(L-R – Kevin Duty, Luis Garcia at Patrick Brown)
PEEKSKILL, N.Y.. (Disyembre 1, 2015) – Kevin Dever Sports Management ay inihayag ang pag-sign ng undefeated Cuban ilaw matimbang pag-asam Luis “Ang leon” Garcia sa isang eksklusibong kontrata ng pangangasiwa.
Halos walong taon na ang nakaraan,Garcia (12-0, 9 Kos) tumiwalag mula sa Cuba sa Mexico sa mga kapwa boxer Alexei Acosta. Garcia (12-0, 9 Kos), na husay sa Cork, Ireland, made his professional debut in 2008. He now lives in Peekskill, New York.
“Ito ay isang mas malaking pagbabago kapag lumipat ako sa Ireland kaysa ito ay anim na linggo nakaraan kapag ako ay inilipat dito,” the 28-year-old Garcia explained. “It was a lot harder in Ireland because I didn’t speak a word of English. I learned English from the street, watching TV and reading. It’s not a big change for me to move around because I traveled all over the world when I was a member of the Cuban National Team.”
Garcia nang hindi nakipaglaban sa halos apat na taon dahil sa nakaraang pangangasiwa ng mga isyu, ngunit ang kanyang mga naka-iskedyul na bumalik ay ito Sabado gabi, Disyembre 5, against an opponent to be determined in a six-round bout at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. His last fight was a win by eight-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated (12-0) Alexander Johnson sa Disyembre 30, 2011 sa Cabazon, California.
“Ito ay hindi ang aking mga desisyon hindi upang labanan ang nakaraang apat na taon,” Garcia added. “Something happened with my now former manager and promoter. I trained all the time, sparred isang pulutong, and did as much as I could do in the gym. I still had a contract until it expired. I’ve known Kevin for 2-3 taon. He asked me why I wasn’t fighting and I told him everything. He said to call him when my contract expired because he wanted to manage me and that’s what I did.
“Nag-aalok akin America isang magandang pagkakataon, mas mahusay kaysa sa England o Ireland, and I’m going to finish my boxing career here. I’m fighting December 5ika and taking things step by step. I’m not going to rush. There are a lot of great fighters in the light heavyweight division and I hope to be in the mix next year.”
Dalawang laban Garcia bago ang kanyang huling laban Johnson ay kahanga-hanga 2010 teknikal knockouts ng dating mundo kampeon Byron Mitchell (28-6-1) at Jorge Rodriguez Olivera (19-1), buong galang, sa pangalawa at ika-anim na round.
“Iniwan ko boxing na may isang masamang lasa sa aking bibig ngunit ako ay naghahanap upang makakuha ng back sa boxing,” nabanggit Kevin Duty, na co-namamahala Garcia sa Patrick Brown. “I knew him from Ireland and I always wanted to manage this kid. He called to tell me his contract had expired and we worked out a deal that brought him here to live in New York.
“I honestly don’t see any rust watching him spar. I know sparring isn’t fighting but everybody in the gym stops to watch him workout. Sa totoo lang sa tingin ko na, sandaling siya ay may ilang mga mahusay na fights ilalim ng kanyang sinturon, makikita siya ay isang nangungunang kalaban sa liwanag matimbang dibisyon. Luis Garcia ay ang pinakamahusay na manlalaban kailanman ko na nagtrabaho sa.”
Garcia, isang World Junior Championship gold dalubhasa sa mga medalya, tumiwalag dahil siya ay disillusioned matapos na tinanggihan ang isang lugar sa 2008 Cuban Olympic Team, sa kabila ng kanya talunin wakas Olympic silver medalist Emelio Correa, JR. in the Cuban Olympic Qualifier. Correa is the son of 1972 Olympic kampeon Emelio Correa, Sr., sino ay kasangkot pa rin sa Cuban amateur boxing kapag ang kanyang mga anak na lalaki ay napili sa paglipas Garcia upang kumatawan Cuba sa 2008 Olympics. Correa lost in the championship final to James DeGale, ang Brit na sa kasalukuyan ay ang International Boxing Federation (IBF) super middleweight titlist.
Hindi isang tipikal na pagtatanggol-unang Cuban boxer, Garcia ay kilala bilang isang malutong puncher na pinaniniwalaan ng maraming insiders ay mayroong higit nakabaligtad kaysa sa anumang Cuban boxers na na tumiwalag, outside of Guillermo Rigondeaux at Yuriorkis Gamboisang, na parehong may maging multiple-time Champions mundo bilang mga propesyonal.
Garcia ay nagtatrabaho sa labas ng Maging First Boxing sa Peekskill at Westchester Boxing Club sa White Plains (NY), kung saan siya ay nagsanay sa pamamagitan ng Bumingaw “Liyabe” Delury at ang kanyang mga katulong, nagdududa title dating mundo Larry Barnes (44-3, 17 Kos). A former No. 1 raranggo welterweight kalaban sa mundo, Barnes’ pagkalugi tatlong lamang bilang isang pro ay upang mundo Champions Felix “Tito” Trinidad, Saul Mamby at Luis Ramon “Yuri Boy” Kampus.
“Siya ay isang mahusay na bata, napaka-matalino at magalang,” Nagkomento Delury. “May ilang mga kalawang mula sa pagiging off sa apat na taon, ngunit Luis ang saklaw ng isang magandang, healthy lifestyle and he hasn’t suffered any damage in the ring. Siya ay 28, dilat, and a true gentleman. It’s been a pleasure working with him. Luis is a gifted boxer. He’s extremely exciting to watch and has a perfect blend of offense and defense.”
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