Garcia’s Win Over Bonds Earns Him Rest in Sequoia

San Fernando heavyweight Alex Garcia doesn’t have to worry about dodging right uppercuts and left hooks.

Not this week.

The only hook he’s concerned with is dangling at the end of his fishing pole.

After winning a unanimous six-round decision over Dwain Bonds of Detroit on Saturday night at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, Garcia was given a week off by Manager Blinky Rodriguez.

“He’s been going at it pretty steady since turning pro in February,” Rodriguez said. “I think he needs this time off.”

Garcia is spending his vacation in Sequoia National Park. He’d better take advantage of the break, because a busy work schedule awaits him.

“We’d like to see him have three more fights before the end of the year,” Rodriguez said. “It all depends on how things go. He’ll be back at the Olympic in six weeks.”

It already has been a busy year for Garcia.

The 25-year-old announced in January that he was giving up his national amateur super-heavyweight title to turn professional. He since has won all six of his pro fights, three of the first four by knockout. All three KOs were in the first round.

Garcia has struggled a bit since then, going the distance against Andre Smith two months ago in a five-round bout.

Smith opened a cut over Garcia’s left eye and Bonds reopened it in the first round Saturday.

In the third round, Garcia, 214, caught Bonds, 209, with a left hook that buckled his opponent’s legs, but Garcia wasn’t able to follow up.

“Bonds was experienced, cagey, and he knew how to hold,” Rodriguez said. “Alex shook him up some with body shots, but he was never able to hit him with the right hand. Alex fought better inside. He usually stays on the outside, but he’s starting to get inside and do what he wants to do.

“Now, hopefully, it’s onward and upward.”