Romanza Gym is a boxing Mecca in Mexico City where Hall of Fame trainer Ignacio “Nacho” Beristain has held court since 1992.

Romanza Gym is a boxing Mecca in Mexico City where Hall of Fame trainer Ignacio “Nacho” Beristain has held court since 1992.

Some fighters come with dreams of being Nacho’s next star. Others just need a fresh start.

Some fighters come with dreams of being Nacho’s next star. Others just need a fresh start.

Now 80 years old, Nacho has managed more than 30 world champions, including Joan Manuel Marquez who knocked out Manny Pacquiao in what was billed as the Fight of the Decade.

Now 80 years old, Nacho has managed more than 30 world champions, including Joan Manuel Marquez who knocked out Manny Pacquiao in what was billed as the Fight of the Decade.

When Daniel Garcia was young, his mom smuggled him across the border to Washington. In school, he got involved in the Sureño gang. “I kept getting in trouble,” he said. In 2010, he was charged with felony assault, imprisoned and then deported, leavi

When Daniel Garcia was young, his mom smuggled him across the border to Washington. In school, he got involved in the Sureño gang. “I kept getting in trouble,” he said. In 2010, he was charged with felony assault, imprisoned and then deported, leaving his mother, daughter and two brothers behind. His father and several of his friends have since been killed in gang and drug related violence. “Boxing, it keeps me away from all the bad things. I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, I don’t go out,” Daniel said, “I just work and come to the gym.”

“Everyone here is from a tough place,” a boxer told me, resting between a set, “the lower the place they come from, the better they are.”

“Everyone here is from a tough place,” a boxer told me, resting between a set, “the lower the place they come from, the better they are.”

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“I’ve been a single parent for the last three years,” Jose Casarez explained. He’s been training at Romanza for seven years and his son, Joshua, inspires him to keep working. The two train together sometimes. “He should know how to defend himself,”

“I’ve been a single parent for the last three years,” Jose Casarez explained. He’s been training at Romanza for seven years and his son, Joshua, inspires him to keep working. The two train together sometimes. “He should know how to defend himself,” Jose says of his son.

Boxers come from around the world to train at Romanza like Yoshikazu Kodama from Kobe, Japan.

Boxers come from around the world to train at Romanza like Yoshikazu Kodama from Kobe, Japan.

“All the guys come in here thinking they’re going to be the next Juan Maneul Marquez, but there’s 200 guys in here and probably none of them are going to be Marquez,” said trainer Oscar “Tin Tan” Perez, “I make sure they go to school.” Tin Tan sparr

“All the guys come in here thinking they’re going to be the next Juan Maneul Marquez, but there’s 200 guys in here and probably none of them are going to be Marquez,” said trainer Oscar “Tin Tan” Perez, “I make sure they go to school.” Tin Tan sparred with some of Nacho’s biggest stars when he was younger, but he never made it through to the big leagues. “I am not a world champion. I am not a rich man,” he said. He married an American woman and lived in Illinois for several years, but then he got a DUI and was deported, leaving behind two daughters. Now he’s something of a father figure at the gym. “I have to do the work of their parents over here,” he said, “I’m so happy to see they guys become a better person.”

“I fucked it up because I fell in with the wrong crowd,” said Ruben Orozco, “but now I have a second chance.” Like Daniel, his parents brought him to the states when he was young. In 2010, he was arrested with 5oz of cocaine disguised as a baked pot

“I fucked it up because I fell in with the wrong crowd,” said Ruben Orozco, “but now I have a second chance.” Like Daniel, his parents brought him to the states when he was young. In 2010, he was arrested with 5oz of cocaine disguised as a baked potato. “I had to fight a lot in prison, probably 20 times,” he explained. After he was deported, he came to Romanza to get in shape. “My day dream is to see my son,” he said. His son’s still in America with his family and, he explained, “That’s my real fight in life.”

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“Four years back, Golden Boy Productions called me and said that he’d pay me $50,000 to join him. Nacho called me the next day. He told me, ‘I’m not gonna give you $50,000, I’m gonna give you technique,’” said Hector Andres Reyes Anguiano and so he

“Four years back, Golden Boy Productions called me and said that he’d pay me $50,000 to join him. Nacho called me the next day. He told me, ‘I’m not gonna give you $50,000, I’m gonna give you technique,’” said Hector Andres Reyes Anguiano and so he had packed his bags and moved to Mexico City from Juarez. He’s undefeated as a professional boxer.

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Sonia Osorio became the Super Flyweight World Champion this fall. She’s been training at Romanza for 12 years and, on Tin Tan’s advice, stayed in school the whole time became a lawyer. Professional boxers in Mexico typically make only 1000 pesos ($5

Sonia Osorio became the Super Flyweight World Champion this fall. She’s been training at Romanza for 12 years and, on Tin Tan’s advice, stayed in school the whole time became a lawyer. Professional boxers in Mexico typically make only 1000 pesos ($50 USD) per round and might only fight a four round match once ever couple months. Even a champion like Sonia can’t live off of boxing alone unless she lucks into a lucrative, well publicized fight.

MY6A8909.jpg
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Romanza Gym is a boxing Mecca in Mexico City where Hall of Fame trainer Ignacio “Nacho” Beristain has held court since 1992.
Some fighters come with dreams of being Nacho’s next star. Others just need a fresh start.
Now 80 years old, Nacho has managed more than 30 world champions, including Joan Manuel Marquez who knocked out Manny Pacquiao in what was billed as the Fight of the Decade.
When Daniel Garcia was young, his mom smuggled him across the border to Washington. In school, he got involved in the Sureño gang. “I kept getting in trouble,” he said. In 2010, he was charged with felony assault, imprisoned and then deported, leavi
“Everyone here is from a tough place,” a boxer told me, resting between a set, “the lower the place they come from, the better they are.”
MY6A7826.jpg
“I’ve been a single parent for the last three years,” Jose Casarez explained. He’s been training at Romanza for seven years and his son, Joshua, inspires him to keep working. The two train together sometimes. “He should know how to defend himself,”
Boxers come from around the world to train at Romanza like Yoshikazu Kodama from Kobe, Japan.
“All the guys come in here thinking they’re going to be the next Juan Maneul Marquez, but there’s 200 guys in here and probably none of them are going to be Marquez,” said trainer Oscar “Tin Tan” Perez, “I make sure they go to school.” Tin Tan sparr
“I fucked it up because I fell in with the wrong crowd,” said Ruben Orozco, “but now I have a second chance.” Like Daniel, his parents brought him to the states when he was young. In 2010, he was arrested with 5oz of cocaine disguised as a baked pot
MY6A3247.jpg
MY6A7396.jpg
“Four years back, Golden Boy Productions called me and said that he’d pay me $50,000 to join him. Nacho called me the next day. He told me, ‘I’m not gonna give you $50,000, I’m gonna give you technique,’” said Hector Andres Reyes Anguiano and so he
MY6A5312.jpg
Sonia Osorio became the Super Flyweight World Champion this fall. She’s been training at Romanza for 12 years and, on Tin Tan’s advice, stayed in school the whole time became a lawyer. Professional boxers in Mexico typically make only 1000 pesos ($5
MY6A8909.jpg
MY6A6776.jpg
MY6A6054.jpg

Romanza Gym is a boxing Mecca in Mexico City where Hall of Fame trainer Ignacio “Nacho” Beristain has held court since 1992.

Some fighters come with dreams of being Nacho’s next star. Others just need a fresh start.

Now 80 years old, Nacho has managed more than 30 world champions, including Joan Manuel Marquez who knocked out Manny Pacquiao in what was billed as the Fight of the Decade.

When Daniel Garcia was young, his mom smuggled him across the border to Washington. In school, he got involved in the Sureño gang. “I kept getting in trouble,” he said. In 2010, he was charged with felony assault, imprisoned and then deported, leaving his mother, daughter and two brothers behind. His father and several of his friends have since been killed in gang and drug related violence. “Boxing, it keeps me away from all the bad things. I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, I don’t go out,” Daniel said, “I just work and come to the gym.”

“Everyone here is from a tough place,” a boxer told me, resting between a set, “the lower the place they come from, the better they are.”

“I’ve been a single parent for the last three years,” Jose Casarez explained. He’s been training at Romanza for seven years and his son, Joshua, inspires him to keep working. The two train together sometimes. “He should know how to defend himself,” Jose says of his son.

Boxers come from around the world to train at Romanza like Yoshikazu Kodama from Kobe, Japan.

“All the guys come in here thinking they’re going to be the next Juan Maneul Marquez, but there’s 200 guys in here and probably none of them are going to be Marquez,” said trainer Oscar “Tin Tan” Perez, “I make sure they go to school.” Tin Tan sparred with some of Nacho’s biggest stars when he was younger, but he never made it through to the big leagues. “I am not a world champion. I am not a rich man,” he said. He married an American woman and lived in Illinois for several years, but then he got a DUI and was deported, leaving behind two daughters. Now he’s something of a father figure at the gym. “I have to do the work of their parents over here,” he said, “I’m so happy to see they guys become a better person.”

“I fucked it up because I fell in with the wrong crowd,” said Ruben Orozco, “but now I have a second chance.” Like Daniel, his parents brought him to the states when he was young. In 2010, he was arrested with 5oz of cocaine disguised as a baked potato. “I had to fight a lot in prison, probably 20 times,” he explained. After he was deported, he came to Romanza to get in shape. “My day dream is to see my son,” he said. His son’s still in America with his family and, he explained, “That’s my real fight in life.”

“Four years back, Golden Boy Productions called me and said that he’d pay me $50,000 to join him. Nacho called me the next day. He told me, ‘I’m not gonna give you $50,000, I’m gonna give you technique,’” said Hector Andres Reyes Anguiano and so he had packed his bags and moved to Mexico City from Juarez. He’s undefeated as a professional boxer.

Sonia Osorio became the Super Flyweight World Champion this fall. She’s been training at Romanza for 12 years and, on Tin Tan’s advice, stayed in school the whole time became a lawyer. Professional boxers in Mexico typically make only 1000 pesos ($50 USD) per round and might only fight a four round match once ever couple months. Even a champion like Sonia can’t live off of boxing alone unless she lucks into a lucrative, well publicized fight.

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