Garza Loses Opponent; Nunn Loses Time : Cancellation of Ten Goose Main Event Follows Top Fighter’s Hand Injury

Losing a main event is bad enough. That’s what happened to promoter Dan Goossen on Tuesday night when Lupe Martinez, scheduled to fight former World Boxing Council super-bantamweight champion Jaime Garza at Reseda’s Country Club, failed to show up. The bout was scratched when another suitable opponent could not be found.

Losing a main fighter, however, is a lot worse. And that’s what Goossen may be faced with. His unbeaten middleweight, Michael Nunn, has finally run into a left hand he can’t handle--his own. Nunn, 14-0 with 10 knockouts, has swelling around two knuckles on his left hand, a condition believed caused by a buildup of scar tissue and possible cartilage damage. He has received a cortisone shot and is wearing a cast on the hand to reduce the swelling. If that treatment fails, Nunn faces surgery that could sideline him for three to four months.

“I’m discouraged,” Nunn said. “It’s hard to go into the gym and see everybody else boxing. It’s hard to wait. But I’ve got to do what’s best for me, for my hand.”

Nunn, 22, said the condition has plagued him throughout a career that included 176 amateur fights.

This was to have been the 26th pro fight for Martinez (20-5). He was signed for $3,000 by Goossen but, according to Country Club matchmaker Jerry Niss, returned home to Mexico over the weekend and couldn’t get back. According to the story Niss was given, Martinez presented his passport and green card at the border upon trying to re-enter this country, but was told he would have to leave them and return the next day due to confusion involving a shooting. When Martinez returned, according to the story, he could not get his papers back.

Since learning of Martinez’ unavailability Sunday, Niss said he furiously attempted to round up a last-minute opponent. Goossen said he was willing to offer up to $5,000.

“Nobody wanted to fight a guy with 39 knockouts,” Niss said, “on one or two days notice.”

Goossen made a money-back offer to Tuesday night’s full house at the Country Club before the opening bout. There were some scattered boos when it was announced Garza would not fight. But very few, if any, left.

Garza himself disappeared after losing both his title and a perfect record to Juan (Kid) Meza on a first-round knockout. That was 16 months ago. It has been a lonely 16 months for Garza who went into isolation to get over the defeat. He finally returned to action last month at the Irvine Marriott, where he scored a third-round knockout over Arnel Arrozal.

Tuesday was to have been his next step on the road to another title shot. But he doesn’t figure to get too rusty. He’s going to fight April 5 against Jorge Diaz of Mexico in Palm Springs.

That is, if Diaz shows up.