to get there, where Bam is at." Cortez explained.