Junior Lightweights Get Message From Garcia

Perhaps because he was a professional before he graduated high school, Robert Garcia of Oxnard is accustomed to the unpredictable nature of the professional boxing business.

Garcia is a 20-year-old junior lightweight who won the biggest fight of his career in San Antonio last month, when he scored a TKO victory over veteran Pancho Segura.

Garcia (21-0), who turned pro as a senior at Channel Islands High, was making his first defense of the North American Boxing Federation title he won in April. He also remained on the fast track toward a world title shot.

The next stop for the Garcia express is Jean, Nev., for a Sept. 29 non-title fight that will be televised on ESPN. That suits Garcia fine, and the fact that his promoters at Top Rank, Inc., still haven’t found an opponent rates as only a minor distraction.

“It has happened before,” he said. “I just have to be ready for anybody. As long as they let me know two weeks before, that’s OK. I’m training now and two weeks is enough time to train for anybody.”

Unless, of course, Top Rank comes up with a big name, in which case Garcia might reconsider. But Garcia doesn’t expect that kind of surprise.

Besides, the only big name that interests him is Gabe Ruelas, World Boxing Assn., junior lightweight champion who launched his career in the Valley. But Garcia can wait for Ruelas.

“I don’t want to fight him this year,” he said. “I’d rather wait till next year. I’m only 20. I’ve got time.”

Who needs cash?: Let’s see . . .

The athletic director recently was fired.

The athletic program has been running at a six-figure deficit.

The football team is coming off a 3-7 season and has a new coach.

Coaches are moaning about annual problems with the financial aid office.

Parts of campus still look like an abandoned trailer park. No wonder Cal State Northridge president Blenda J. Wilson had this to say after Big Sky Conference officials insisted that the school commit to fund 63 football scholarships in order to join their ranks:

“This is the right time for our university to make this move.”

On stage: Although the Southern California Stealth didn’t win the Amateur Softball Assn. 14-and-under national title last weekend, it didn’t stop the girls from kicking up their heels in jubilant celebration.

The Stealth, a Woodland Hills-based team composed of area players, finished fourth in the 75-team double-elimination tournament in Chattanooga, Tenn., and celebrated by taking center stage at an REO Speedwagon concert in Atlanta.

The girls made an on-stage appearance with their four-foot trophy in tow. The band dedicated their show to the Stealth and kept the trophy on stage throughout.

The band’s bass guitarist, Bruce Hall, was impressed by the Stealth. No wonder: His daughter, Sara Hall, 13, is the team’s catcher.

Reunited: The St. Bonaventure High football team went 4-6 last season, but the Seraphs may receive a boost from the sidelines in 1995.

Tim Gutierrez, a former Santa Clara High standout and a starting quarterback at San Diego State the past two seasons, will serve as an assistant to St. Bonaventure coach Jon Mack.

Gutierrez, who will handle the Seraphs’ quarterbacks and passing game, was a co-captain at Santa Clara with St. Bonaventure offensive line coach Ted Lawrence and has impressed Mack in his few weeks on the staff.

“It’s been great because [Gutierrez] is big on fundamentals,” Mack said. “A lot of ex-college players can’t communicate with high school kids. They want to put in a lot of plays without getting the basics down first.

“I’ve never hired a guy who’s come in as good a coach as Tim has.”

Gutierrez was Southern Section Division VIII player of the year in 1989 as a senior at Santa Clara, where he passed for 7,272 yards in his career.

Honors

Cal Lutheran senior linebacker Chris Peltonen, a graduate of Moorpark High, was named a preseason All-American by the College Football Preview. Peltonen, 6 feet 2, 210 pounds, was a second team All-Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference pick in 1993 and ’94.

Things to Do

Some of the nation’s top sprint-car drivers will be at Ventura Raceway tonight at 7 in conjunction with the Ventura County Fair.

Compiled by Irene Garcia. Contributing: Mike Hiserman, Paige A. Leech, John Lynch, John Ortega, Tris Wykes.