TIJUANA TORNADOES

As Alejandra Ayala returns to Tijuana to begin her new life, we take a look at some legendary fighters to have emerged from that Mexican city

1 ÉRIK MORALES

The jewel in the Tijuana boxing crown, Morales is beloved, having become the first Mexican to win belts at four weights: super-bantamweight, featherweight, super-featherweight and light-welterweight.

2 ANTONIO MARGARITO

Though born in California, Margarito grew up in Tijuana from the age of two and fought under the name ‘The Tijuana Tornado’. At welterweight, he held three major sanctioning body belts between from 2002 and 2009.

3 RAÚL PÉREZ

Pérez became the WBC bantamweight belt-holder when outpointing Miguel Lora in 1988 and defended seven times before losing against Greg Richardson in ’91. He then beat Luis Mendoza to add a super-bantam strap.

4 JAIME MUNGUÍA

Tijuana’s newest boxing star, Munguía is currently 40-0 as a pro and rated as the No. 5 contender at middleweight. At 25, his best days are ahead of him.

5 LUIS NERY

A controversial figure with both weight and PED issues, Nery is nonetheless a capable fighter who has lost just one of 33 pro fights. He has won belts at bantamweight and super-bantam, where he is currently rated eighth.

6 ANTONIO DEMARCO

Demarco, though born in Los Mochis, Sinaloa, learned to box in Tijuana, where he moved during his adolescence. He beat Jorge Linares to win the WBC lightweight title in 2011 and defended twice before being dethroned by Adrien Broner.

7 ALEJANDRO GARCÍA

In March 2003, García knocked out Santiago Samaniego in three rounds to claim a 154lbs belt. In his first defence, he forced Roshii Wells to retire, only to then lose to Travis Simms in defence number two.

8 JUAN JOSÉ ESTRADA

Estrada won his WBA super-bantamweight title in Tijuana in 1988, beating Bernardo Pinango via splitdecision. He defended three times, before dropping the belt on a DQ against Jesus Salad.

9 JACKIE NAVA

Nava is Tijuana’s most successful female boxer to date, having held the WBA bantamweight title in 2005, the WBC super-bantamweight gong twice between 2005 and 2015, and the WBA super bantamweight title twice between 2012 and 2015.

10 DIEGO MORALES

Though always in the shadow of his older brother, Érik, Diego still compiled a 37-2 pro record and won a WBO super-flyweight belt in 1999, retiring Victor Godoi in the 11th round.