Tijuana is Not That Bad!

Every morning, I walk out of my home into a warzone where the U.S. media would like for you to believe that bodies are stacked in every street corner, hang from every light post and blood runs red along the water drains.

No, its not Iraq or Afghanistan. It’s not even some remote village in Africa being overrun by ethnic cleansing muhajadeen.

It’s Tijuana, Baja California Norte, Mexico.

A couple of days ago, Steve Kim of MaxBoxing posted on article on why he will not come to this Saturday’s “Latin Fury 8-Tijuana Thunder” PPV fight card being celebrated at the Plaza de Toros Monumental in this fair city. To read, please click here:

I am here to tell you that Tijuana is not what everybody makes it out to be.

Beginning in September of 2008, ridiculous amounts of dead bodies began to be found in various neighborhoods to the east of the city with cryptic notes attached. The messages were warning between the warring drug cartels about staying within their territories. The death toll has considerably diminished since mid-January.

Basically what is happening in Tijuana as well as in other border cities such as Ciudad Juarez is that from the collapse of the Arellano-Felix cartel who for many years controlled the main drug corridor thru the city into the U.S., two different factions have been battling for control of the lucrative drug business.

Nothing less or nothing more than what has happened in every major metropolitan city in the world, be it Los Angeles or New York City. Just like any other sizeable city, there are neighborhoods that many law abiding citizens would not travel into, day or night. Same goes for Tijuana.

Although some innocent bystanders have been killed during the most recent drug war, the vast majority of the murdered have been the foot soldiers of each particular drug cartel. No tourist or attraction has been attempted against. It is unfortunate that anybody has to reach their end before their time.

I cross the most traveled border in the world, the San Ysidro international border between San Diego and Tijuana every day. I don’t feel anymore safer on the north side of the border than in the south. the only difference is that since Mexican President Felipe Calderon made it a priority for his administration to end the drug cartel’s strong hold on the border region, more of a military presence can be seen on the street of Tijuana in the form of paramilitary troops armed to the teeth patrolling the streets.

The Plaza de Toros Monumental in the Tijuana suburb of Playas is located clear across town from any of the violence associated with the on going drug battle.

With that said, I encourage all boxing fans that have the opportunity to visit Tijuana next Saturday night to do so to see a great night of boxing. I assure you that the only violence you are going to see is the one inside the ring.