Mexican-American fashion designer Javier Zinzun Jr. has been a lifelong boxing fan. Growing up, he watched legends like Julio César Chávez, Oscar De La Hoya, and Mike Tyson make their mark in the ring. But it wasn’t just their abilities that captivated him.
One Mexican boxer stood out in particular: Jorge “El Maromero” Páez, who transformed his walk to the ring into a theatrical spectacle. Páez grew up working in a circus in Mexico.
“[Páez] would come in with the craziest haircuts and outfits,” Zinzun told Remezcla during a recent interview. “It grabbed my attention about how people could use self-expression. He showed he had a sense of style and personality. It was like seeing Bon Jovi for the first time.”
Today, Zinzun channels that same spirit of individuality into I Got My Own Back (IGMOB), the creative studio and fight-culture-inspired fashion brand he founded. IGMOB combines craftsmanship and storytelling to create custom apparel for athletes, artists, and public figures.
His designs have been worn by boxing champions like Canelo Álvarez, Manny Pacquiao, and Ryan Garcia, and have reached the entertainment world through Latino comedian Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias.
In 2011, Zinzun nearly died from a pill and alcohol overdose. The experience prompted him to tap into his creativity and change his life.
“After college, I didn’t have a sense of direction,” he said. “I was sinking deeper into depression and into drugs and alcohol. After my overdose, I told myself I had to do something with my talent. Now, I am writing a brand-new story.”
Zinzun, who is of Purépecha heritage, draws inspiration from his roots in the Indigenous culture of northwestern Michoacán, Mexico, consciously weaving those elements into some of his designs.
“A lot of my designs are inspired by warriors, like Aztecas and Mayans,” Zinzun said. “I come from a tribe that has a lot of beautiful, bright colors. That’s always fun because I get to bring Mexico’s culture into it.”
The “fun,” Zinzun said, also comes from collaborating with boxers, who are more attuned to personal branding than previous generations—with notable exceptions like Páez and the late Héctor “Macho” Camacho. By bringing streetwear sensibilities into boxing gear, Zinzun has carved out a distinctive niche.
“There’s so much competition in fashion, so I decided to start in a market that nobody’s touched,” Zinzun said. “When a boxer is walking to the ring, I consider it their runway. I want to come up with the craziest, most extravagant designs I can.”
When he meets a boxer for the first time, Zinzun said he has plenty of creative freedom, though the fighters usually ask which colors, patterns, and styles are currently trending.
“They’re big on asking me for advice,” Zinzun said. “Whether it’s a color like burgundy or a houndstooth pattern or if anime, cyberpunk or the post-apocalyptic style is in, I’ll let them know. I’ve even created a Minions and SpongeBob outfit that went viral on SportsCenter! They understand that what they wear can get them in a magazine.”
With IGMOB, Zinzun hopes to inspire other creatives to fight for themselves and pursue their passions unapologetically.
“I’m no longer sitting in the passenger seat; I’m the driver now,” he said. “We’re all fighters in life. We’re all fighting for something.”
See more of Zinzun’s designs at igmobtalent.com.