BOXER BACA’S BETTER OFF NOW
Powerful puncher finds success after slow start
After a frustrating start to his pro career, Ronnie Baca has won his last three fights.
Ronnie Baca was 14 or so, a ninth-grader at Santa Rita High School in Tucson, and the youngster’s grades had slipped a bit. His dad, Charles, took measures.
Suddenly, Ronnie found himself transferred to a charter school and, with discipline the goal, was enrolled in a boxing program.
Three years later, young Baca left that charter school with diploma in hand. But, seven more years having gone by and now an Albuquerque resident, he remains an avid and dedicated student of The Sweet Science.
Fellow amateur boxers at a Tucson gym, said Charles Baca, nicknamed his son “The Mongoose” because of his ability to slip and counter. But the fighter’s dad notes that Albuquerque boxing writer Austin Killeen has suggested another nickname: “The Anesthesiologist,” in recognition of the 24-year-old professional’s growing power.
Baca is becoming, his trainer and manager say, the classic boxer-puncher.
“He’s got power in both hands,” says trainer Sergio Chavez.
“He’s definitely playing chess and not checkers,” says manager Jacob Maes.
On Saturday, Baca (4-0-1 with three knockouts as a pro) is scheduled to face El Paso’s Isaac Luna (2-0, no KOs) in a four-round welterweight bout on a Legacy Promotions card at the National Hispanic Cultural Center.
Baca intends to take his boxing education as far as he can.
“At this point or any point at all or all of my points, yes,” he said during an interview at Albuquerque’s Luttrell-Yee MMA, where he trains with Chavez. “… I’ve sacrificed everything for this sport, and it (would be) tough for me to walk away from it without at least trying to hit the big time, or at least going to the stars and shooting for the stars.”
Yet, not that long ago, Baca was wondering if the stars were aligned against him — and if all the sacrifice was worth it.
After a successful amateur career in Arizona, he and his father moved to Albuquerque. Charles Baca had retired from the Air Force and wanted to be closer to his family in Santa Fe. The elder Baca had been stationed at Kirtland Air Force Base for a time during his military career, and Ronnie was comfortable here.
The younger Baca made his pro debut in December 2015 with a victory by secondround TKO over Antonio Solarzano on a card promoted by Albuquerque’s Joe Chavez.
Chavez, however, has not promoted a show since. Charles Baca approached other promoters, but without immediate success. Ronnie did not have a single fight in 2016.
The inactivity, Ronnie Baca concedes, made him question his commitment to the sport.
“It was extremely frustrating,” he said. “My father definitely worked his butt off, day and night (seeking fights). There’s been times when I spent hours, days, weeks, a year in the gym, and nothing. At that point it’s a bit discouraging, because you’re wasting time and the ball’s not rolling.
“(But) I guess I learned that if there’s a will, there’s a way. Patience is a great key to have.”
Baca’s patience, and his dad’s hard work, weren’t immediately rewarded. When Ronnie returned to the ring on a Legacy Card on April 1, 2017, his father said, it was on 12 days’ notice. The younger Baca fought to a four-round draw with Mexico’s Marcos Arturo Dominguez, who entered the fight with a listed 3-0-1 record. Charles Baca said he has reason to believe Dominguez actually had seven pro bouts at the time.
Since then, however, things have smoothed out.
First, Ronnie Baca was introduced to Chavez by fellow pro Alex Holguin.
Chavez said he’s excited by Baca’s potential.
“The first time I saw him, I saw he’s very natural,” Chavez said, “That’s why I wanted to keep (working with him), because he’s got so much potential.”
When Chavez saw the Bacas struggling to get fights, he called Maes, a longtime associate who’d taken a three-year hiatus from the sport.
Since he began working with the ChavezMaes team, Baca is 3-0 with two knockouts. Chavez said Baca, tall for a welterweight at 6-foot-1, has the hand speed and foot speed of a smaller fighter.
Maes is hoping to take Baca beyond New Mexico’s borders.
“I’ve made some contacts in this game, and I’ve talked to some people (about Baca),” said Maes, who in the past has managed the careers of boxers Elco Garcia, Archie Ray Marquez and Ranee Ganoy. “They said get him two or three wins and they’ll put him on (a card) and take a look at him. We’re right on track.” “But he’s got to win (Saturday).” The education continues.