‘La Bala’ back in the ring at The Pit April 12

ALBUQUERQUE — Having a big fight in New Mexico is nothing new for Cleveland High School alum Brian “La Bala” Mendoza, Rio Rancho’s most-successful fighter since the halcyon days of “Irish” Sean McClain, who had a memorable fight there in 1994.

Mendoza, who now trains and lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, has had six fights in the Land of Enchantment and won them all. It’s his first here since 2017.

But this time, boxing in The Pit is new for Mendoza, 31 and a member of Cleveland High School’s Class of 2012, who’s 22-4 (with 16 knockouts) as a pro and counting down the days until he meets Jireh De Los Santos (15-2) of Weslaco, Texas.

Mendoza, who made his pro debut in May 2014 and won his first 18 fights, has also fought twice at Buffalo Thunder Casino in Pojoaque, and once each at the Lea County Events Center in Hobbs, the Rio Rancho Events Center, the Albuquerque Convention Center and the Lujan Building at EXPO New Mexico.

Also on the 13-bout card are Matt Griego-Ortega, a close friend and former teammate of Mendoza, and Josh Torres, Metro area boxers given their debuts in The Pit, which hasn’t hosted boxing since the late Johnny Tapia beat Jorge Eliecer Julio of Columbia in the main event of a Jan. 8, 2000, card. That was Tapia’s fourth win in as many fights there.

And, coincidentally, two of Tapia’s sons — Johnny Jr. and Nicco — are on the April 12 card. Johnny Jr.’s scheduled opponent is YouTube influencer “Billy J.” Nicco, who turned 20 in March, faces Japanese fitness guru Tatakai Kawakami.

Griego-Ortega (15-0, 10 KOs) is scheduled to face Ephraim Bui (10-1, seven KOs) of Sugar Land, Texas.

Torres (27-7-2, 15 KOs) is scheduled to face Miami’s Harold Eduardo Calderon (28-2, 19 KOs).

Possibly of interest that night are bouts featuring Shane Mosley Jr., son of the former welterweight world champion; Fernando Vargas Jr., son of the former junior middleweight world champion; and Tim Witherspoon Jr., son of the former heavyweight champion.

The night’s main event matches former MMA light heavyweights Rashad “Suga” Evans and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson in a rematch of their 2010 UFC fight in Las Vegas, Nevada, won by Evans. This will be each fighter’s boxing debut.

Albuquerque MMA legend Diego Sanchez will also get his first boxing match, facing another former MMA fighter John Makdessi of Canada.

In women’s bouts, Jadalie Medeiros meets Mollie Backowski, and Lena Ovchinnikova faces Chaz Gotti.

The first bell is scheduled for 3 p.m. Plenty of tickets are available; bench seats start at $63. Tickets are available at golobos.com.