Joey Medina

Joey Medina managed to successfully span two vastly different professions. First he made a name for himself in the boxing arena, where he earned the state lightweight championship in Arizona before battling for the 1987 world championship and ending with a world rank of number five. After a stint as an Arizona State Police detective, Medina turned to comedy, putting out an album and performing live shows that are reminiscent of the down and dirty humor popularized by such comedians as Richard Pryor and Cheech and Chong.

Medina honed his boxing skills during his teen years. Later in life, at Tucson clubs like Laff's, he learned to knock 'em out with humor instead of his gloves. He excelled, going on to play more renowned venues that included The Comedy Store and The Improv. Medina's ability to elicit laughter earned him a morning slot at Tucson radio station KOHT from 1995 to 1996 and brought him an award as Master Comedian of the Year in 1996. The following year he appeared at the Latino Laugh Festival. Hispanic Magazine dubbed him one of the U.S.'s premiere comics.

In 1999, Nun-ya Records put out Below the Belt, Medina's first album. In addition to performing across the U.S., the comic has taken his act to Japan, Germany, Israel, Hong Kong, and Egypt. He also performed his comedy act in Bosnia for U.S. military forces.