Roberto Garcia, James De La Rosa Win On The Border
by Gautham Nagesh
Local junior middleweights Roberto Garcia and “King” James De La Rosa won a pair workmanlike decisions on a border edition of ESPN’s Friday Night Fights from Pharr, Texas last night. Both thrilled a standing room crowd at the Convention Center, but neither looked like a world-beater at 154 lbs.
De La Rosa hasn’t fought since being dropped three times by Allen Conyers en route to his first career loss on the Devon Alexander-Tim Bradley undercard at the Pontiac Silverdome. In that fight, his poor defense left him wide open for Conyers’ right hand. Unfortunately, he doesn’t seem to have gotten much slicker his 14-month sojourn.
In the second round against Tyrone Brunson he was caught flush by a counter left hook that put him down on the mat. To his credit, De La Rosa got off the mat and fought hard enough to make it a 10-9 round on most cards.[[MORE]]
Brunson was unable to keep up with the pace, likely the result of his two-plus year layoff from the fight game. After scoring the knockdown, he failed to capitalize and never really looked in control, despite his opponent’s obvious deficiencies. Brunson is best known for opening his career with 19 straight first-round knockouts, but it’s obvious now that streak was merely the result of clever matchmaking.
De La Rosa secured the unanimous decision after a scheduled eight, but at 24 he may never have the guard needed to fight at the top level. De La Rosa is a game fighter but crude and lacking enough power to compensate for his failings. His vulnerability and courage mean he could be part of some exciting fights, but his handlers should proceed with caution. Taking on one of the division’s bigger punchers would be akin to suicide.
Garcia was more impressive while out-working Miami’s Antwone Smith over ten, aided by a ring that looked tiny on TV screen. The promoter’s willingness to press the boundaries of the rules aided the rugged Garcia, whose determination and pressure were too much for Smith to handle. Smith was never able to find the room he needed, and his strategy of firing single shots never seemed likely to impress the judges. Garcia has now won three straight since losing a decision to Antonio Margarito, while Smith has dropped two of three including his loss to Kermit Cintron last year.
The most notable part of the broadcast might have been studio host Bernardo Osuna’s interview with featherweight titlist Orlando Salido, which was conducted primarily in Spanish. Osuna is a likable host and his Spanish background is further evidence that ESPN has a keen grasp of its boxing audience. In addition to the Spanish commercials that run during Friday Night Fights, now ESPN2 is featuring Spanish content during regular weekly programming. Further evidence that broadcasters interested in appealing to the growing Latino demographic would be well-served to consider more boxing programming.