The slogan is simple: Guns down, gloves up. And after seeing RT Fades in action this past weekend, I can tell you it’s a mission being carried out with more heart and discipline than most people realize.

I went with local photographer Christian Iglesias to see an RT Fades event for ourselves. Lately, the air has been thick with rumors and wild assumptions about what Rick and Timmy are doing with their growing crew. Some news outlets claimed they were teaching violence. The city of Socorro said they were running fight clubs. One Spanish language report even suggested people were being forced to fight. None of that matched what I saw the second we stepped into the space.

READ MORE: CITY OF SOCORRO CLAIMS RT FADES IS VIOLENT

When we walked in, Rick greeted us with open arms. Before Christian even got the camera settings right, Rick handed me the sign up sheet and walked me through the process. Boxers are allowed to sign up, but they can only spar against other boxers. No mismatched bouts. No pros taking advantage of beginners. No one with combat training stepping into the ring with someone who has never thrown a punch. Safety first. Always.

Once the sparring started, the energy shifted from curiosity to community. Every single fight ended in smiles, hugs, and handshakes. Compliments flew from both sides of the ropes. Kids held phones above their heads, recording their uncles, big brothers, and cousins. Moms shouted encouragement from behind the line. Christian caught a moment where two sixteen year old friends, both with parental permission, tapped gloves and went into their rounds with more respect than I’ve seen in some sanctioned matches.

Timmy stayed in the ring for every single fight. He didn’t take his eyes off the fighters for even a second. If someone’s footing slipped or a punch landed awkwardly, he stepped in immediately. One fighter tweaked something in their shoulder and needed to stop early. Nobody groaned. Nobody booed. The crowd just cheered for them as they stepped out, proud of the effort.

Courtesy of Christian Churches Photography

Courtesy of Christian Churches Photography

I walked in expecting a community event. I walked out knowing this is something more. Rick, Timmy, and their volunteers care about what they are building. They want El Paso to have an outlet that is safe, respectful, and controlled. This isn’t chaos. This is structure. This is mentorship. This is something real.

And it hasn’t all been easy for them. After the city of Socorro told them to leave local parks, business owners stepped up to help. Los Toreados on Alameda opened their parking lot for the ring, and the owner couldn’t have been happier to host. He told us he was grateful for what they were doing for the community.

RT Fades has already held toy drives, clothing drives, and charity events. They have grown from two guys with an idea to a full team of volunteers helping with set up, sign ups, crowd control, and cleanup. Watching them makes you wonder what could happen if bigger boxing operations stepped in to support the cause. What if this became an official amateur night? What if kids and adults who can’t afford boxing gyms finally had access to the sport in a safe and meaningful way?

What gets me most is how misunderstood this project is. If more news outlets actually went out to see RT Fades in person, they would see what Christian and I saw. They would see the warmth. They would see the organization. They would see a crowd cheering not for violence but for growth, accountability, and respect.

Courtesy of Christian Churches Photography

Courtesy of Christian Churches Photography

I hope more people take the time to witness it for themselves. This is a good cause with good people behind it. And in a city that has seen its share of gun violence and heartache, I can’t help but hope that RT Fades keeps growing. We need more of this. We need more community. We need more people choosing gloves over guns.

Guns Down, Gloves Up: RT Fades Fighting Gun Violence With Boxing In El Paso

Local social media page, RT Fades, has been fighting gun violence by encouraging community members to box out their problems in the ring. After being negative and violent rumors spread across news sources in El Paso, Grizz and local photographer Christian Churches decided to see for themselves what the events were really like. Los Toreados was the host for this particular weekends RT Fades event.

Gallery Credit: Grizz

The Brew Battle Pillow Fight 2025

The BUZZZED Podcast hosted one of the most ridiculous events in recent El Paso history. A fundraiser where local celebs battled it out in pillow fights to raise money for a local music non-profit, The Jazz Exchange. All held in an actual ring, right in the middle of Soggy Peso!

Gallery Credit: Grizz