Haugen Beats Garcia When Bout Is Stopped in Sixth

Junior welterweight Greg Haugen didn’t look ready to step into the ring against Julio Cesar Chavez again, but he didn’t look ready for the scrap heap either.

Haugen, a former three-time world champion, pounded a stubborn Ray Garcia of Caldwell, Ida., for almost six rounds before referee Larry Rozadilla stopped the contest with 49 seconds left in the sixth Thursday night in front of 1,208 at the Irvine Marriott.

Haugen (36-5 with 18 knockouts) fought for only the second time since being knocked out by Chavez 14 months ago. He weighed in Thursday morning at 151, 11 pounds over his normal junior lightweight weight, and had to drop 1 1/2 pounds before the fight. Garcia, who weighed 144, fell to 8-7.

“I’m just trying to work my way back into shape and contention,” Haugen said. “The rust is there. I can feel it. There were times I wanted to land the right hand, but I just couldn’t do it.”

It didn’t appear Haugen’s rust would matter much as he came out hitting Garcia with everything he threw. With a glaring look on his face, Haugen, 33, approached Garcia with his hands down, almost daring Garcia to hit him.

After a slow start, Garcia’s punches began to find the range in the third round. Although he didn’t come close to taking a round, Garcia did open a cut over Haugen’s left eye in the fifth round.

“He’s game,” Haugen said. “I’ve never seen a Mexican fighter that quit, never. This is what I need, a tough guy.”

Midway through the sixth, Haugen stunned Garcia with a left-right combination, only to have Garcia come back with a left. But seconds later, Haugen hammered Garcia with right hand flush on jaw. Before he could throw another punch, Rozadilla stepped in.

What’s next for Haugen?

“A beer,” he joked.

Haugen said he would like get another title fight soon.

“I’m not looking for a title shot right away,” he said. “I know I have to earn it.”

On the undercard, bantamweight Joe Manzano of San Pedro won a five-round unanimous decision over Manoru Fuyumura (1-2-3) of Long Beach. Heavyweight Earl Butler (14-3, six knockouts) of St. Martinsville, La., came back from a flash first-round knockdown to stop Cleo Taylor (2-3) of Long Beach at 2:14 of the second round. Butler, despite being outweighed by 50 pounds, dominated the 232-pound Taylor, who wasn’t defending himself when referee Burt Gilliam stopped the fight.