Carrera

LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Terence “Bud” Crawford jumped two weight classes to set a career high on the scales at Friday’s weigh-in ahead of his super middleweight bout against Mexican superstar Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez. Both fighters weighed in at 167.5 pounds and met all the requirements for a fight that pits two of today’s best pound-for-pound boxers against each other.

Bud and Canelo face off Saturday at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas (6 p.m., Netflix) in a clash that will define their legacies, test Crawford’s undefeated status and determine supremacy in the sport.

For Álvarez, who will celebrate 20 years in the sport in October and compete in his 21st fight in Las Vegas when he faces Crawford, the weigh-in was business as usual for a Mexican star accustomed to competing in the super middleweight class and higher.

Crawford arrived in the same physical condition as the undisputed champion, reflecting the seriousness of his preparation in pursuit of the four belts held by the Jalisco native, as well as a bonus from the World Boxing Council (WBC), which will award a special ring to the winner of the fight.

Terence “Bud” Crawford extends his arms and during a news conference at T-Mobile Arena on Thursday in Las Vegas.

(David Becker / Getty Images for Netflix)

“I think people completely underestimate me, but that doesn’t matter,” Crawford said. “We have to fight here on Saturday, and all the answers will be resolved that night.”

The fighters participated in news conferences during the week that served as a barometer for the atmosphere in Las Vegas, where Álvarez is expected to draw a rowdy crowd during Mexican Independence Day weekend.

“I feel great. For me, this fight means a lot. I’m looking forward to Saturday night,” Álvarez said. “This fight is very important to me. It’s one of the most important fights of my career. … This victory will be one of the most important.”

Álvarez acknowledged Crawford’s physique, with his challenger surprising observers with more defined muscles after gaining weight.

“For me, muscles mean nothing,” Álvarez said. “I’ve fought bigger fighters before and they mean nothing… When I saw that he had a good training camp, I was happy because it was going to be a good fight.”

For his part, Crawford was confident and defiant.

“I feel great. I’m ready to get started. To surprise the world,” said the American, who reacted to social media comments about his physical transformation. “A lot of people are going overboard with that. ‘Oh, he’s slow, he’s got too much muscle.’ I just want to fight.”

At this crossroads, two fighters with different backgrounds meet. Both have been undisputed champions in different divisions and both have enough experience to handle the pressure of a big night. But there are differences that could tip the scales.

Canelo Álvarez and Terence Crawford face off onstage during news conference at T-Mobile Arena on Thursday in Las Vegas.

(David Becker / Getty Images for Netflix)

Álvarez is a fighter accustomed to the higher divisions. He has fought in light heavyweight and has faced physically superior opponents.

His style is orthodox, with a great ability to cut off the ring, wear down his opponents and land powerful punches that can define fights. He has the ability to adapt, read his opponents and subdue them with a combination of technique, power and tactical discipline.

Crawford comes from the opposite camp. His career has been built in lighter weight classes, dominating as a welterweight and lightweight, with a style based on mobility, variety of angles and intelligence in the ring. He is a natural southpaw, although he often switches stances, and has never tasted defeat as a professional.

With 41 victories, 31 of them by knockout, Crawford brings with him an impeccable record, but he will have to prove whether that power remains intact against a heavier and more resilient opponent such as Álvarez.

Crawford has had to deal with criticism about his previous opponents, as he has been accused of facing lower-quality fighters. “Anyone can be a nobody. And from what they say, I haven’t fought anyone,” he said.

The question is how Crawford will adapt to this new weight class. The increase in muscle could take away his speed, one of his most lethal weapons, or sap his endurance during long rounds.

For Álvarez, the advantage lies in familiarity, as he knows how to manage his body during a fight at 168 pounds, knows how to manage energy and knows how to punish an opponent who is entering unknown territory.

Many point to age as a factor that could affect both fighters during the bout.

At 35, Álvarez is still in a competitive range where he retains power, endurance and reflexes, although perhaps with less spark than in his 20s. His style does not depend so much on explosive speed, but rather on experience and the progressive wear and tear of his opponent. That works in his favor.

Although Álvarez has promised a knockout, in his recent fights, he has been unable to deliver knockouts and is unlikely to do so against Crawford.

“I’m going to give it my all in this fight and you’re going to see all my qualities,” Álvarez said. “It’s very difficult to say [which round I’ll knock him out], but I’m preparing for anything and I have one of the best fighters facing one of the best as well.”

At 37, Crawford is nearing the end of his physical prime. Boxers who base much of their style on speed, mobility and reflexes tend to feel the passage of time sooner. Crawford still looks fast, but his reflexes are probably not exactly what they were four or five years ago.

The fight, then, is shaping up to be a duel of styles and contexts. If Crawford manages to impose distance and take advantage of his mobility, he can turn the night into an exercise in frustration for Álvarez. If the Mexican manages to close the ring, press with body shots and wear Crawford down from the early rounds, the fight could swing in his corner.

Beyond the technical analysis, motivation plays a key role. Álvarez, with more than 60 professional fights, seeks to reaffirm his place in history as one of the great champions of Mexico and the world.

Crawford, meanwhile, wants to be the first male boxer in the four-belt era to become the undisputed champion in three different divisions.

Both know they are in the final stretch of their careers, which makes this fight an almost unrepeatable event. A defeat for either of them does not mean the end, but it would leave a mark on their records that would be difficult to erase.

When asked about fighting at Allegiant Stadium, home to the NFL’s Raiders, Crawford took a moment to emphasize the value of an event of this magnitude.

“Fights like this help boxing grow … the best fight,” he said. “… It’s only going to improve the sport.”

Undercard adds intrigue

Undefeated junior middleweight boxers Callum Walsh, left, and Fernando Vargas Jr., right, face off during a news conference at T-Mobile Arena on Thursday in Las Vegas while UFC’s Dana White looks on.

(Steve Marcus / Getty Images)

Saturday night’s fireworks aren’t limited to the main event. The rest of the card also is generating interest.

Undefeated super middleweight Christian Mbilli will face Guatemala’s Lester Martinez in a clash that promises to be intense.

Mbilli, who is hungry to establish himself in the division, said he feels he is in the best shape of his career and intends to go for a knockout. Martínez, for his part, has repeatedly said that he is not here to be a stepping stone for anyone and will take advantage of the platform to make a statement.

Another attraction is the clash between Callum Walsh and Fernando Vargas Jr., son of former world champion Fernando Vargas. Walsh, considered one of the promising young talents of Irish boxing, has said he will bring his technical and disciplined boxing style to the ring.

“Nothing compares to this weekend,” Walsh said. “It’s going to be a good fight. … None of us want to lose. It’s rare to see a fight like this in boxing: two young, undefeated boxers. Boxing needs more of this.”

Vargas said he is not intimidated and promised to prove that he belongs at this level of competition.

“He comes in as the favorite. … It’s something that excites me, something I’ve never felt before,” Vargas said. “Having my back against the wall. … You don’t see fighters putting their records on the line, 17-0 and 14-0, on a stage as big as this. These are the fights that make great fighters.”

Weigh-in results

MAIN CARD

Super middleweight: Canelo Álvarez (167.5 lbs) vs. Terence Crawford (167.5 lbs)

Super welterweight: Callum Walsh (153.5 lbs) vs. Fernando Vargas Jr. (153 lbs)

Super middleweight: Christian Mbilli (167 lbs) vs. Lester Martínez (167 lbs)

Lightweight: Mohammed Alakel (132 lbs) vs. Travis Crawford (132.5 lbs)

PRELIMS

Middleweight: Serhii Bohachuk (155 lbs) vs. Brandon Adams (156 lbs)

Heavyweight: Ivan Dychko (239.5 lbs) vs. Jermaine Franklin Jr. (256 lbs)

Super featherweight: Reito Tsutsumi (129.5 lbs) vs. Javier Martínez (129.5 lbs)

Super lightweight: Sultan Almohammed (132.5 lbs) vs. Martín Caraballo (133 lbs)

Light heavyweight: Steven Nelson (171.5 lbs) vs Raiko Santana (171.5 lbs)

Super middleweight: Marco Verde (158 lbs) vs. Sona Akale (159.5 lbs)

This article first appeared in Spanish via L.A. Times en Español.

Don’t call him a traveler. Chad Baker-Mazara said that his journey through four universities allowed him to land in the place he had been looking for since the beginning of his college basketball adventure.

Baker-Mazara, 25, arrived at USC in May. The veteran is hoping to help lead young players in the locker room and on the court after joining his fifth team since 2020.

He began his journey with at Duquesne in 2020-21, then moved on to San Diego State for the 2021-22 season in search of a better fit on the roster. He fell behind academically in San Diego and was dismissed from the team when he couldn’t catch up on classwork. Baker-Mazara then traveled to the East Coast to play for Northwest Florida State College during the 2022-23 season while getting back on track academically before landing a spot on the Auburn roster during the 2023-25 seasons.

It has been a unique journey, but he is confident that he will write the most important chapter of his basketball career with the Trojans during the upcoming season.

USC’s Chad Baker-Mazara, center, shouts from the sideline during a workout at the Galen Center.

(Ringo Chiu/Los Angeles Times)

Born in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, he grew up under the influence of his father, who played basketball for the Dominican national team and in several international leagues. From a young age, Baker-Mazara knew he wanted to play basketball.

“My dad was my first coach, my role model. Watching him play left a lasting impression on me,” Baker-Mazara told L.A. Times en Español.

Although he tried other sports, including soccer and baseball, basketball was his favorite. His dream of playing at higher levels began to pick up momentum as a teenager when he moved to New Jersey. He played at Colonia High School and later at SPIRE Academy, where he began to gain national recognition.

His college career has been anything but linear. He started at Duquesne, where as a freshman he averaged 9.5 points per game and had some outstanding performances. Then came his stint at San Diego State, where he was Sixth Man of the Year in the Mountain West Conference. He then dropped down to the junior college level with Northwest Florida State College and was instrumental in the team winning the NJCAA national championship. There, he exploded offensively, averaging over 15 points per game and shooting 46.9% from the three-point line.

His performance opened the door to Auburn. In two seasons with the Tigers, he established himself as a starter and key player. He contributed defense, maturity and efficiency from the perimeter. In his second year, he averaged 12.3 points, 3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game, helping Auburn reach the Final Four. During the semifinals against Michigan State, a hand injury temporarily halted hims plans to jump to the professional level.

“I was going to declare for the draft this year, but with the injury, I wouldn’t be able to show my best,” he said.

Baker-Mazara, a versatile 6-foot-7 athlete who can play guard and forward, decided to recover completely and give college basketball one last shot.

After Auburn reportedly offered Baker-Mazara’s teammate nearly twice as much as his name, image and likeness deal, he entered the transfer portal. USC coach Eric Musselman landed a player widely regarded as the biggest loss from an SEC roster during the offseason.

USC’s Chad Baker-Mazara, right, drives to the basket during a practice at the Galen Center.

(Ringo Chiu/Los Angeles Times)

“He’s a proven winner and will be a player that we can play all over the floor,” Musselman said shortly after Baker-Mazara signed with USC. “… Chad plays with incredible passion and emotion that can lift a home crowd.”

Baker-Mazara considers his arrival at USC the symbolic end of a cycle.

“When I was younger, I came to visit the university with my aunt, who graduated from here,” he said. “I saw Nikola Vucevic walking around campus and said to myself, ‘I want to play here someday.’”

Now that dream is a reality.

He is being mentored by Musselman, who previously was an NBA head coach. Baker-Mazara is pursuing a degree in interdisciplinary studies with minors in sports coaching, Spanish and sociology.

“He pushes us to be united on and off the court,” Baker-Mazara said of Musselman. “He wants there to be a real connection between us as a group. And you can tell that the guys want to compete and win together.”

Baker-Mazara is working to thrive in the spotlight, not only for himself and his family but for others who might be inspired by his journey. He is proud to be a high-profile Dominican player at an American college, a space with limited Latino representation.

“Every year there are more Latinos knocking on doors,” he said. “The important thing is that when you get there, you’re not just representing your country, but the entire Latino community. I want people to understand that I’m not the same on and off the court. Out there, on the court, we are rivals. My dream is at stake, and I’m going all out. … Many may not like my mentality because I believe that if you and I are fighting for that plate of food, I will do everything possible to prevent you from taking that plate. On the court, we are enemies.”

With the unrest created by immigration raids in Southern California, Baker-Mazara wants to serve as an example of an immigrant who makes positive contributions.

“When I got here, they made it very difficult for me,” he said of his arrival in the U.S. “They didn’t want to let me play or anything like that. And I, naturally, lowered my head, focused and set my sights on myself, and look where I am now, thank God. So I tell everyone, even if it’s more difficult, even if it seems impossible, try. Impossible is just a word, that’s if you put it there yourself.”

One of the role models Baker-Mazara admires is Hansel Emmanuel, the young Dominican who lost his left arm in an accident at the age of 6 when a wall of concrete blocks collapsed on him. Today, he competes at the highest level of college basketball.

“It was a shock to the whole country when that happened, because Hansel was always a talented kid. That accident caused a lot of noise there. From a young age, you could tell he was different,” said Baker-Mazara, who has known Emmanuel since childhood because their parents were friends.

Emmanuel was not selected in the NBA draft, but he signed a two-way contract with the Houston Rockets.

USC’s Chad Baker-Mazara shoots during a practice at the Galen Center.

(Ringo Chiu/Los Angeles Times )

“What I admire most about him is his mindset,” Baker-Mazara said of Emmanuel. “He never let what might seem like a disadvantage get him down. He pushed forward and kept working. Today he is where he is because he never took no for an answer. And even though I’m older than him, I often look up to him as an example, as someone whose footsteps I want to follow.”

Their relationship remains strong even though they don’t talk every day.

“He’s like a little brother to me,” said Baker-Mazara. “We live 15 minutes away from each other when we’re at home. He knows that with one phone call, he can count on me.”

Baker-Mazara also counts Kobe Bryant as a major source of inspiration.

“Kobe died the day before my birthday,” Baker-Mazara said. “Since that year, I haven’t even celebrated that day. It was like losing a family member.”

Bryant’s No. 24 jersey had a profound impact on Baker-Mazara’s life.

USC’s Chad Baker-Mazara, center, extends his arm in the air while playing defense during a workout at the Galen Center.

(Ringo Chiu/Los Angeles Times)

“Apart from my dad, Kobe was one of the reasons I took up basketball,” Baker-Mazara said. “It was one of my dreams for him to come and see me play. It didn’t happen, but I feel like he’s here in spirit. This is his city. This is Kobe Bryant.”

Baker-Mazara tries to emulate the Mamba Mentality in his daily routine, in the way he competes and faces challenges.

If he doesn’t make it to the NBA, Baker-Mazara plans to seek professional playing opportunities internationally.

“I come from Santo Domingo. I’m not afraid to play in any country,” he said. “As long as I can feed my family and set an example for my little sister, I’ll keep going.”

This article first appeared in Spanish via L.A. Times en Español.

Mauricio Sulaiman smiled as he recalled the call during which a boxing legend asked him to challenge current welterweight champion Mario Barrios.

The president of the World Boxing Council (WBC) did not think about it for a moment and immediately got to work to fulfill the request of the legendary Manny Pacquiao.

One of the most iconic and respected figures in boxing history is back.

“It was a positive call, I told him I wanted to challenge the champion one more time and that I can still fight. He was happy to hear that,” Pacquiao told L.A. Times en Español.

Manny Pacquiao speaks about his boxing comeback at a news conference in Los Angeles on June 3.

(Greg Beacham / Associated Press)

Sulaiman fulfilled “PacMan’s” wish and his bout against “Aztec Warrior” Barrios will be on July 19 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

“He called me and said, ‘Help me fulfill my dream of retiring with the WBC, which was where I started at flyweight,’” Sulaiman said. “Manny’s relationship with the WBC is decades old, we’ve been in very good times and we’ve been in difficult times and now that he needs support, we are here for him.”

Born into poverty in the Philippines, Pacquiao became the only boxer to win world titles in eight different divisions, from flyweight to super welterweight. He defeated Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto, Juan Manuel Marquez, Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera.

His explosive style, speed and charisma made him a global idol, especially in Asia and Latin America. In addition to being world champion in multiple bodies (WBC, WBA, WBO, WBO, IBF), he was recognized as “Boxer of the Decade” by the Boxing Writers Assn. in 2010 and also developed a political career, becoming a senator in his country, which cemented his status as a national hero in the Philippines.

During his career, Pacquiao has suffered eight losses and two draws, but his impressive 62 victories — 39 of them by knockout — earned him a place in the Boxing Hall of Fame. He is being inducted in Canastota, N.Y., on June 8.

The former champion has been welcomed by the boxing world with open arms, but with caution.

Pacquiao claims his hand movements are just as quick as in his prime, but at 46, many doubt he is the same as before. In August 2021, Pacquiao lost a unanimous decision to Cuba’s Yordenis Ugás in what was then his last fight before retirement.

During the fight against Ugás, Pacquiao looked slow, unresponsive and in what seemed to be the twilight of his career. He said several issues caused his problems during the fight, among them, his political career, a lawsuit against him by his former promoter Paradigm Sports Management and muscle ailments that were further inflamed by a pre-fight massage.

Pacquiao did say whether he will be around to face more of boxing’s stars after his bout with Barrios.

“I’m still here, one at a time,” Pacquiao said. “This is me, if there are changes in my fighting style, I have to listen to my body, my heart and if my mind is also there, then I will know if I’m done.”

Manny Pacquiao wears the champion’s belt after defeating Brandon Rios during their WBO international welterweight title fight on Nov. 24, 2013, in Macau.

(Vincent Yu / Associated Press)

Since the announcement of his return, many have shown concern for what might happen to him in the ring against a younger and physically fit Barrios.

“I appreciate that they are concerned, however, the only people I worry about is my family,” Pacquiao said. “How I move, how I train, what kind of condition I’m in, they support me because they can still see the old Manny Pacquiao.”

During his four-year absence from boxing, he was dedicated to his family and his country as a politician, but he said he remained active and in good physical condition, so he feels his return to the ring will not be difficult.

“At my home in the Philippines, I have my own training facility, with a gym, two basketball courts, everything — pickleball, badminton, table tennis,” Pacquiao said. “Plus, I have a yard in the back of my house that’s a kilometer long where I run.”

Sixteen years separate Pacquiao and Barrios.

Pacquiao made his professional debut in January 1995, Barrios was born just four months later. That bout will pit experience versus youth.

Barrios may have more elements in his favor, such as his height, as he stands 6-feet tall while Pacquiao is 5-foot-5. Barrios’ reach is 71 inches, while Pacquiao’s reach is 67 inches.

“I’m younger, I have youth on my side, he has the experience, but I have to go out there and use all that advantage, my height, my speed, my timing, if I do that I can come out on top.”

Although the confirmation of the fight came as a surprise to many, Barrios was mentally prepared for the possibility. He knew that the return of a legend like Pacquiao was not an isolated rumor, but a latent option.

“At first, I really couldn’t believe it, but I had been told it could happen anytime in 2025,” recounted the San Antonio, Texas native, who has a record of 29 wins, two losses and one draw. “I thought the best thing to do was to be ready, in March I was told it could happen during the summer, then I felt it would definitely happen. He’s a legend, he’s achieved so much, but at the end of the day, he’s a fighter who wants to take my title.”

Yordenis Ugas punches Manny Pacquiao during a welterweight championship boxing match on Aug. 21, 2021, in Las Vegas.

(John Locher / Associated Press)

Pacquiao could have chosen a more accessible opponent for his comeback, someone who would allow him to regain his rhythm and confidence. But he chose Barrios, a champion in his prime.

“I don’t know if it’s an insult or complement,” Barrios reflected. “The type of fight he brings to the ring is a lot of action, I have to be smart, I shouldn’t let him succeed.”

While he respects Pacquiao’s legacy, Barrios is determined to impose his own stamp on a historic evening.

He is known for the way he arrives in the ring, accompanied by traditional Aztec dancers, as well as his colorful attire that represents his indigenous roots.

Barrios hopes to continue with his traditional entrance, but he said the occasion calls for something special.

“It’s going to be a very similar entry, always bringing the … ancestral strength,” Barrios said. “… I’m going to have all that, but we’re going to do something even bigger.”

This article first appeared in Spanish via L.A. Times en Español.

As Mayela got off the bus, she saw Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers raiding the pupusería she worked at in Los Angeles. The undocumented transgender Salvadoran woman watched from behind a car as her co-workers — including another trans Central American woman — were handcuffed and taken away in broad daylight.

“I had so much hope when I arrived to this country,” Mayela, played by Fernanda Celarie, says in her prayers later on. “Now that I’ve begun to feel comfortable living here, this is a nightmare. Why so much pain and suffering?”

“Trans Los Angeles” director Kase Peña wrote that scene into her feature film well before the ongoing ICE raids and subsequent protests in L.A., but the harsh reality of fear for the many undocumented people of the city was something she knew she needed to include.

“When I wrote it in 2021, ICE was a hot subject, and then it died down,” Peña told said ahead of her film’s premiere at the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival on May 30. “My film was always relevant and needed. The fact that who we have in the White House right now makes my film even more relevant, more needed now that he’s brought the ICE thing back. That part [of the movie] is not going to look old. It’s unfortunate, but that’s going on.”

This is what Peña set out to do with her feature-length movie, which is composed of three non-overlapping vignettes sharing a wide-ranging set of experiences that Angelenos face daily.

Born and raised in New York, the Dominican American director moved to L.A. nearly a decade ago and was inspired to make her film after noticing a lack of representation for trans stories that reflected the realities of her community.

“When I started hanging with my trans community here in Los Angeles, my intentions were not to tell those stories,” Peña said. “It was something that I felt like there’s a void here, and I’m the right person to tell it because I’m both a filmmaker and a trans person.”

While the storylines of “Trans Los Angeles” drew inspiration from Peña’s personal experiences and fellow members of the trans community‘s stories, the film’s format was influenced by global cinema.

The director pulled from the seminal Soviet/Cuban political work “Soy Cuba” to land on the vignette structure of her film. She had originally wanted to mirror the 1964 movie’s four episodes but was unable to secure funding — a common dilemma faced by truly independent filmmakers — for her fourth snippet, which centered on a transmasculine character.

“A lot of people ask you questions like, ‘Why don’t the stories intertwine?’ It’s because it makes my life more difficult as an independent filmmaker,” she noted. “If you give me a million dollars, I can make the stories intertwined, but I was only getting enough money to shoot one segment at a time. I didn’t have money to shoot all three segments.”

These restraints forced “Trans Los Angeles” to be filmed over the course of several years. The first vignette, “Period,” was shot in March 2021; “Feliz Cumpleaños” was filmed soon after in June; “Trans Day of Remembrance” had to be pushed due to finances and was eventually recorded in November 2023 on Peña’s iPhone. That last segment was shot using “stolen locations” for exterior scene — the crew showed up to a spot and recorded without having film permits or insurance.

“That’s one reason why I decided to shoot it with my iPhone,” she said of the guerrilla filmmaking strategy. “If somebody would have came to me and said, ‘Hey, what are you guys doing over there?’ [We’d say] we’re just shooting something for Instagram on my iPhone. They’d be like, ‘Oh, OK.’”

The vignette “Period” centers on Vergara, a formerly incarcerated trans Latinx woman played by actor and model Carmen Carrera. The character lands a job as a nanny to a preteen girl while doing sex work on the side.

Carrera says she was drawn to the project because Peña’s script allowed her to portray a three-dimensional character.

“That is valuable because oftentimes us trans people are told that we’re not valuable, or that we’re wrong for existing, or that we shouldn’t be around kids, or we shouldn’t have responsibility or be people who are a contributing factor to society,” Carrera told said. . “It’s a reflection of my own life too. I am an active girlfriend, I am an active daughter, I’m an active sister. The trans experience is just a small part of my life. It’s not the totality of my human experience. I was just happy I felt more related to Vergara because it’s how I have always felt as well. In my own life, people judge me all the time.”

Another aspect of “Period” that connected Carrera to Vergara was the character’s relationship with her mother.

“I think as a first-generation American, you have that extra layer of [thinking], ‘My parents came to this country and sacrificed so much, and if I don’t make them proud it’s gonna be a waste,’ ” she said.

Central to the plot of “Period” was the community that Vergara was able to tap into thanks to the TransLatin@ Coalition, a real-life advocacy group based out of L.A. that seeks to create safe spaces for transgender, gender expansive and intersex immigrant women in the city.

“The reason the TransLatin@ Coalition is in the film is because that came from me,” Peña said. “I in real life have gone to TransLatin@ to seek the services that they provide for trans people of color. Because I’m a writer and I go there, I see this place and I’m like, ‘I can tell the story and include them.’ ”

The second segment of the feature, “Trans Day of Remembrance,” is named after the annual day of observance on Nov. 20 of those whose lives were lost due to transphobia.

The story follows Phoebe (Austria Wang), a Taiwanese American transgender woman, as she maneuvers her romantic life and processes the death of one of her fellow trans friends. For this vignette, Peña intentionally cast transmasculine actor Jordan Gonzalez to play Phoebe’s cis boyfriend, Sam. .

“We’ve had cisgender people play trans roles, and it’s the first time [Gonzalez has played a cisgender role]. It was something that they’ve been wanting to do for a while, but this industry doesn’t see them as that, because they only see them as trans,” Peña said. “It was something that they yearned for and perhaps now, because they’ve done it, other people would consider casting them that way too.”

The final segment, “Feliz Cumpleaños,” portrays an ICE raid on a Salvadoran business while telling the story of Mayela’s hopes and aspirations for her life as she prepares for her baptism at an LGBTQ+ friendly church.

As an outsider to the Salvadoran experience, Peña leaned on actual members of the Central American country to adjust and approve of her script.

“I want to acknowledge that I’m not from El Salvador. As a person of color, as a Dominican filmmaker, as a transgender filmmaker, I have often seen filmmakers from other communities come and tell my story, and they don’t check in,” Peña explained. “They think they can just write it. They don’t get it right sometimes, and then they go win major awards. I didn’t want to disrespect the community like that.”

Peña emphasizes that the movie tells stories that get to the heart of the struggle and beauty of being human in L.A.

But ultimately her film is only a slice of the overall trans experience, she says, a unique series of stories informed by a writer whose ethos can be encapsulated in her own views on her own trans identity.

“For me, being transgender is not about passing. Being transgender is about having the freedom to be who you are,” Peña said. “I’m not trying to look like a woman. This is me. That’s it, whatever that means.”

It’s been 12 months since Arrow McLaren driver Pato O’Ward tasted arguably the biggest defeat of his career. He was leading the competition until the final lap in the Indy 500 when he was passed by Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden.

That afternoon, O’Ward wept bitterly after again being denied the ultimate victory at a track where he has performed well. During his three Indy 500 appearances, the Monterrey, Mexico, native has two second-place finishes — in 2022 and 2024 — and $3.16 million in winnings.

O’Ward enters Sunday’s 109th Indianapolis 500 (9:45 a.m. PDT on Fox) as the slight favorite to win the Indy 500.

The other major contender on Sunday is Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou of Spain. The Sant Antoni de Vilamajor native, the reigning IndyCar Series defending champion, has won four of the season’s five races, although he has never won the Indianapolis 500.

Pato O’Ward, front and center, is comforted by a crew member after finishing second in the Indianapolis 500 on May 26, 2024, in Indianapolis.

(Darron Cummings / Associated Press)

For many, O’Ward also is a sentimental favorite after showing he can rally from setbacks and compete for wins. O’Ward finished last season in fifth place, with three wins and six top-five finishes. He is fourth in the standings with two top-five finishes and one pole.

“It’s the hunger to win, to be able to come back and have another shot. I love what I do, I love my job,” O’Ward told L.A. Times en Español when asked about his resilience heading into Sunday’s race.

This week, the native of Monterrey decided to prepare pozole and quesadillas for his team. When he’s in Indianapolis, he usually tries to avoid the hustle and bustle and concentrate on winning.

“I live, breathe and sleep with racing,” said O’Ward, whose racing career began in karting in 2005.

“This has been a goal that’s been living pretty much in my head for many years,” added O’Ward, who qualified 232.098 mph on the 2.5-mile oval and will enter Sunday’s front row, the first Mexican to do so in the history of the Indy 500.

O’Ward, who drives the No. 5 car, has seven IndyCar Series victories and has progressed far from his early days as an inexperienced kid who shyly gave media interviews.

He has kept a tight circle around him as he has worked to improve.

“For people on the outside, it’s hard for us to welcome them because I like to keep things pretty tight-lipped,” said O’Ward, whose team is made up mostly of family members. “It’s people you trust them with your eyes closed and you always know they’re doing their best for you.”

Today, O’Ward is one of the leading faces of the series, with thousands of fans from around the world wearing T-shirts with his name on them to support him in a stadium that has already sold out its 250,000 seats despite the drama surrounding last year’s winning team.

Team Penske has been in the spotlight after it was punished for using modified attenuators, which resulted in failed technical inspections last Sunday. The team was accused of stuffing and smoothing the seams of the rear attenuator, a part that is standard for all teams and therefore cannot be modified.

Pato O’Ward drives into the second turn during the IndyCar Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis on May 10.

(Michael Conroy / Associated Press)

Upon hearing the news, O’Ward showed his frustration. IndyCar on Monday announced penalties to Team Penske for placing Newgarden and Will Power in the final starting positions for the race, as well as $100,000 fines for each car that failed inspections.

The Team Penske car, which Newgarden won with in 2024, is now in the renovated IMS Museum and features a modified rear attenuator similar to the one seen Sunday at Indianapolis that resulted in penalties. In addition, photos have been released from last year’s race in which the No. 2 Team Penske Chevrolet appears to have those same modifications.

“Looking ahead to the remainder of the week and this weekend’s race, we will do everything we can to make it clear that these are not only the best races on the planet, but races where the best win under completely fair conditions,” Indycar President J. Douglas Boles said in a statement.

After learning of the punishments, Team Penske owner Roger Penske fired three Team Penske executives: President Tim Cindric, Chief Executive Ron Ruzewski and general manager Kyle Moyer.

Roger Penske owns the IndyCar Series through Penske Entertainment Group, in addition to owning Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home of the Indy 500, creating more questions about the perceptions of conflict of interest ahead of Sunday’s race and the rest of the IndyCar Series season.

Palou wants his first Indy 500 win

Palou, known for his calm, consistency and composure on the track, has yet to win the Indy 500. Despite having four wins in the first five races of the season, drawing comparisons to the four straight victories by the legendary A.J. Foyt in 1964, Palou is not satisfied and wants a “life-changing” win.

Palou scored a second-place finish in 2021 in the Indy 500 and earned $2.8 million from that race.

“Obviously, it’s the one race that I know and that we all know is life-changing for a driver. I’ve won four this year and it hasn’t changed my life,” Palou, 28, explained to L.A. Times en Español. “On the other hand, winning this weekend’s 500, the 500 miles, I believe and I know that it changes the life of the drivers who win it.”

Palou, the winner of the 2021, 2023 and 2024 IndyCar championships, qualified at 231.378 mph in his No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing car to start sixth on the grid Sunday.

Spain’s Alex Palou, center, celebrates after winning the IndyCar Grand Prix auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis on May 10. Pato O’Ward, of Mexico, left, finished second and Will Power, of Australia, finished third.

(Michael Conroy / Associated Press)

The Spaniard said he is going through the best moment of his career, not only in sport, but also in his personal life, as he enjoys spending time with his 18-month old daughter, Lucia, born in 2023.

“It’s harder, it’s a lot more work and it’s impossible to have a good strategy to win that competition because every day it changes,” Palou said about caring for his daughter. “But it has been the best thing I’ve ever done in my life. The feeling when she smiles, when she hugs me or when she tells me something. She’s 18 months old now, but she’s still starting to say ‘Daddy’ and she’s starting to say things and it’s amazing.”

Despite winning the second championship in a row, Palou said his team has continued its intense pace.

“I would say that basically that’s the great work of the team and that after winning the championship no one has relaxed. That’s what’s most impressive that it was the other way around, if not that they put in even more effort than they had in 2024,” Palou said.

Palou has also given a lot of credit to his father, who has been his mechanic since he started in karting.

“We spent many, many hours together and many, many bad moments, very hard and also many good ones, but in the end he has been the person who has taught me … to go fast, to brake harder, to have more speed in mid-corner and also how to get up after a bad moment,” Palou said.

Palou was the first Spaniard to win an IndyCar championship in 2021 and wants to continue to inspire future generations of Spanish drivers by proving that you can not only make it to this circuit, but also succeed.

Prema Racing rookie Robert Shwartzman will make his Indy 500 debut in the pole position. It is the first time a rookie has won the Indy 500 pole since 1953. Takuma Sato, a two-time race winner, will join Shwartzman and O’Ward on the front row.

This article first appeared in Spanish via L.A. Times en Español.