Boxing: An Art of Moments
Exploring boxing through the photographic lens of Héctor García and the fascinating personalities he captured
Boxer (1950) by Héctor GarcíaMaria and Hector Garcia Foundation
Mexican tradition
In the taquerias of Mexico City, a common scene is repeated every Saturday: enjoying tacos al pastor with a soda and watching boxing on the corner TV. These everyday scenes with ordinary Mexicans remind us of the deep-rooted tradition of boxing in Mexico.
Boxing Match (1950) by Héctor GarcíaMaria and Hector Garcia Foundation
The Photographer of the City
Carlos Montiváis dubbed the talented García the 'Photographer of the City' for his ability to capture the everyday. Héctor García, affectionately known for his 'little camera', immortalized the significant transformations of Mexico in the post-revolutionary era.
"First I shoot, then I find out":
Héctor García on his attitude towards photography.
Boxing Match (1950) by Héctor GarcíaMaria and Hector Garcia Foundation
Photographer of the forgotten
His mother affectionately called him 'Pata de Perro' ('Dog's Paw') due to his constant wandering through the streets. Always accompanied by his beloved María García, this photographer focused his lens on the fringes of the city, home to the stories and dreams of ordinary Mexicans.
Boxing Match (1950) by Héctor GarcíaMaria and Hector Garcia Foundation
Theater of dreams
The boxing arenas in Mexico embody that spirit in a unique way. For 12 rounds, the differences between the spectators fade away and a deep sense of unity emerges around the fate of the fighters. The passion for boxing unites everyone for a single cause.
Boxer (1950) by Héctor GarcíaMaria and Hector Garcia Foundation
Icons were born
In the 1950s, boxing established itself as a popular sport in Mexico, especially with the arrival of modernization and television broadcasts. This period also saw the rise of great boxing stars.
Boxeador Rudy (1950) by Héctor GarcíaMaria and Hector Garcia Foundation
Great stars
Among the great personalities of the era were Raúl 'El Ratón' Macías, Vicente 'El Zurdo de Oro' Saldívar, or the legendary Rubén 'El Púas' Olivares, whose aggressive and brave style won him 89 fights, 77 by knockout.
Mantelon Mario (1954-12-19) by Héctor GarcíaMaria and Hector Garcia Foundation
Vivid portraits
With his elegant photographic eye, Héctor captured the portrait of numerous fighters and notable personalities of the time, immersed in the city and away from the cold lights of the studios. With his camera, he sought to capture the mix between people and their environment.
Boxer (1950) by Héctor GarcíaMaria and Hector Garcia Foundation
Behind the masks
His photographer's gaze discovered the humanity hidden behind the boxers, the soul that lurked behind their gazes, and the everyday actions alongside the bodily expressions that revealed the person beyond their public persona.
Boxing (1960) by Héctor GarcíaMaria and Hector Garcia Foundation
Eternal moments
Through his photographs, Héctor captured not only the drama and humanity of the boxers but also the hopes, victories, suffering, and ecstasy reflected in the eyes of the public with every punch and every drop of sweat from their idols.
Boxing Match (1950) by Héctor GarcíaMaria and Hector Garcia Foundation
The many faces of Mexico
Throughout his career, Héctor García immortalized almost a million photos, showing the multiple faces of Mexico over the decades. His images captured everything from the face of oblivion to that of athletes and the streets that reflected the everyday life of ordinary Mexicans.
Boxing Match (1950) by Héctor GarcíaMaria and Hector Garcia Foundation
Héctor García: National Journalism Award.
A retrospective of Héctor García's vision of popular sports in Mexico and the personalities that brought them to life.
