“I was born and raised here. I’m undefeated. I can talk a lot better than most of the guys,” Cortes told Boxingscene. “I like to put on a good show for the people.”
Cortes (24-0, 13 KOs), a native of Las Vegas, faces Eridson Garcia (23-1, 14 KOs) at the Meta Apex, with Garcia entering as a slight betting favorite following his December victory in the Riyadh season, where he earned a knockout before taking a split decision.
The bout puts Cortes in a prominent position despite building a winless record over established top-level opposition. His 2024 fight against Abraham Nova was competitive, and some observers saw it as a questionable decision.
While Cortes got the win, it wasn’t the kind of dominant performance that screams future champion. Facing Garcia, who is coming off a win in Saudi Arabia, feels like matchups designed to see which of these two is actually a contender and which is just a home fighter.
With many of the top stars moving up to 135 for bigger paydays, the junior lightweight division has struggled for identity. This makes it easier for someone like Cortes to maintain an undefeated record without actually crossing paths with a monster.
“This is the biggest opportunity. It’s local to me,” Cortes said. “I definitely expect a lot of people to watch.”
If Cortes struggles or wins another close, debatable decision, it cements in the minds of fans that he is not as good as his undefeated record makes it seem. For Garcia, this is his chance to prove that his victory in Riyadh was not a one-off.
