RSR Looks Back at Former Heavyweight Contender Alex Garcia
By Geno McGahee
The 1990s was a good time for heavyweights. The division was jam-packed with interesting characters and talented fighters with various mediums of exposure. USA’s Tuesday Night Fights and ESPN’s Friday Night Fights would broadcast the bouts of many of these contenders, which included future champions like Bruce Seldon, Riddick Bowe, Lennox Lewis, Ray Mercer, Michael Moorer, and Tommy Morrison. Other contenders at the time included James Thunder, Dan Dancuta, Lou Savarese, Lionel Butler, and “The San Fernando Hammer” Alex Garcia.
Garcia made his pro debut in 1987, and began to build his record. He would be stopped in November of 1988 by Dee Collier on cuts, but would continue to forge ahead and gain the attention of much of the boxing media. With his knockout punch and aggressive nature, he became a fan favorite. Being a Mexican heavyweight, he was a novelty and quickly began showing up on national TV, and worked his way up the ranks.
On October 9th, 1990, one of the most terrifying knockouts that I have ever seen took place. A 17-1, 13 KO’s, Garcia stepped into the ring with former Cruiserweight Champion, Bernard Benton. Benton got caught in the second round, trapped in the corner, and a vicious onslaught was delivered by Garcia, many shots were clean to an unconscious Benton, who was pinned up in the corner. Referee Roger Y’anez, apparently on a lunch break, didn’t intervene and it looked like Benton had been killed. He slumped face first into the canvas and that prompted Y’anez to react. He began counting. The fight was over and Garcia had a devastating knockout that got a lot of play because of the horrible officiating and the overall brutality of it.
Garcia would amazingly be rocked in his next fight by Ladislao Mijangos, a fighter not known for his punching power or incredible talent. Garcia would rebound but there began to be questions about his chin. A returning George Foreman targeted Garcia as a potential future opponent, but it was something that Garcia wasn’t interested in at the time. He wanted more experience.
A TKO over tough Rocky Sekorski, and the Foreman talk would resume. Sekorski, believing the stoppage to be quick, noted that Garcia would get knocked out easily by Foreman. He would know. He also fought a returning Foreman, losing by TKO there as well.
ESPN would become home, covering the Mijangos, Sekorski, and his next fight against the 18-1, Jerry Goff. Goff was a good amateur but his pro career was built on no-hopers, mostly career losers. He noted that a snake bite had turned him from a solid 220 pound fighter to a 200 pounder and that is why he became easier prey. Garcia had no problem beating Goff and sending him packing in two rounds.
In 1992, Mike Evans, a well respected fighter with a good chin would take Garcia the distance, giving the up and coming prospect the experience and proving that he could go the ten rounds without any worries. On September 22 of that year, he would have another showcase fight on the USA Network, taking on Mike “The Giant” White. White couldn’t keep Garcia off and crumbled to the floor in two rounds. The 6 foot, 10 inch, White had just gone the distance with power-punching Michael Moorer and because of the ease of the knockout by Garcia, many jumped onto his bandwagon as a future champion.
In 1993, the muscular and imposing contender, Mike Williams, with a record of 20-2, was a great opponent on paper for Garcia, but he couldn’t keep off the aggressive “San Fernando Hammer” as he forged ahead, beating him into submission in five one-sided rounds. George Foreman and Title Shot were two things heard over and over again when Alex Garcia was discussed at this time.
Later in 1993, the slick 21-2, Eric “The Whip” Curry, would give Garcia trouble, fighting evenly on the cards until the final round when Garcia would finally land the right hand and get the stoppage. This fight was another of his bouts shown on national television and although he struggled, he got the stoppage and looked good with the finale of the fight. He was ready for a title shot.
On June 7th, 1993, Tommy Morrison won the WBO Heavyweight Title from George Foreman. In late 1992, Riddick Bowe captured the Undisputed Title from Evander Holyfield. Both champions were now looking at Alex Garcia as their next defense. Lennox Lewis, the WBC Champion had interest in Bowe, not Garcia, but did show up for his next fight on June 8th, 1993, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Mike Dixon, 12-8, 11 KO’s, was the punching bag for most of his big fights. He seemed to sleepwalk and just go through the motions. He was often noted to have “sparring partner syndrome,” where the only point is to make it through the rounds and allow the other fighter to work on things inside of the ring. He had lost to Oliver McCall (KO-2), Ray Mercer (KO-7), Lennox Lewis (KO-4), and Bruce Seldon (L-10). He was not expected to do anything to Garcia outside of perhaps stretch him out a few rounds, losing by late TKO or decision. Dixon had other plans.
Garcia would dominate the first round but in the second, a left hook on the temple sent him to the floor. He arose on wobbly legs and Dixon pounced, landing on Garcia in the corner. The punches made Garcia’s head look like a bouncing ball and referee Joe Cortez jumped in and stopped it at 2:45 of the second round. The #3 contender in the heavyweight division was just stopped by a guy that had lost four of his last six fights. Any title shot opportunity was gone and now it was time to rebuild.
Unfortunately, Garcia could never get the momentum going again. His first fight back after the defeat was a draw with James Warring, followed by a devastating 2nd round knockout loss to Garing Lane. Garcia’s aggression was ceased due to fear of a knockout loss and he would go the distance in his next two fights before he signed to fight Joe Hipp in early 1994.
Joe Hipp, 26-3, was not known for his ring style, but he easily out-boxed a tentative Garcia over 12 rounds, winning easily on the cards and further removing Garcia from the heavyweight picture.
In May of 1994, less than one year since his loss to Dixon, he would get the rematch. He was no longer rated in the top 20, let alone top 5 of boxing’s big men and he had put together a record of 2-2-1 since the loss. Garcia would once again be tentative and would take a decision over the now 15-14 Dixon.
The final opportunity for Garcia came on April 18th, 1995, when the 18-0, Buster Mathis, JR., took him on for the USBA Heavyweight Title. Mathis easily outpointed Garcia, taking the decision.
Alex Garcia would go 3-1 in his next four fights against career losers and would have a final record of 40-6-1, 29 KO’s. He had a good career as a fan friendly power-puncher, landed an acting role in the movie “DIGGSTOWN,” and came close to landing a big fight with George Foreman or even a title shot. Had he beaten Dixon in their first encounter, the big fight would have been next up.
The “San Fernando Hammer” will be remembered for his spectacular knockouts and rise to the top of the division but also his quick plummet. He was a comet, burning bright for a period of time but then burning out.
Alex Garcia
Division: Heavyweight
Professional Record: 40-6-1, 29 KO’s
Date Opponent Location Result
1987-02-06 Cliff Melbourne Reseda, US W KO 1
1987-02-24 Richard Harrell Reseda, US W UD 4
1987-05-28 Tony Crawford Los Angeles, US W KO 1
1987-06-18 William Campudani Los Angeles, US W KO 1
1987-07-09 Andre Smith Los Angeles, US W UD 5
1987-08-29 Dwain Bonds Los Angeles, US W UD 6
1987-11-12 Dave Slaughter Los Angeles, US W KO 2
1988-03-24 Dennis Fikes Los Angeles, US W KO 3
1988-05-27 Rodney Stockton Redondo Beach, US W KO 2
1988-06-23 Jack Jackson Los Angeles, US W KO 2
1988-07-29 Veti Katoa Redondo Beach, US W KO 1
1988-11-29 Dee Collier Reseda, US L TKO 8
1989-08-29 Eddie Richardson Reseda, US W KO 7
1989-10-24 Eddie Gonzales Reseda, US W UD 10
1989-11-13 Jim Ashard Inglewood, US W KO 4
1990-01-08 Andre McCall Inglewood, US W TKO 2
1990-03-27 Dion Burgess Reseda, US W KO 4
1990-05-07 Bill Duncan Inglewood, US W TKO 1
1990-10-09 Bernard Benton Phoenix, US W KO 2
1991-03-22 Ladislao Mijangos Lake Tahoe, US W TKO 3
1991-05-23 Rocky Sekorski Las Vegas, US W KO 1
1991-07-11 Jerry Goff Gardnerville, US W TKO 2
1992-03-04 Bobby Crabtree Bakersfield, US W KO 6
1992-05-27 Mike Gans San Diego, US W KO 2
1992-07-02 Mike Evans Reno, US W UD 10
1992-08-10 Arthur Weathers Inglewood, US W KO 2
1992-09-22 Mike White El Paso, US W TKO 2
1992-10-27 Matthew Brooks Houston, US W TKO 2
1992-11-23 Ossie Ocasio Inglewood, US W TKO 8
1992-12-08 Jerry Jones Tampa, US W UD 12
vacant NABF Heavyweight Title
vacant WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight Title
1993-02-16 Mike Williams Denver, US W TKO 5
NABF Heavyweight Title
1993-03-27 West Turner Las Vegas, US W TKO 1
NABF Heavyweight Title
1993-04-20 Eric Curry Las Vegas, US W TKO 12
NABF Heavyweight Title
1993-06-08 Mike Dixon Las Vegas, US L TKO 2
vacant WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight Title
vacant WBA Fedelatin Heavyweight Title
1993-07-27 James Warring Las Vegas, US D PTS 12
NABF Heavyweight Title
1993-08-20 Garing Lane Fort Lauderdale, US L TKO 2
1993-12-18 Everton Davis Las Vegas, US W PTS 10
1994-01-20 George O’Mara Irvine, US W PTS 10
1994-03-01 Joe Hipp Atlantic City, US L UD 12
NABF Heavyweight Title
1994-05-24 Mike Dixon Tulsa, US W UD 10
1994-09-01 Ed Donaldson Albuquerque, US W UD 10
1994-11-18 George Stephens Albuquerque, US W TKO 3
1995-04-18 Buster Mathis Jr. Las Vegas, US L UD 12
USBA Heavyweight Title
1997-08-29 Martin Lopez El Paso, US W TKO 2
1999-08-07 George Harris Camden, US W TKO 1
1999-12-07 Ron McCarthy Yonkers, US W MD 8
2005-04-05 Wallace McDaniel Memphis, US L KO 3