Local boxing notebook: Robert Garcia promoting card in San Bernardino
Robert Garcia made a name for himself as a successful prizefighter, winning a world title belt, and as one of the top trainers in boxing. Now he hopes to become a successful promoter in the sport.
Garcia, along with younger brother and former world titleholder Mikey Garcia, will promote a six-fight card at the Club Events Center in San Bernardino.
In the main event, Saul Rodriguez of nearby Riverside will square off against once-beaten Juan Meza Angulo in a six-round junior welterweight bout. Also on the card, junior middleweight Leonardo Ruiz of San Bernardino will face gatekeeper Cameron Krael.
Both Rodriguez and Ruiz are trained by Garcia at the Robert Garcia Boxing Academy in Riverside.
Saturday’s card will not be the first time Garcia has promoted fight cards. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Garcia promoted a handful of cards in San Bernardino. He has had plans of promoting fight cards in Oxnard or Ventura County, but those plans are on hold.
While juggling running a gym and training fighters, Garcia, who is a 1993 Channel Islands High School graduate, feels compelled to promote, especially fighters like Rodriguez.
Rodriguez (24-1-1, 18 knockouts) last fought in February 2020, stopping journeyman Josh Ross in the fifth round. The win was eight months after Rodriguez suffered a brutal knockout loss to Miguel Angel Gonzalez.
The 29-year-old, who knocked out Carlos Rodriguez at the Oceanview Pavilion in Port Hueneme in January 2015, hopes a win over Meza on Saturday will lead to bigger opportunities later this year.
“I’m really looking forward to returning to the ring,” Rodriguez told The Star on Wednesday. “It’s been a while since my last fight, but I haven’t stopped training. I’ve been in the gym working hard. I’m excited to put on a show for my hometown fans.”
Meza (6-1, 3 KOs) suffered his first loss as a pro in his last fight on Nov. 26, 2022, losing by split-decision to Omar Olvera Contreras in his hometown of Ensenada, Mexico.
Bantamweight Gabriel Muratalla (8-0, 4 KOs), who resides in Fontana and is an elementary school teacher, will square off against Michael Nielsen (6-2, 2 KOs) of the Philippines in a six-round bout.
For tickets (starting at $40) and information, call 909-521-8010.
Quiroz hopes to build off win
Ricardo Quiroz of Oxnard hopes to return to the ring soon.
The 2015 Hueneme High School graduate was victorious in his last bout on Dec. 17, 2022, defeating Mexico’s Martin Leon Morales (15-2, 10 KOs) by unanimous decision at the Commerce Casino.
Scores were 79-73, 79-73, and 78-74 for Quiroz, who improved to 12-1, 6 KOs.
The 25-year-old trains locally and has sparred some of the best fighters in the sport, including former WBC world welterweight champion and 2005 Pacifica High School graduate Victor Ortiz, Moorpark resident and former world title challenger Egidijus Kavaliauskas, and lightweight contender Ryan Garcia.
Ruvalcaba victorious
Junior welterweight prospect Ricardo Ruvalcaba of Ventura remained unbeaten last Saturday night, dropping San Antonio’s Kenny Williams (4-9-1, 2 KOs) three times and winning by knockout at 2:05 of the opening round at the Commerce Casino.
Ruvalcaba, who is a 2017 Buena High School graduate, improves to 7-0-1, 6 KOs.
More than 200 people, mostly family and friends of Ruvalcaba, purchased tickets to watch him fight in person. The 23-year-old Ruvalcaba hopes to fight often this year and build his brand.
“One of the goals for Ricardo is to fight four or five times in 2023,” Telio Ruvalcaba, father and manager of Ricardo, told The Star last week. Ricardo Ruvalcaba is trained by Carlos “Chino” Espinosa.
Also on Saturday’s card, Sebastian Gutierrez of Oxnard defeated Mexico City’s Axl Miranda Solis (5-3-1, 4 KOs) by majority decision. One judge scored the bout 38-38, while the other two judges scored the bout 39-37 for Gutierrez, who improves to 6-1-1, 4 KOs.
Weekend stream bout
Fringe welterweight contender Alexis Rocha (21-1, 13 KOs) of Santa Ana will face late-sub George Ashie (33-5-1, 25 KOs) of Ghana in a 12-round bout Saturday at the YouTube Theatre in Inglewood. DAZN will stream the four-bout card at 5 p.m.
Francisco A. Salazar covers boxing for The Star and also for The Ring and Boxingscene. He can also be reached on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Local boxing notebook: Robert Garcia promoting card in San Bernardino
