Garcia Stops Foe in 1st Round

Heavyweight Alex Garcia of San Fernando successfully defended his North American Boxing Federation title with a first-round technical knockout of West Turner on Saturday at the Riviera Hotel.

Garcia knocked Turner down twice in the first round with rights to the head, then battered his outclassed opponent until referee Richard Steele halted the bout 2 minutes 30 seconds into the fight.

Garcia, 31, fought at 215 pounds and improved to 31-1 with 25 knockouts. Turner, of Morgantown, W.Va., fell to 16-2.