OJINAGA — This past Saturday, boxing fans from all over the U.S. and northern Mexico descended upon Ojinaga for an emotional celebration of the life of Tomas “El Norteño” Villa. The city’s boxing gym — home turf for some of the sport’s Mexican legends — will officially be renamed in Villa’s honor, pending approval by the new mayoral administration in October.
Villa was known all over the region for his skill in the ring. In 2018 he was tragically killed in a car accident outside of Midland — but the community has not forgotten his contributions to the sport, including his support for all the young boxers in the region that looked up to him as a role model.
The star-studded guest list included champion boxer Daniel Ponce de Leon, originally of Cuáhtemoc; recent Olympic track and field star Alegna Gonzalez Muñoz of Ojinaga; and cultural ambassador Hector Morales, originally of Ojinaga. Villa’s family in the United States also made the trek from Midland-Odessa to attend the ceremony.
The event held a greater significance for many: the World Boxing Council has proposed honoring Ojinaga’s contributions to the sport. “It’s not just any city that is awarded such great pride,” said event coordinator Victor Sotelo. “Ojinaga will be a bastion and a breeding ground for outstanding boxers across borders and at the national level.”
Sotelo gave thanks to a few of the project’s supporters, which include philanthropist Javier del Moral, Jaime “El Abuelo” Saenz Acosta, famous boxing manager Rodolfo “Picos” Montes and Dr. Ricardo Aquino Medina.