“I’m born and raised here. I’m undefeated. I can talk a lot better than most of the guys,” Cortes said to Boxingscene. “I love to put on a good show for the people.”
Cortes (24-0, 13 KOs), a Las Vegas native, faces Eridson Garcia (23-1, 14 KOs) at the Meta Apex, with Garcia entering as a slight betting favorite following his December win in Riyadh Season, where he scored a knockdown before taking a split decision.
The matchup puts Cortes in a prominent position despite a record built without wins over established top-level opposition. His 2024 bout against Abraham Nova was competitive, and some observers viewed 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 split-decision win in Saudi Arabia, feels like matchmaking designed to see which of these two is actually a contender and which is just a house fighter.
With many of the top stars moving up to 135 for bigger paydays, the junior lightweight division has struggled for identity. It makes it easier for someone like Cortes to maintain an undefeated record without actually crossing paths with a monster.
“It’s the biggest opportunity. It’s local for me,” Cortes said. “I definitely expect a lot of people to be watching.”
If Cortes struggles or wins another close, debatable decision, it confirms in the minds of fans that he’s not as good as his unbeaten record looks. For Garcia, this is his chance to prove that his win in Riyadh wasn’t a one-off.
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