Red-Carpet Brawl 1 Recap: Senator Jose “The People’s Champion” Menendez vs. Dr. Carlos “The Cuban Missile” Correa

Two community leaders with powerful stories stepped into the ring—not as rivals, but as fighters for meaningful causes.

Senator Jose Menendez, representing District 26 and the San Antonio Food Bank, brought deep purpose to the ring. As the son of immigrants and a passionate public servant, he shared how a visit to the Food Bank—where he learned children go home on Fridays with backpacks full of food because they otherwise have nothing to eat—shaped his fight. “If my granddaughter says she’s hungry, I ask, ‘What do you want to eat?’ Every child deserves that,” he said. With training at Leha Boxing helping him shed 15+ pounds and regain energy, Menendez entered the ring determined and transformed.

Facing him was Dr. Carlos “The Cuban Missile” Correa, a physician fighting for the Leha Family Foundation, dedicated to mental health awareness. Correa spoke from experience, both as a doctor and a diabetic. His journey to better health began at Leha, where he found not only physical improvement but a renewed commitment to helping patients manage underdiagnosed mental health issues. “It’s something I see daily, and something we need to talk about more,” he said.

The match was a thrilling back-and-forth. Menendez scored an early knockdown, but Correa recovered and closed strong. In the end, Dr. Carlos Correa took the win by decision, citing that final knockdown as the edge. “He hits hard,” Correa admitted, “but I hit back. And that made the difference.”

Both fighters walked away champions of their cause—showcasing heart, resilience, and the true spirit of Red-Carpet Brawl.