Between 2011 and 2015, Ecatepec de Morelos, a municipality in the State of Mexico, faced a 125 percent increase in homicides. Since then, Ecatepec de Morelos has remained one of the most dangerous municipalities in the state, with 87 percent of the population claiming to feel unsafe. This surge in violence is part of a broader crisis in Mexico. In 2022, six cities declared homicide rates above 100 per 100,000 residents. Analysts at Human Rights Watch attribute much of this violence to extensive organized criminal activity, which is estimated to be responsible for nearly two-thirds of these homicides.
Amidst this troubling crisis, the increasingly apparent involvement of youth has furthered concerns. The Interior Ministry has reported that youth are the most common population to be both perpetrators and victims of violence in Mexico. A report on adolescent presence within organized crime ultimately exposes the severe impact of systemic poverty, exclusion, and strained economic mobility in establishing a base of largely voluntary youth integration into these networks. In this process, the prevalence of “narco culture,” which glorifies a life of wealth, status, and power, through drug trafficking, continues to draw many of the youth population into these networks. Given the harsh realities of systemic poverty, state neglect, and economic exclusion, the need for viable alternatives to counter the lure of organized crime has created pressing questions. Among the possible answers, a sport that lies central to Mexico’s cultural identity offers a different path.
Boxing holds a complex and significant place in Mexican history and cultural identity. Historian David C. LaFevor highlights the importance of boxing in contributing to the consolidation of a stronger national identity and the pushing against traditional elites. Historically, boxing has been crucial in opening opportunities for the working class to assert power and pride. This tradition of boxing has continued to remain significant in the consciousness of the Mexican population, providing an alternative that contrasts the narratives of power and success found in “narco culture.”
Tepito, one of Mexico City’s historic districts, has long embodied this consciousness and respect for boxing. Also known as “The Brave Barrio,” Tepito is characterized by resistance, with its motto being “No te dejes” or “don’t back down.” In alignment with this characterization, Tepito has produced an array of talented and successful boxers, such as Kid Azteca and Carlos Zarate. With such a deeply ingrained tradition of boxing, many people in Tepito see the sport as a safeguard against a harsher life associated with crime. In an interview with ESPN, Daniel Nolasco, a resident of Tepito, highlights the importance of boxing to his family. He claims that the sport will be introduced to his sons when they turn six to avoid patterns of substance abuse that he experienced early on in his life. Similarly, young Pancho Villa Estevez expressed his reliance on the sport to escape the violence of organized crime found in his daily life in the barrio.
The Ramirez family, in the municipality of Ecatepec de Morelos, provides a more concrete example of what this application of boxing as an alternative might look like in locally organized action. On the side of a city bridge, painted in bold red and blue letters, a sign reads “Gym Ramirez Box.” It is under this bridge that Miguel Ramirez and his family have begun a local initiative to address youth involvement in organized crime. Having carried the tradition of boxing for generations, the Ramirez family sees the significant and practical value in offering a space to learn and practice boxing as an alternative to crime. In an interview with Euro News, Miguel stated, “We want young people to have another vision.” In this new vision, the Ramirez family instills the possibility of a future of excellence in the sport, greater self-autonomy, and self-defence against harassment and bullying. With this mentality and mission, the Ramirez family has founded a local community of support for many of the youth of Ecatepec de Morelos.
Despite the opportunities for success and community that boxing offers, it remains a band-aid solution, temporarily addressing the deeper, more systemic issues of poverty, inequality, and organized crime. It speaks to the courage and strength of the population in navigating these deep-set issues while spotlighting the negligence of the state in addressing consistent problems.
Poverty has been one of the most prevailing issues in Mexico, with severe income inequality defining the quality of life of 46.8 million people nationally. Statistics show that 79.1 percent of the national wealth is held by the richest ten percent of the population. Such rampant income inequality points to deeply ingrained issues of corruption and unequal regional wealth distribution that impact accessibility to advancement and healthcare institutions. Corruption in Mexico has often allowed for the private diversion of public funds, leaving many basic social support necessities unfunded. Additionally, rural areas have seen disproportionate monetary support, with regions like Chiapas and Oaxaca showcasing poverty rates of over 60 percent as a result of this poorly balanced distribution. The inability to address these inequalities has left the population with little opportunity for economic mobility, which, as described earlier, has had severe consequences, particularly on youth involvement in organized crime.
While boxing offers a powerful means of resilience, its influence cannot fill the role of a long-term solution to this prevalent poverty and crime. It remains an important avenue for individual actualization and communal support, but ultimately, will not overpower the need for broader structural change that allows for economic investment, education reform, and stronger social programs. The inspiring stories of Tepito and the Ramirez family highlight the fortitude of the Mexican population and the reality that progress will come when these grassroots efforts are met and supported by comprehensive structural reforms.
This is an article written by a Staff Writer. Catalyst is a student-led platform that fosters engagement with global issues from a learning perspective. The opinions expressed above do not necessarily reflect the views of the publication.
Edited by Francesca Abou Jamra
Yasmine Tujjar is a third-year student at McGill University, pursuing a B.A. in History with minors in Arabic language and Political Science. Her journalistic interests are rooted in her passion for post-conflict research and cross-cultural, interfaith reconciliation.