Luis Garcia (boxer)
Encyclopedia
Luis Enrique Garcia Campoalegre (born December 23, 1987 in Matanzas
, Cuba
) is a Cuba
n professional
boxer
who competes in the Super Middleweight
division. He moved to Cork, Ireland
from Cuba
and is trained by Glenn McCrory
in Newcastle
, England
.
.
who said "he has star quality. Timing, balance, footwork, speed of hand and foot, experience, an icy – almost Tyson-like – demeanour and most definitely power to burn." Garcia fought four times in 2009 winning on each occasion including a victory over Nigeria
's tough former Commonwealth
title challenger Micheal Gbenga and a victory on 25 April 2009 saw him beating Argentinian Nestor Fabian Casanova in Cork. The win over Casanova was to prove to be his last outing of 2009 only returning to the ring a year later on 16 May 2010 to defeat Alexander Sipos in Dublin. Garcia described the period as being "very frustrating" after a number of fights fell through.
Along with fellow Cuban boxers Alexei Acosta
and Mike Perez
, Garcia split from manager Gary Hyde in March 2010 and joined up with Cork businessman Patrick Thomas who in turn linked up with Irish promoter Brian Peters in an attempt to re-invigorate their careers. On 11 June 2010 on a show in Belfast
he recorded his second win under his new management defeating Welshman
Nathan King in the fifth round of a scheduled six and then only a few weeks later on 26 June 2010 defeated the American Demetrius Davis back in Cork
. On 11 September 2010 he fought for the first time at the National Stadium in Dublin on the undercard of Brian Magee's European title defence beating Christian Cruz in the 3rd round. On 2 October 2010 he traveled to Letterkenny to defeat Jorge Rodriguez Olivera an Argentinian who boasted a record on 20-1 and on 6 November 2010 made a significant step up in class to stop former World champion Byron Mitchell
in the 2nd round at the University Arena in Limerick
.
Matanzas
Matanzas is the capital of the Cuban province of Matanzas. It is famed for its poets, culture, and Afro-Cuban folklore.It is located on the northern shore of the island of Cuba, on the Bay of Matanzas , east of the capital Havana and west of the resort town of Varadero.Matanzas is called the...
, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
) is a Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n professional
Professional Boxing
Professional boxing, or prizefighting, emerged in the early twentieth century as boxing gradually attained legitimacy and became a regulated, sanctioned sport. Professional boxing bouts are fought for a purse which is divided among the fighters and promoters as determined by contract...
boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
who competes in the Super Middleweight
Super middleweight
Super Middleweight is a boxing and Muay Thai weight division that has a weight limit of 168 pounds .- 1960s–1983 :There was interest in a division between Middleweight and Light Heavyweight in the late 1960s, the mid-1970s, and the early 1980s...
division. He moved to Cork, Ireland
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
from Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
and is trained by Glenn McCrory
Glenn McCrory
Glenn McCrory was a British professional boxer who held the IBF version of the cruiserweight world championship...
in Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Amateur career
Garcia is a former World Junior Champion who missed out on a place at the 2008 Beijing Olympics to Emilio Correa despite having beaten Correa 13-3 in a contest beforehand. Disillusioned with what he claimed were the politics of amateur boxing that denied him a place in Beijing, Garcia moved to the Irish city of Cork and turned professional with promoter Gary Hyde. Correa himself went on to win silver at the games losing a close decision to Britain's James DegaleJames DeGale
He is European super middleweight championJames Frederick DeGale MBE is an English boxer and Olympic gold medalist. He was born in Harlesden, London. He started amateur boxing at the Trojan club at the age of 10 before moving to Dale Youth boxing club...
.
Professional career
Garcia's first professional bout took place in September 2008 in the city of Cork. He defeated Latvian Martins Kukulis by stopping him in the 3rd round. Following the victory Garcia was featured as a hot prospect by trade magazine Boxing NewsBoxing News
Boxing News is the longest-running boxing magazine still in publication, dating back to 1909. Owned by Newsquest Specialist Media .-History:Boxing News was founded in 1909 by original editor John Murray as, simply, Boxing...
who said "he has star quality. Timing, balance, footwork, speed of hand and foot, experience, an icy – almost Tyson-like – demeanour and most definitely power to burn." Garcia fought four times in 2009 winning on each occasion including a victory over Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
's tough former Commonwealth
Commonwealth
Commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has sometimes been synonymous with "republic."More recently it has been used for fraternal associations of some sovereign nations...
title challenger Micheal Gbenga and a victory on 25 April 2009 saw him beating Argentinian Nestor Fabian Casanova in Cork. The win over Casanova was to prove to be his last outing of 2009 only returning to the ring a year later on 16 May 2010 to defeat Alexander Sipos in Dublin. Garcia described the period as being "very frustrating" after a number of fights fell through.
Along with fellow Cuban boxers Alexei Acosta
Alexei Acosta
Alexei Collado Acosta is a Cuban boxer best known to win the Junior World title 2006 at flyweight.-Amateur:In 2006 he beat Khalid Saeed Yafai and Luis Yanez in Agadir for the Junior World title...
and Mike Perez
Ismaikel Pérez
Ismaikel "Mike" Pérez Pérez is a Cuban professional boxer best known to win the World Junior Amateur Championships at light heavyweight in Jeju in 2004. Perez also, won the International Prizefighter tournament...
, Garcia split from manager Gary Hyde in March 2010 and joined up with Cork businessman Patrick Thomas who in turn linked up with Irish promoter Brian Peters in an attempt to re-invigorate their careers. On 11 June 2010 on a show in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
he recorded his second win under his new management defeating Welshman
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
Nathan King in the fifth round of a scheduled six and then only a few weeks later on 26 June 2010 defeated the American Demetrius Davis back in Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
. On 11 September 2010 he fought for the first time at the National Stadium in Dublin on the undercard of Brian Magee's European title defence beating Christian Cruz in the 3rd round. On 2 October 2010 he traveled to Letterkenny to defeat Jorge Rodriguez Olivera an Argentinian who boasted a record on 20-1 and on 6 November 2010 made a significant step up in class to stop former World champion Byron Mitchell
Byron Mitchell
Byron Tarone Mitchell was an American boxer of height in the super middleweight division.-Amateur career:Mitchell was the 1996 National Golden Gloves Middleweight champion.-Pro career:...
in the 2nd round at the University Arena in Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
.