Roberto Garcia is Ready!

Fighting Shibata Flores THIS Friday

Roberto “La Amenaza” Garcia is looking to make a name for himself Friday night. The Texas slugger (28-3, 21 KOs) is best known for going head to head against Antonio Margarito in the “Tijuana Tornado’s” very first bout after his boxing license was revoked in the State of California.

Garcia, whose nickname gives way to the threatening “menace” he is in the ring, was given slim to no chance of beating the rugged Margarito when they fought last May in Aguascalientes, Mexico. But Roberto stood his ground and lasted till the final bell rang.

Although defeated in a ten-round unanimous decision by the hard-hitting human tornado, Garcia’s name was put out there as a tough foe for anyone to try and beat. Heading out west, the muscular middleweight has been training at the famed Wild Card gym for over two years now.

And now he’s getting a chance to add a solid victory to his ledger if he gets past ring veteran Jose Alfredo “Shibata” Flores (45-10, 26 KOs). The two will square off this Friday at the Commerce Casino as the headliner in the “All In” card presented by All Star Promotions. The event, in association with Budweiser and in conjunction with Vince Young, will feature live pro boxing along with several pro and amateur MMA fights.

Garcia, 30, and Flores, 38, both plan to go “all in” as the two Mexican warriors battle for the all-important victory inching them closer for a shot at a title. And should he win, the “W” would be icing on the cake for him–literally. Garcia will celebrate his birthday on March 26, just a day after his fight.

At the recent news conference held at the Commerce Casino, which holds the distinction as the world’s largest poker room, the two pugilists kept their “poker faces” intact as their highly-anticipated matchup nears.

It certainly is high stakes for “La Amenaza,” who hopes to further his standing as a viable contender in the junior middleweight division. In our interview, hear how he’s come a long way from fighting for $40 a night in pesos.

Meeting Team Garcia, I was immediately struck by the down-to-earth attitude within their camp. Roberto introduced me to his pretty wife, Nana, his trainer Eric Brown from Wild Card, manager Vince Young and cutman Tony Rivera.

Chatting with Roberto, he was very open in his assessment of fighting the controversial Margarito in their “Latin Fury” war. Pulling no punches, Garcia opens up about what actually happened in the bout and what he was thinking after being knocked down once and then later deducted points in two rounds (by referee Guadalupe Garcia for headbutt and low blow).

Come Friday night, Roberto Garcia has a new opportunity to get his name out there. Coincidentally, it is a name he shares with Margarito’s trainer Roberto “Grandpa” Garcia, a former champion from Oxnard and the trainer of Margarito, Nonito Donaire, Brandon Rios, etc.

But this fighting Garcia from Texas can also put his small town of Weslaco on the map. He tells me the city is a border town that some call “West Loco.” But he loves going back to the Hidalgo County where he grew up. Lately the tiny town has been getting some love from other Houston boxers too. Fellow hometown hero Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz appeared at a Weslaco sporting goods store this past Sunday for an autograph signing with the fans. But if Roberto Garcia holds the winning hand in his “All In” battle, the town of Weslaco will be known to many more in boxing circles.

While speaking with Roberto and wife Nana, the attractive couple appear unaffected by the trappings of Hollywood, where the famed Wild Card Boxing Club is located. Both easygoing in nature, the pair say they love living in L.A. while missing their family in Texas at the same time. And while the cute duo do not have any children of their own yet, during my visit I do get to meet a surprise guest, one who really is like a “child” to them.

The issue of family also comes up in my interview with the camp. Behind every boxer lies an interesting story. And Garcia is no different. Born in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Roberto learned the hardships of life early on, after experiencing the heartbreaking loss of both of his parents.

Dealt a rough hand in life, Garcia could have chosen to go down the more wayward path. But in speaking with the humble fighter, he exudes a quiet confidence and a thoughtful assurance in his abilities and skills as an athlete, albeit one who has been waiting for his chance to shine. He believes he will achieve his dream of fighting for a world title. Through faith and family, Team Garcia knows they will prevail. Roberto even wears a striking cross necklace that I notice around his neck. Nana handcrafts these jeweled pieces her husband says proudly, adding that her necklaces have been very popular with both men and women.

While the high-profile Antonio Margarito showdown didn’t earn Team Garcia a victory, Roberto is still grateful for the lessons learned. And he is ready for more.

Now he’s focusing on Friday night and the task at hand of beating former champion Shibata Flores. Younger in years and shorter in stature, Garcia will take on the taller and more experienced veteran southpaw as the “All In” main event.

Not keeping his cards close to his vest, Roberto was very frank and open in answering all and any questions. Meet “La Amenaza” and here all about what it was really like in the ring with Margarito, why he doesn’t have to fight for pesos anymore and why he’s got a bad craving for some “Canelo”!

Michele Chong: Roberto, what everyone wants to know is your thoughts about the Margarito fight. What was your experience like in such a high-profile affair?

Roberto Garcia: Well to begin with…there wasn’t any thought! When I fought Margarito I was ready…but I had a really short camp. They called me at like five and a half weeks before I trained for that fight. I took it just to prove that I could compete and hang with the elite fighters. I want to prove to myself and to people who thought that when I stepped up I wouldn’t hang but I did! I held my own with him; he gave me everything he had and I kept coming no matter what. And he respected me after that. He thought I was gonna be a “one round knockout guy” and I wasn’t.

But what happened at the fight with Margarito was that everything was cool but when he dropped me in the first round I was standing wrong and got up very angry, I mean very angry! I lost my head and fought the rest of the night with complete raging anger, not even thinking of my skills. If I had fought with my skills I would’ve beat him. But I fought him with just the intensity to rip his head off–I forgot about everything; I was throwing bombs at him all night long. I was chasing him for ten rounds. I was mad for a couple of hours after the fight and everyone was trying to calm me down.

I fought with a lot of anger; I didn’t get to use my skills. I lost my head. And just like anything, when you get mad you can’t do anything right. I was just swinging to rip his head off! If I had used my skills I would’ve outboxed him. But that will never happen again. That was an experience that I needed to learn. It was my first big fight in front of 40,000 people, you know what I mean?

(He then smiles) But it was cool. It was an experience, you know I didn’t get blinded by the light being in there with a three-time world champion. It was good; I always wondered what it was like to fight a complete ten rounder and now I know!

MC: So overall it was a good experience for you?

RG: Oh yeah. It was a good experience and we actually had a lot of fun. Everything was against me–the promoters, the refs, the judges, everything! It was like eight people against 40,000 people. (Laughs) And we did good…I did better than anyone thought I was gonna do, that’s for sure! When we got back home, everyone was like, “Hey man, you went ten rounds with Margarito!” But I wish it was 12 because he was tiring at the end but I went ten rounds and he didn’t even pop a pimple on my face!

I had nothing on my face, swear to God! I’m not making fun of him but after the fight he was cool, I was cool. We’re on good terms and actually I know Robert Garcia, his trainer. We have the same name. (Chuckles) And I like the guy, he’s a well respected trainer.

MC: Did you watch the Pacquiao-Margarito fight?

RG: Yes, we watched it back home in Texas. We had a BBQ and watched it. Pacquiao’s the man; we train, both of us at Wild Card.

We have our home there and my family’s there. I was originally born in Houston, Texas. But my parents passed away so we had to move down to south Texas and grew up there. Where I’m from, it’s a small town. So I had to move to Mexico and I lived there for two years and fought there. Actually my first two professional fights were for like $40…400 pesos! That was my first professional fight.

MC: Wow, a $40 fight? Really?

RG: Yeah swear to God! That was back in ’01, when I turned pro. Forty dollars for four rounds–400 pesos! But I didn’t care about the money, I just wanted the experience.

MC: So you figured you could only go up from there? (Laughs)

RG: (Laughs) I went from there–and I’m still going. You know I didn’t realize having this dream, everything you wish for, dream for never actually happens the way you think it’s gonna happen. It happens in a different way. But I’m very grateful to be here and to be training here. I like Los Angeles a lot; it’s like a second home.

MC: How long have you lived here now?

RG: I’ve been here two years now. I came out in ’08. I go back and forth (to Texas). If I don’t have a fight, I go back for a month and a half to see family. (He then smiles at his wife seated next to him.)

MC: How long have you two been married?

RG: We’ve been married for three years now, December 13, 2007.

MC: Do you guys have kids?

(Roberto and Nana then peer down into her oversized handbag carefully perched on her lap. Laughing, they asks if I like dogs? I then see a little furry face peeking out of Nana’s purse and I meet their adorable pet, who they treat like a son.)

RG: Papi’s our kid. He’s two years old.

MC: Does he go to the gym with you?

Nani: Every day!

RG: (Laughs) He is there every day. Papi goes everywhere with us in the car, the grocery store, the movies, the mall–everywhere! We love him like a kid. He has clothes, his own drawer, everything.

(After playing with the puppy, we get back to the subject of the upcoming fight.)

MC: Okay, so back to boxing. Do you feel like Shibata is a stepping stone?

RG: Actually, you know what? To be honest with you, I’m not saying I’m special but I am saying I’m “different.” But what I mean by that is I see boxing as a different way, the way I think about it. As far as fighting, the sport of it, I always train hard no matter who it is. When I train for a fight, I don’t train for a guy I train to better myself and to prove myself. A lot of people train just to beat one guy but I train to better my defense, speed, a lot of stuff.

With Eric Brown, I’ve started to come around. For Margarito, we had five weeks and three days! That was it.

MC: Right now you are best known for the Margarito fight. How do you feel about that?

RG: I paid off my house in cash! (Smiles) And I still had money left over. So I paid off my house in Texas–and came out without a scratch.

MC Your fight here at the Commerce Casino is your first time fighting in California?

RG: Yes, it’s my first fight here in California. In Texas we had big crowds, the biggest crowd we had was 5,180 people. It was booming.

But they say L.A.’s the place to spread your wings. That’s what I want to do–I want to fight out here! People can see you out here and hopefully build a following. I’ve made a lot of friends here through the Wild Card family. It’s a great atmosphere and everyone’s cool. A lot of people from the gym should be there at the fight too.

MC: In regards to Shibata Flores, does fighting a southpaw present any extra challenge to you?

RG: (He shrugs) Nope, it’s fine. It doesn’t really matter to me. We have southpaws I’ve been working with on the southpaw attack. The first title I won ever in my career was in Texas, a junior middleweight title. I knocked out the junior middleweight from New Orleans and fractured his ribs and took his belt–and he was a southpaw. I fought him hard and stopped him in the fourth round.

I listen to Eric and more importantly, I really really listen to Eric. I’m happy and I feel good all around in training.

MC: And both of you look like you’re right on schedule in making weight.

RG: (Nods) I can fight 47-54 it doesn’t matter. But now they want me to stay at 54. Weight has never been an issue with me; I’m always under. When I fought Margarito I came in at 152. So that’s not a problem.

MC: Was Margarito the toughest fighter you’ve ever faced?

RG: To date, yes. He definitely was.

MC: Would you want a rematch in the future?

RG: Yes, I would. This time I would know exactly how to fight him! I would love to rematch him. I like Tony and respect him. With a lot of my opponents we even go out after, it’s nothing personal.

MC: Any prediction for Friday’s fight?

RG: The only prediction guaranteed is that I’m gonna be ready. I am ready. And that’s it. Eric Brown has the “remote” and pushes a button and I do what they say. (Laughs) I just listen to him and work hard in the gym.

MC: Should you get past Shibata, what’s next on the horizon?

RG: I would really like to fight the one who just won a world title, Saul Alvarez. I would hit the lottery if I could fight him, “Canelo.” I would LOVE that fight with a passion. That would be awesome!

MC: Good luck with everything, Roberto and nice to meet you.

RG: Thanks!

If you want to witness the “La Amenaza” versus “Shibata” showdown, it’s going down this Friday in Commerce.

See you at the fights!

Photos by Michele Chong

All-Star Promotions
“All In” Boxing & MMA show
Friday, March 25
Commerce Casino
Tickets: (323) 816-6200