Garcia’s Boxing Education Continues With Bout Against San Diego’s Smith

Manager Blinky Rodriguez treats Alex Garcia, his young heavyweight, like fine wine. He is bringing the San Fernando boxer along slowly, allowing him to age. And like any knowledgeable wine steward, Rodriguez will serve his protege no fight before its time.

Thus, the manager has introduced Garcia to professional boxing by way of a series of warm-up opponents--fighters with losing records, fighters of obviously lesser skill. Garcia, who was a national amateur super-heavyweight champion, has responded by winning his first four fights, three by knockout.

Garcia will take another step toward maturity, albeit a small step, tonight at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles.

The 6-2, 217-pound boxer will meet San Diego’s Andrew Smith, who owns a 9-0 record with 7 KOs but has not fought in almost two years. The state athletic commission says Smith inexplicably has phased in and out of boxing over recent years, making his record difficult to verify.

And, in Smith he’ll fight a small opponent. He is actually a cruiserweight who has beefed up to slightly more than 200 pounds.

Garcia enters the fight having recorded first-round knockouts in his previous two bouts. His last fight ended after only 28 seconds.

The five-bout card begins at 8 p.m.