Ryan “Flash” Garcia Does It Again and Linares Wins by KO in Anaheim

Ryan “the Flash” Garcia needed just over a minute to erase Nicaragua’s Francisco Fonseca by knockout and erase any doubt that he’s one of the top lightweights in the world on Friday.

It sets up a showdown with a former three-division world champion this summer.

Garcia’s (20-0, 17 KOs) first round knockout win over the much respected Fonseca (25-3-2, 19 KOs) to retain the WBC Silver lightweight title at the Honda Center in Anaheim, sets up a match with Venezuelan great Jorge Linares.

It was Garcia’s second consecutive first round knockout and each was surprising.

What was not surprising was the large crowd of 10,310 fans that filled the stands to see the 21-year-old from Victorville who has combined matinee idol looks with championship-like fighting skills. Each time Garcia enters the boxing ring the crowds get bigger and bigger.

Promoter Oscar De La Hoya, who attracted similar crowds during his heyday in the 1990s and early 2000s, said the next site for a Garcia sighting will be at the Staples Center. It’s the same arena that De La Hoya opened for boxing when he fought Sugar Shane Mosley 20 years ago.

Even in boxing history repeats itself.

As for the fight there were only 29 total blows exchanged by Garcia and Fonseca. But the left hook that Garcia used to blast out the Nicaraguan was all that was needed. Garcia had landed a left hook earlier but the second left hook sent Fonseca sliding on his back on the floor. Referee Raul Caiz did not bother to count and the fight was over at 1:20 of the first round.

“I seen the left hook. It was there. I just needed for him to commit to a shot and I caught him right in between with a shot,” said Garcia excitedly. “A perfect left hook, that’s what they call it.”

Garcia could be facing Linares if things go as planned.

“I’m growing up. I’m a late bloomer. I feel my body coming in. I told you I’m ready for everybody now. I want everybody. Let’s go,” said Garcia.

Linares   

There are levels to the fight game and three-division world champion Jorge Linares (47-5, 29 KOs) showed confident Carlos Morales (19-5-4) a few things in winning by knockout and putting himself in position for another lightweight world title run.

Linares lost his last fight by knockout a year ago, but showed he is far from done as he manipulated Morales into position for a slick left to the body and short right to the chin first in the third round, then for a final knockdown in the fourth.

For nearly three rounds Morales seemed to be able to trade blows with the Venezuelan fighter who formerly held the featherweight, super featherweight and lightweight world championship. But once Linares figured out the right combination, he delivered and Morales could not handle the power. At 2:09 of the fourth the fight was waved off by referee Tom Taylor. Now Linares looks poised to meet Garcia.

“I’m back at 135 and I’m ready for the best at 135. I’m ready for Ryan Garcia and then we will see what happens,” said Linares, 34.

Other Bouts

Santa Ana’s Alexis Rocha (16-0, 10 KOs) brought a large local fan base to the fight but had a difficult time with Brad Solomon (28-3, 9 KOs) for most of the 10 rounds they clashed. It wasn’t until the 10^th and final round that Rocha was able to finally connect against the slippery Solomon to win by unanimous decision.

But for most of the fight Solomon was able to befuddle and connect with blows especially the right uppercut.

Rocha was the aggressor for all of the welterweight fight but often did nothing  while Solomon landed pot shots from afar. But in the 10^th round a right hook followed by blows to the body and head sent Solomon to the floor. He beat the count but Rocha kept the pressure on and easily won the last round.

Surprisingly the fight according to the cards was largely in favor of Rocha but most of the rounds were contested. The scores were 100-89, 99-90 and 97-92 for Rocha who retains the WBC Continental welterweight title.

“It was definitely pretty close,” said Rocha. “I give Brad Solomon much respect.”

Blair Cobbs (14-0-1) used his athleticism to out-box Ghana’s Samuel Kotey (23-3) in the first half and then tried over-powering his foe and that turned things sour, but he managed to win by split decision after 10 rounds and retain the NABF welterweight title. Scores were 95-94 Kotey, while two others saw it 96-93 for Cobbs.

“I have to hand it to him, he had a hell of chin. I’d hit him and he kept coming. He’s a wonderful fighter,” said Cobbs who lives in Las Vegas. “He had a tough chin.”

Uzbekistan’s Bektemir Melikuziev (5-0, 4 KOs) KOed Mexico’s Oscar Cortes (27-6, 14 KOs) in the first round of a super middleweight match. Melikuziev floored last-minute replacement Cortes twice in the first round. Referee Ed Hernandez stopped the action at 2:05 of the first round. Melikuziev trains in Indio, Calif. with brothers Joel and Antonio Diaz.

Northern California’s Evan Sanchez (7-0, 6 KOs) knocked out Mexican veteran Daniel Evangelista (20-12-2) in the second round of a welterweight match.

“I think I did pretty well. The first round I was pretty stiff, but I can work on that,” said Sanchez out of Parlier, California.

Tenochtitlan Nava (8-2) out-fought Anthony Casillas (8-2) to win by decision after a six-round featherweight bout between Los Angeles area fighters.

Alejandro Reyes (3-0) won by unanimous decision after four rounds versus Nelson Colon (4-2) in a lightweight fight.

Photo credit: Al Applerose

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