Heavyweight Garcia Ends Layoff Tonight

San Fernando heavyweight Alex Garcia is ending his long layoff.

Long, that is, by Garcia’s standards.

After turning professional in February, the former national amateur super-heavyweight champion embarked on a schedule that called for a fight about every three weeks.

Following a six-week layoff, Garcia will take his 5-0 mark into the ring for a five-round bout tonight at the Olympic Auditorium in downtown Los Angeles against Duane Bonds (4-2-1, one knockout) of Detroit.

Garcia’s last fight was his toughest. He won a unanimous decision July 9 over Andre Smith of San Diego but, for the second time in his five fights, Garcia failed to get a knockout.

“Hopefully, Alex will jump on Bonds early,” said Blinky Rodriguez, Garcia’s manager. “But Bonds is a cagey veteran and experience is a mean teacher, too.

“The sooner Alex gets rid of him, the sooner he can fight again. Our goal is to have 10 fights this year.”