Garza Retirement Likely in Wake of Knockout Defeat

As the boxing official sadly looked at former World Boxing Council super-bantamweight champion Jaime Garza stretched out on the Sports Arena canvas Thursday night, he shook his head and muttered, “He ought to quit.”

Garza, who suffered a knockout loss Thursday at the hands of Marcos Villasana, apparently will take that advice. He will make his decision next week.

“I don’t think Jaime’s going to fight anymore,” said his manager, Benny Georgino, speaking for the fighter. Garza had left to visit family in Texas and was unavailable for comment. “We were looking for a title shot, which we would have had if we’d won. But if that is not to be the case, Jaime doesn’t want to be just another fighter. With this loss, we have to face the fact he’s not going to be fighting for a title.

“He had a good career, won a title and had a tremendous record. But, hell, it’s not worth hanging around if you’re not going to get a title shot. Boxing is a tough job. It’s not easy just being a fighter if you’re not a champion. Once you finish up paying your bills, there’s not much left. You can make as much working a regular job. The little guys knock their brains out and get peanuts, while the heavyweights get millions. It’s not fair, but that’s the way the fight game is.

“Jaime made his mark in boxing. That’s all you can ask. He was a good champion. He never disgraced boxing. He’s not hurt so he can go on and do other things.”

Once upon a time, that would have been unthinkable for Jaime Garza. But that was back in the days when he seemed untouchable.

Garza, who grew up in Pacoima before moving to Alhambra, won his first 40 fights, 38 by knockout. Then, in 1984, Juan Meza shattered the myth of invincibility with a left hook that knocked Garza out in the first round of a fight in New York.

Just a lucky punch, insisted Garza supporters. Never happen again.

But it did.

Early last year, Garza suffered a sixth-round knockout at the hands of underdog Darryl Thigpen and then, last summer, lost a decision to Georgie Navarro. Then, with those at ringside whispering that Garza had lost it at age 27 despite the fact that he was 47-3 entering the bout Thursday night, the fighter was knocked down three times by Villasana. After first- and second-round knockdowns, Garza rallied in the third and fourth.

“Jaime was in good shape,” Georgino said, “but he was not paying attention to what I told him. He got into a slugging match instead of using his jab. Both fighters were getting hit, but the other guy was able to take it better. I told Jaime, ‘Don’t make a war out of it.’ But Jaime’s got that built in. He doesn’t want to go the limit. He wants to get it over with.”

That he did.

Villasana caught Garza with a solid left in the fifth round and Garza hit the deck hard, his head winding up under the ropes. Georgino took a long look and jumped into the ring, stopping the fight and, probably, a career.

“He’s OK,” Georgino said. “He’s got swelling under his left eye and a cut lip, but mostly his pride is hurt.”

Better damaged pride, however, than a damaged brain.