Cut above — Brothers Xavier and Sergio “Sarge” Izaguirre of King Kuts Barbershop in San Benito began their journeys as teens, cutting hair for neighborhood friends in their backyard. As business owners, they give back to the community by offering free cuts to students for the school district’s after-school program. Xavier is also rapping during intermission at a Harlingen boxing event on Saturday. (San Benito News/Ray Quiroga)
By RAY QUIROGA
publisher@sbnewspaper.com
It’s said that need is the mother of invention. For Xavier Izaguirre, 49, need placed him on a lifelong journey of creative discovery that began as a teen in the backyard of his childhood home in San Benito.
It was a need stemming from his modest upbringing that drove Xavier and his brother, Sergio, known as Sarge, to begin experimenting with cutting their own hair.
In the days before online tutorials, the Izaguirres used trial and error and simple tools to hone their skills well enough that neighborhood friends began seeking their services. At first, they obliged as a favor and then for pay.
“We didn’t have money to get haircuts, so we cut hair in the hood, at the house, at our friends’ homes…That’s how we started. My brother and I started cutting hair as teens, 15-16 years old,” Xavier recalled.
After graduating from San Benito High School in 1994, Xavier pursued a barber’s license and never looked back. Since 2004, the Izaguirres have established King Kuts, located on Sam Houston Blvd., at the old Moody’s Shopping Center in San Benito.
There, patrons can enjoy Xavier’s other passion on full display – Hip-Hop culture. By his own admission, Izaguirre said, “it took him a while” to get his barbershop’s vibe to where he wanted it, but he believes he eventually achieved an ambiance unique to his style.
From the music to the décor and collectables, the street-style wall art, down to the barbers’ attire, the influence of street and hip-hop culture is apparent.
But Xavier’s passion for Hip-Hop and rap doesn’t stop at the barbershop. Indeed, he’s a hip-hop artist in his own right with his music and videos available online and through streaming services under his stage name, Piexi. Sometimes, he’ll even mix the two, as when he produced a promotional video for his shop in which he performed.
As their reputation and success in the community began to grow, so did the Izaguirre brothers’ desire to contribute to their hometown. In 2006, that philanthropic spirit led to the introduction of another local standout in Abel Fonseca II.
Fonseca, who was employed with San Benito CISD’s After School Program, spearheaded a boxing program for the district. That’s when he was approached by the Izaguirres, who volunteered their talents to cut students’ hair at no cost. Thus, a friendship between the Izaguirres and Fonseca was born.
Fast forward to 2025, Fonseca asked Xavier to perform during the intermission of a coming boxing event slated for Saturday at the Harlingen Convention Center.
As reported in last week’s edition of the NEWS, San Benito will be well-represented at the Harlingen Convention Center on May 17 when the Resaca City’s own, Ricardo “Dynamo” Camacho, faces Oscar Robledo in a professional boxing match that is sure to not disappoint enthusiasts of the “sweet science.”
Camacho (3-2-1) is coming off a controversial loss, by way of decision, at the end of a fight in Edinburg that left many believing it should have resulted in a split decision.
As first reported by the NEWS, Camacho was introduced to the sport through the After School Program and by Fonseca, his current trainer.
Camacho is being backed on Saturday by a contingent of San Benito support that includes Robert Rodriguez, who is taking his low rider club from San Benito to the event, Izaguirre, who’s rapping during intermission, and Matt Montalvo, who is rapping while Team Camacho walks to the ring.
Also walking into the ring the same day is Manuel “El Tomate” Lerma, another Fonseca pro boxing acolyte who is fighting the same day in Laredo. Omar Benavides, a fellow boxing coach from San Benito, is traveling to Laredo to accompany Lerma while Fonseca is in Camacho’s corner. Lerma’s record stands at 4-1.
Other sponsors include Javier Gonzales, Underground Tattoos, Pappasito’s Smokehouse, Big Country, In Your Corner RGV Counseling, Maya Graphics & Designs, Nora Herrera Tax Service & Notary, and SB Wings.
Doors to the Harlingen fights open at 4 p.m. with the first bout slated at 5 p.m. For ticket information, contact Abel Fonseca II at abelfonsecaii@hotmail.com or call (956) 456-6859. The fight is promoted by Juarez Rolo’s Promotions.
As far as his clientele is concerned, Xavier said that 95% are, of course, men, but that he does have female clients, and his professional debut as a stylist began at a salon. As far as the number of heads he’s cut, he said he can’t begin to count but that “it’s in the thousands.”
And yes, for Izaguirre, cutting hair is an art form. “I consider it an art form. To me, it’s not really work. If you love what you do, it’s not really work,” he concluded.
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