Alex García (boxer)

Alex García
Born
Alex Peter García

(1961-12-02) December 2, 1961 (age 62)
NationalityMexican American
Other namesJaws[2]
The San Fernando Hammer
Statistics
Weight(s)Heavyweight
Height6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Reach78 in (198 cm)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record[1]
Total fights47
Wins40
Wins by KO29
Losses6
Draws1
No contests0
Medal record
Men's amateur boxing
Representing  United States
World Amateur Championships
Silver medal – second place 1986 Reno Super Heavyweight

Alex García (born December 2, 1961) is a retired Mexican-American boxer, who competed from 1987 to 2005 in the heavyweight division, best known for his short but nevertheless outstanding amateur career in 1986, and later to be a contender in the 1990s.

Early years

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García grew up in San Fernando, California. First, he was a pitcher and shortstop playing in kid leagues. Then, he was an all-league middle linebacker at San Fernando High School.[3] Later he became a gang member, and eventually served five years in California state prisons at Soledad, San Quentin and Chino, for involuntary manslaughter after stabbing a rival gang member.[2] Upon his release, he found himself training at the Jet Center, where he took up boxing. He was mentored under former middleweight William “Blinky” Rodriguez at the Benny's Jet Center martial arts and boxing complex in Van Nuys, California. "For two years, since he got out of prison, he's been working hard six days a week ... showing desire and discipline," Rodriguez said on his trainee.[2] "He's got 200 street fights. If a guy goes after you with a bumper jack, you better be elusive," said Rodriguez.[3]

Amateur career

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García rapidly began dispatching his foes at the amateurs. He won the Southern California Golden Gloves title and went on to win the National AAU Championships Super Heavyweight title in Beaumont in April 1986.[4] "It was my best fight," said Garcia in the understatement of the tournament. Longtime amateur boxing people called Garcia's performance a surprise.[5] William Pendleton of the U.S. Amateur Boxing Federation board of governors said of his performance at the nationals: "Here was a guy who came in totally from the cold and won the gold medal."[4] He lost a close decision to Wesley Watson prior to the nationals, but avenged that defeat when he stopped Watson in two rounds to earn a spot on the U.S. team for the 1986 World Championships.[2][6] He was training for the world championships in a parking garage converted into a boxing gym at the Sands Regency Hotel in Reno.[3] at the world championships he defeated all his opponents on to his way to the finals,[7] to losing the final to Teófilo Stevenson, winning the silver.[8] Stevenson, a veteran of international boxing, age 35, with a 20-year-long career, won for the 301st time, knocking down Garcia, whose amateur record stood 17–2.[9] "Winning by a knockout is just like a baseball player hitting a home run," said Stevenson after he knocked out García.[10] "I want to fight him again. I want to redeem myself," said García after his defeat in the hands of Stevenson. García claimed he never lost in hundreds of street fights. "I always wanted to box, but I just never took the time to go into the gym and train; I was having too much fun on the streets," he said to the press. "There are some things you can't coach. He's got natural athletic ability. He's got durability, heart, power and he's come along real fast. When we went to the world championships, a lot of guys came up to me and asked me how many fights he'd really had. They couldn't believe he'd only fought 18 times and he was fighting for the gold medal in the world championships with that few fights," said his coach Rodriguez.[2] García has been invited to work out at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.[4] García also sparred with Mike Weaver, the former World Boxing Association heavyweight champion. García said he was a little wary when he first got into the ring against Weaver.[2] Instead of boxing in the 1986 Goodwill Games, García chose to rest.[11] He soon fought at the 1986 USA−USSR boxing duals, where he fought Vyacheslav Yakovlev (who also lost to Stevenson at Reno by majority decision,) in a match-up on July 26, and exhibition bout on August 2, losing him twice in a row, both time by unanimous decision.[12] "I told myself I was going to become a fighter, going to stick with it. It was a big adjustment getting out (of prison). You get institutionalized, get out of the habits of normal life. Although I wanted to be a boxer, I never thought I'd come this far this fast," said García on his progress.[2]

Highlights

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1988 Olympics

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He wasn't sure whether he would wait until after the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, because, once he wanted to turn pro immediately.[3] This accounted for a brief hiatus, and finally, having 21 amateur fights under his belt, with a record of 17 wins (13 by knockout,) and 4 losses, García turned pro.[2]

Professional career

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He started his pro career in California in 1987 and, apart from a cut stoppage loss against Dee Collier, dominated his opposition on his way to contention. Notable opponents at beaten by García at this stage of his career included Eddie Gonzalez, Rocky Sekorski, and Jerry Goff.

In 1992 he won the NABF title against Jerry Jones. After three successful defenses, and with a fight against Riddick Bowe in the advanced planning stage, he took a warm-up fight against Mike Dixon who KOd him by catching García with a blow to his temple. However, soon after in a rematch fight at the "Brady Theater" in Tulsa, OK in May 1994, Alex García won a unanimous decision against Mike Dixon. García never was a serious contender again, drawing with James Warring and getting KOd by Garing Lane.

In 1994 he lost his NABF title on points to fringe contender Joe Hipp, in 1995 he lost on points to Buster Mathis Jr.

Professional boxing record

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40 Wins (29 knockouts, 11 decisions), 6 Losses (4 knockouts, 2 decisions), 1 Draw[13]
Result Record Opponent Type Round Date Location Notes
Loss 5-10 United States Wallace McDaniel KO 3 05/04/2005 United States Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Win 8-18-1 United States Ron McCarthy MD 8 07/12/1999 United States Yonkers, New York, U.S.
Win 2-35 United States George Harris TKO 1 07/08/1999 United States Camden, South Carolina, U.S.
Win 5-14 Mexico Martin Lopez TKO 2 29/08/1997 United States El Paso, Texas, U.S. Referee stopped the bout at 1:05 of the second round.
Loss 18-0 United States Buster Mathis, Jr. UD 12 18/04/1995 United States Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. IBF USBA Heavyweight Title.
Win 14-7-1 United States George Stephens TKO 3 18/11/1994 United States Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
Win 10-2 United States Ed Donaldson UD 10 01/09/1994 United States Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
Win 15-14 United States Mike Dixon UD 10 24/05/1994 United States Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
Loss 26-3 United States Joe Hipp UD 12 01/03/1994 United States Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. NABF Heavyweight Title.
Win 13-10-3 United States George O'Mara PTS 10 20/01/1994 United States Irvine, California, U.S.
Win 8-1 Jamaica Everton Davis PTS 10 18/12/1993 United States Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Loss 9-9-1 United States Garing Lane TKO 2 20/08/1993 United States Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S. Referee stopped the bout at 2:07 of the second round.
Draw 14-2 United States James Warring SD 12 27/07/1993 United States Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. NABF Heavyweight Title.
Loss 12-8 United States Mike Dixon TKO 2 08/06/1993 United States Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. WBC Continental Americas/WBA Fedelatin Heavyweight Titles. Referee stopped the bout at 2:45 of the second round.
Win 21-2 United States Eric Curry TKO 12 20/04/1993 United States Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. NABF Heavyweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 0:38 of the 12th round.
Win 16-1 United States West Turner TKO 1 27/03/1993 United States Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. NABF Heavyweight Title.
Win 20-2 United States Mike Williams TKO 5 16/02/1993 United States Denver, Colorado, U.S. NABF Heavyweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 2:14 of the fifth round.
Win 9-4 United States Jerry Jones UD 12 08/12/1992 United States Tampa, Florida, U.S. NABF/WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight Titles.
Win 23-12-1 Puerto Rico Ossie Ocasio TKO 8 23/11/1992 United States Inglewood, California, U.S.
Win 8-3-1 United States Matthew Brooks TKO 2 27/10/1992 United States Houston, Texas, U.S. Referee stopped the bout at 0:31 of the second round.
Win 26-11-1 United States Mike White TKO 2 22/09/1992 United States El Paso, Texas, U.S.
Win 18-5-1 United States Arthur Weathers KO 2 10/08/1992 United States Inglewood, California, U.S.
Win 26-5-1 United States Mike Ronay Evans UD 10 02/07/1992 United States Reno, Nevada, U.S.
Win 11-9-1 United States Mike Gans KO 2 27/05/1992 United States San Diego, California, U.S.
Win 43-24-1 United States Bobby Crabtree KO 6 04/03/1992 United States Bakersfield, California, U.S.
Win 18-1 United States Jerry Goff TKO 2 11/07/1991 United States Gardnerville, Nevada, U.S.
Win 23-9 United States Rocky Sekorski KO 1 23/05/1991 United States Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Win 22-12 Mexico Ladislao Mijangos TKO 3 22/03/1991 United States Lake Tahoe, Nevada, U.S.
Win 18-5-1 United States Bernard Benton TKO 2 09/10/1990 United States Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. Referee stopped the bout at 0:52 of the second round.
Win 11-1-1 United States Bill Duncan TKO 1 07/05/1990 United States Inglewood, California, U.S.
Win 6-2 United States Dion Burgess TKO 4 27/03/1990 United States Reseda, California, U.S.
Win 14-4-1 United States Andre McCall TKO 2 08/01/1990 United States Inglewood, California, U.S.
Win 7-7-4 United States Jim Ashard KO 4 13/11/1989 United States Inglewood, California, U.S.
Win 25-8-1 United States Eddie Gonzales UD 10 24/10/1989 United States Reseda, California, U.S.
Win 14-14 United States Eddie Richardson KO 7 29/08/1989 United States Reseda, California, U.S.
Loss 10-8 United States Dee Collier TKO 8 29/11/1988 United States Reseda, California, U.S.
Win 4-3 United States Veti Katoa KO 1 29/07/1988 United States Redondo Beach, California, U.S.
Win 10–0 United States Jack S. Jackson KO 2 23/06/1988 United States Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Win 9–0 United States Rodney Stockton KO 2 27/05/1988 United States Redondo Beach, California, U.S.
Win 8–0 United States Dennis Fikes KO 3 24/03/1988 United States Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Win 7–0 United States Dave Slaughter KO 2 12/11/1987 United States Los Angeles, California, U.S. Slaughter knocked out at 1:15 of the second round.
Win 6–0 United States Dwain Bonds UD 6 29/08/1987 United States Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Win 5–0 United States Andre Smith UD 5 09/07/1987 United States Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Win 4–0 United States William Campudani KO 1 18/06/1987 United States Los Angeles, California, U.S. Campudani knocked out at 0:28 of the first round.
Win 3–0 United States Tony Crawford KO 1 28/05/1987 United States Los Angeles, California, U.S. Crawford knocked out at 1:57 of the first round.
Win 2–0 United States Richard Harrell UD 4 24/02/1987 United States Reseda, California, U.S.
Win 1–0 United States Cliff Melbourne KO 1 06/02/1987 United States Reseda, California, U.S. Melbourne knocked out at 2:52 of the first round.

References

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  1. ^ "Boxing record for Alex García". BoxRec.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h 'Brawler' hoping to gain boxing championship By Ken Peters, AP Sports Writer, The Paris News, July 5, 1986, p. 5.
  3. ^ a b c d U.S. super heavyweight takes a tough road to Reno by Steve Sneddon, Reno Gazette-Journal, May 9, 1986, p. 21.
  4. ^ a b c Boxer's Metal Goes From Cold to Gold by David Wharton, The Los Angeles Times, April 11, 1986, p. 33.
  5. ^ The Unknown Garcia wins ‘Amateur’ (AP,) Fayetteville Northwest Arkansas Times, April 7, 1986, p. 9.
  6. ^ USA's Garcia meets Cuban for gold medal by Steve Sneddon, Reno Gazette-Journal, May 17, 1986, p. 7.
  7. ^ Garcia of U.S. Reaches Final, but Against Stevenson by Karl Gustkey, The Los Angeles Times, May 17, 1986, p. 41.
  8. ^ "WorldChamps1986". strefa.pl.
  9. ^ US wins three in the ring (AP), Fairbanks Daily News Miner, May 18, 1986, p. 17.
  10. ^ Four more Cubans take world boxing golds by Ed Schuyler Jr. (Associated Press,) The Times News (Idaho Newspaper,) May 19, 1986, D-4.
  11. ^ Mystery clouds U.S. -Soviet card, Reno Gazette-Journal, July 26, 1986, p. 10.
  12. ^ Soviets slug U.S. boxers (UPI,) The Republic (Columbus, Indiana), August 3, 1986, p. 23.
  13. ^ "BoxRec - Alex Garcia". boxrec.com.
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Preceded by United States Amateur Super Heavyweight Champion
1986
Succeeded by
Carlton Hollis