Garcia prepares for second pro fight
Faces Eric Hall at Valley Forge Casino Resort on April 18
Kevin Garcia has not had time to sit around, mope and worry about his professional boxing debut loss to left-hander Jerome Conquest in South Philadelphia back on March 6 of this year. His trainers, Jimmy Deoria and Joe Rowan, with the Phoenixville Area Police Athletic League program, have not allowed that to happen.
They have Garcia, 24, right back in the ring for his second pro fight on April 18 at the Valley Forge Casino Resort in King of Prussia. Garcia, who dropped a unanimous four-round decision to Conquest, will face tall, rangy 35-year-old Eric Hall (0-3) of Philadelphia in his second pro encounter. This bout is also sched- uled for four rounds and is in the super lightweight division.
Garcia is in fine shape and condition since his last fight was so recent. He hopes to use that in his favor.
“I had the first-fight jitters,” said Garcia at the Phoenixville Civic Center. “You try to prepare for the first one. We prepared as well as well as we could. I learned a lot from the first one. I just have to play at my own pace and settle down and do what I was taught.”
The judges scored the first fight 40-36, 40-36, 3937, all for Conquest. Rowan said Conquest made Garcia look awkward, especially during the opening rounds of the fight. Conquest did a lot of grabbing. Facing a lefty inhispro debut turned out to be too much to overcome for Garcia, who hopes to fare much better this time around against a regular right-hander.
Hall’s last fight was on May 27, 2011, when he was disqualified in the third round of a scheduled four-round bout against Omar Douglas at the Dover Downs Hotel and Casino in Delaware. Hall was called for excessive holding at the 2:02mark of the third round. Prior to that, Hall fell to Dave Evans at Dover Downs on Sept. 12, 2003 on a unanimous four-round decision. Hall’s pro debut came on Jan. 31, 2003, when he lost a unanimous fourround decision to Oronde Dawley at the Blue Horizon in North Philadelphia.
However, Garcia’s corner has stressed to the fighter not to underestimate his opponent. Just go in the ring as usual and execute the game plan.
“I am looking forward to it,” said Garcia. “I am fighting at home.”
More of his family and friends will be on hand to watch Garcia in action.
“I didn’t get a chance to be out of shape from the last fight,” said Garcia. “I stayed in pretty good shape. “I am happy to get back into it and get overit. Most of the training for this fight was refining and looking atmistakes I made in my first fight.”
Garcia has done some in- tense sparring for this fight. On back-to-back nights, he battled former world champion Calvin Grove of Coatesville and Deoria, a former pro boxer and state champion himself. Last week, he also faced stablemate SammyBerman,theMethacton High School senior from Collegeville who was pulled off this card in order to concentrate on his academic work as he prepares to graduate from high school and look forward to college.
As far as styles, this time out, it appears from scouting reports that Garcia and Hall have opposite likes in the ring. Whereas Garcia prefers to work inside and land with punches, Hall seems to like throw jabs from outside range.
“He fights outside,” said Rowan. “He is big and rangy with a right-hand jab. Kevin is mae to order for this guy or rather this guy is made to order for Kevin.”
“Things have pretty much stayed the same,” said Garcia. “Obviously, I have done a lot of running. Jimmy and Joe have worked on my footwork and balance for this fight and staying composed.”
Garcia will feel much more comfortable with the entire atmosphere sur- rounding the fight this time, as compared to his pro debut. He feels better equipped to deal “I with the crowd, lights and cameras that will put his every move in full view.
“I am more confident,” said Garcia. “Actually seeing it is a lot different. Now I know what I have and what I’m looking at. I should know what is there. There won’t be any surprises this time.”
The first fight on April 18 is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available by contacting Deoria at 610659-1308 or stopping at the Civic Center onMain Street.