By Michael Campbell

On Saturday October 10th TKO Promotions returns to their home base of Houston, Texas, for another installment of “Hometown Heroes to World Champions.”  Embodying that mantra, welterweight Gerardo “Tin-Tin” Ibarra will take to the ring at Arena Theatre in the city in which he was born and raised seeking to build upon his 5-0 record as he ascends towards contender status.  Boxers know that getting to fight in the home city in front of friends and family is a special privilege and this Saturday Ibarra will have on hand many loved ones who have contributed to where he has gotten today.

While looking for a martial arts studio for her son to learn self-defense, Maria Ibarra came across Ray’s Gym on the North side of downtown Houston.  She was concerned that eight year old Gerardo had become too much of a momma’s boy and wanted him to get stronger and be able to fight.  Ray’s was home to World Amateur Champion and Olympic Silver medalist Rocky Juarez.  Quickly discovered as a natural talent, Gerardo was matched with the best boxers in the city who had much more experience than him.  He aligned himself with trainer Harry Thomas and both national and international amateur success has delivered him to the pro ranks as a top young prospect.

Again at the age of fourteen, mother influenced the direction Gerardo took in the sport.  “I’d just lost at the Silver Gloves in the semi-finals.  I was alright until I got home from the airport, and laid down in the bed, then I started crying,” he vividly recalled.  “My Mom said to me, ‘Don’t cry in here, cry in the ring!  You have to train harder.’”

The following year he won the Houston and Texas Junior Olympic tournaments and found himself at the National J/O tournament matched up with Gary Russell.  “I heard people telling me and talking about how I wouldn’t be able to beat him,” he remembers.  Winning the tournament felt like redemption for Ibarra, he was being rewarded for his hard work.

Winning the J/O title earned him a spot on the U.S.A. roster for the 2005 Cadet World Championships in Turkey.  He won a bronze medal and got the experience of training at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.  “The coaches taught me how to fight different styles,” Tin-Tin explained, “and how different countries each have their unique fighting styles.”

On his way to compiling an amateur record of approximately 120-23, Ibarra faced off with various other top prospects.  In the 2003 Ringside final, he fought Jerry Belmontes.  In the 2006 P.A.L. championship he met up with future Olympian Javier Molina.  Then he decided to pursue his dream and moved to Mexico for over seven months of training and competition in the hope of earning a spot on their Olympic team.  A hiatus from high school resulted in a silver medal at the 2006 Mexican Amateur National Championships.  He headed home where he competed in his only year of local senior open division competition and won the Houston Golden Gloves as well as being named the tournament’s Outstanding Boxer.  With little left to accomplish in the amateur ranks, it was time to turn pro.

Gerardo’s brother Roger Ibarra is also a Houston-area amateur boxer and they are both inspired by their grandpa, Ruben Ibarra, who was a professional boxer.  Recently Tin-Tin’s beloved grandmother passed away but he takes solace in the thought that she is with him at his fights.  “I know she is watching over me and with me every step of the way,” he said.

Harry Thomas has been a steady constant in Tin-Tin’s life.  “He’s like my 2nd dad.  I trust him a lot and we’ve been together a long time, I’m very comfortable with him.”  Aaron Navarro and Bobby Benton also contribute significantly to Tin-Tin’s training.

Returning to the U.S. after his hiatus meant a return to high school.  Gerardo graduated in May from Jefferson Davis High School, and plans to pursue advanced training in business technology and computer engineering.

As a professional boxer, Ibarra is being guided by Bob Spagnola and Bill Benton, who arranged for his pro debut in Corpus Christi.  He said about that night, “It was a lot of fun, and different from the amateurs.  It felt strange having so many people walking me to ring. But once I threw that first punch, I just settled down and relaxed.”  As for the technical differences, Ibarra said, “With the gloves being smaller, you need to defend more.  They hurt a lot more than bigger gloves and you don’t want to get caught with anything.”

He credits his footwork and power as his strengths as a fighter.  Recalling a lesson he was given in a Brownsville sparring session with Emmanuel Augustus, “He’s a crazy character!” Tin-Tin told the story.  “One time, he punched me with both hands at the same time.  It was the first time I’d been hit with a combination simultaneously.”

And finally the nickname...  Given to him by his father Gerardo Sr., it was originally “Kin-Tin.”  “My dad played professional soccer in Monterrey, Mexico,” Gerardo Jr. explained, “and we practically grew up in parks.  He wanted me to play soccer and was kicking the ball around with me, saying ‘Kin-Tin, come on Kin-Tin.’  I don’t think it meant anything, it just sounded good.”  The transformation to “Tin-Tin” came while at Ray’s gym.  “My dad called me “Kin-Tin” and everyone heard it and started to call me by it, but it somehow got changed into “Tin-Tin.”  My Dad and I said ‘oh well’ and just let it stay with the ‘T’ and now that’s what everyone calls me.”

Gerardo “Tin-Tin” Ibarra
Record: 5-0, 4 KOs
Weight: Welterweight
Height: 5’9”
Stance:  Orthodox
Born:  7/25/90
Residence: Houston, TX
Trainers: Harry Thomas & Aaron Navarro at Main Gym
Manager: Bob Spagnola