For six years Estrella Veloz led an exciting life as a luchador, punishing his opponents and showing off his skills when he fought for the Mexican wrestling company known as the Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre.
Lucha libre matches are usually a face-off between a técnico and a rudo — a hero and villain.
Estrella Veloz (or Fast Star) is the técnico that Pablo García, 55, has personified since he was 20.
García's long career also has included helping turn more than 20 students into professionals.
He'd taken a break from the ring after moving to Tucson 15 years ago, but resumed his role as a trainer about two and a half years ago when he met Esteban Guzmán, a 17-year-old with a great interest in becoming a luchador.
Guzmán makes his debut as part of a duo on Sunday.
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Lucha libre is something that runs in your blood, and something you never leave, García explained.
"Its hard to retire completely. You have to be teaching. You have to be promoting, and be with them while they train," García said.
García started training Guzmán at Las Cazuelitas de Tucsón, 365 W. Grant Road, where they let them have a ring.
Guzmán later let the trainer set up the ring in his backyard. Today, seven other students train there as well.
Guzmán was going to be a técnico character called Aztlán. Then his school, Aztlán Academy, offered to pay for his wrestling outfit and to promote him with posters.
Unfortunately, an injury prevented Guzmán from making his debut in March.
After he recovered, he teamed up with another of García's students, 34-year-old Higinio Ortega, who had previously trained in Mexico.
Guzmán adopted a version of his new partner's character, and the duo now call themselves La Secta Negra, or The Black Sect.
"(Because) we're both big and tall, (García) said it would look good. They asked me if I wanted to be Serpiente Negra 2, I would have to be a rudo. So I thought about it and I liked the idea after a while," Guzmán said.
After a lot of practice, the team of rudos had a warm-up match in Phoenix before this first official fight in Tucson.
"They aren't professionals yet. They still have a lot of experience to gain, but they're already getting experience," García said.
Normally it takes about three years to become a professional, García said, because you have to first master Greco-Roman wrestling, similar to street fighting but with technique.
He said you then have to learn Olympic wrestling, which is what is taught in schools and has more rules than Greco-Roman. And finally, Lucha Libre, where you learn how to do pirouettes and jump out of the ring.
Interest in the sport is growing in Tucson, which is why García hopes to someday have a gym where he can teach adults, and kids when they're on vacation like he used to in Mexico.
But meanwhile, the two luchadores hope the public will show its support during their debut.
"We're going to go all out," Ortega said. "And I hope God helps us, and we'll see how the crowd responds to us. We hope a lot of people come to support us, the rudos."
Lucha libre debut
• Where: Las Cazuelitas de Tucsón, 1365 W. Grant Road.
• Tickets: $15, adults; $10, kids. Sold at entrance.
• When: 6:30 p.m. Sunday.
Stellar Fight:
Hijo de la Parka, Sexy Flower, & Yako
vs
Güero Cota, Chucky, & Green Danger
Stellar Fight 2:
La Secta Negra
vs
Malibu & Sol de Oro
Also two more luchas of two against two
• For information about classes for ages 16 and older with Pablo García, call 390-7515.
