Oxnard boxers score a perfect night!
Lightweight Javier “El Pelos” Garcia’s return to the ring was a successful one last Friday night as the main event on the “Combat United” card at Commerce Casino’s Crowne Plaza.
Wearing the colors of the Mexican flag, the SoCal boxer made his way inside the ropes first. Scheduled for four rounds, Garcia faced Takashi Takenaka, who was making his professional debut in the All Star Promotions event featuring five bouts of live boxing and four bouts of amateur MMA.
Starting quickly, Garcia came out pounding after an almost three-year hiatus. After a fast and furious first round, the fierce Mexican slugger kept up the pace over the overmatched but game Japanese fighter. After landing some big shots and powerful combinations, referee Jack Reiss stepped in, waving off the match at 1:59 in the second frame giving Garcia his fourth professional victory and fourth KO as the audience chanted “Pelos! Pelos! PELOS!”
With this win, Garcia (4-2-1, 4 KOs) hopes to keep on the road toward racking up more victories. And it has been a rocky road for the talented 22-year-old. The Oxnard boxer’s last bout was a loss to Khadphi Proctor in September of 2008. And in a well-documented tragedy, one of Javier’s opponents, Jackson Bussell, collapsed after their match. After their fight was declared a draw back in September of 2007, Reno’s Bussell succumbed and died a day later leaving Garcia and the whole boxing world stunned and saddened by this shocking death.
It is a horrible and tragic circumstance in the sport that can happen to any fighter at any given time. Now after Friday night’s second-round TKO victory, Team Garcia is planning to stay busy as Javier fulfills his family’s legacy.
The Garcias are a boxing dynasty in Ventura County and beyond. Javier’s uncles are trainer and former IBF champ Robert Garcia (who also trains Nonito Donaire, Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios, etc.) and Mikey Garcia, the 23-year-old NABF and WBO NABO rising star. Their father is famed boxing coach Eduardo Garcia (Fernando Vargas’ trainer) and Javier’s brother is former boxer David “El Gordo” Garcia. It’s safe to say the sweet science is a way of life for this brood; boxing’s in their blood. This Southern California familia is considered boxing royalty in boxing circles.
Trainer Robert Garcia had an especially busy night with four Oxnard boxers rounding out the card and was also in his nephew’s corner. Training out of the Robert Garcia Boxing Academy, Herbert Acevedo, Allan Benitez and Carlos Rodriguez also added wins to their ledger. The 75 mile commute was a worthwhile drive for the Oxnard stable. The 805 area code was well represented in this evening with all four fighters walking out victorious as the packed crowd cheered them on.
The large ballroom was filled with plenty of Garcia supporters wearing bright blue and black T-shirts bearing a red and yellow Superman-style “P” logo for Javier’s nickname of “Pelos.”
Immediately after Garcia’s stoppage of his opponent, his brother David, 20, celebrated with the rousing group of Team Pelos in attendance. “What did you think of your Javier’s return?” I asked his sibling. “It was great!” his younger bro told me. “It was beautiful!”
Also taking in the action was heavyweight Chris Arreola (fighting this Saturday in Atlantic City), amateur star Saul “Neno” Rodriguez (who will be going pro very soon) and John Molina Jr., who had a convincing win in a bloody war versus Robert Frankel on June 24 ESPN bout at Pechanga. During a break leading up to the main event, the night’s emcee Jim FitzGerald held a special “Ten Count” in honor of Genaro “Chicanito” Hernandez and Dub Harris, former World Boxing Hall of Fame President and one of their original founders.
After the fights ended, I caught up with the victor of the night as the enormous group of Garcia supporters continue to celebrate in the hallway outside of the venue. Surrounded by this huge group family members, including lots of nieces and nephews, a happy “Pelos” said he’s so glad to be back in the ring.
“How did you feel fighting again?” I asked him as the kids all clamored around their favorite fighter.
“I was a little rusty,” the humble young slugger admitted in regards to his last match back in ’08. “But I’m gonna be back soon! I’ll be fighting August and September.” Staying busy and hoping to continue making a strong showing, the young Mexican warrior looks to be on the right track.
At just 22 years old, the hard-hitting “Pelos” has plenty of time to make his fistic dreams a reality.
And he’ll have tons of support every time he laces up.
As I meet the friendly bunch surrounding him, the pugilist is literally engulfed in a fun crowd of family members as they celebrate his return to the ring. They are everywhere–lining the walls outside the venue, down staircase and continuing toward the hotel’s first level, all wearing Garcia shirts. After I remark about all the fans, Javier laughs and says there’s even as he motions down the halls and down the stairs leading into the hotel.
Then the littlest “Pelos” team member climbs into his arms. His baby boy is also sporting a gray “Team Pelos” baby tee. Father and son give me their best “game face” for the camera as Javier is then once again pulled into his spirited legion of supporters, all excited over Garcia’s victory.
And it was another exciting evening for All Star Promotions. Look for their popular fight series will be back on August 26 at Commerce as promoters Ed Holmes and Pete Hironaka present the State Amateur Championships sanctioned by California Amateur Mixed Martial Arts (CAMO).
For Javier Garcia, this past weekend’s “Combat United” card is a step back on the road headed to success.
Photos by Michele Chong