Getty
Javier “Pelos” Garcia, the decorated American welterweight, has died at the age of 30. Garcia was the nephew to Robert Garcia, the former IBF junior lightweight champion, and cousin to Miguel “Mikey” Garcia, former WBO junior lightweight and featherweight champion and the current lineal light-welterweight champion. While Garcia’s grandfather trained Fernando Vargas.
Garcia’s death was confirmed in a Twitter post from “Top Rank Boxing” host Crystina Poncher. Poncher tweeted on October 2, “RIP Javier “Pelos” Garcia ? Saying my prayers tonight for the entire Garcia family. Thanks for always making me laugh whenever I was in your presence Pelos. My heart goes out to your beautiful young children.”
Here’s what you need to know:
1. Javier Garcia Is Survived by His 3 Children, Mother & Brother
Garcia is survived by his three children, Julian, Jaykob and Kimberly, as well his mother, Bertha, and brother, David aka Gordo. One online tribute to him read, “Pelos lived for his family, especially his kids, Julian, Jaykob and Kimberly. I’ll miss his friendship, his crazy sense of humor, and his infectious optimism. For the people who love him, my heart is with you. I can’t believe he’s gone. ?”
GettyGarcia poses on the scale at the official weigh-in for the inaugural BKB (Big Knockout Boxing) fight at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on August 15, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
According to Garcia’s Boxing Rec profile, he fought out of the Robert Garcia Boxing Academy in Oxnard, California, 70 miles northwest of Los Angeles. Robert Garcia was Garcia’s uncle. That profile says that Garcia was active between 2007 and 2013. In total, Garcia fought 15 bouts, winning 10, with nine knockouts, losing three and tying twice. Garcia’s first fight was a knockout victory over Nicholas Cadena at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. His last fight was in October 2013, a defeat against DeMarcus Corley.
2. In 2007, One of Garcia’s Opponents Fell Into a Coma & Died Less Than 24 Hours After Their Match
In September 2007, when Garcia was 19 years old fought Jackson Bussell of Reno, Nevada, in a six-round fight in Calabasas, California. It was Garcia’s second fight and Bussell’s fourth. The fight went the distance, shortly after the final bell, Bussell collapsed and was rushed to Northridge Hospital where he was pronounced dead the following day. He was 28 years old.
The fight had been sanctioned by the California State Athletic Commission and was later investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department. One blog post on the bout said that it had been “ill-advised” because Bussell had already signed on for another fight later that year and was a last-minute addition to the card in September 2007 “so prospect Javier Garcia could fight that night.” The Los Angeles Times reported that Bussell, a native of Klamath Falls, Oregon, had passed all of the necessary tests in order to earn a boxing license, including an MRI exam of the brain.
In a feature on Knotmove.com, Garcia said that he took a “long break,” not long after the Bussell fight.
Following the tragedy, Garcia fought three times in 2008 before taking three years off and working at his uncle’s gym.
3. Garcia Said When He Returned in 2011 That He ‘Appreciated the Sport More’
Garcia returned in 2011 with a victory over Japanese fighter Takashi Takenaka. One article on the fight described the auditorium as being filled with Garcia supporters chanting “Pelos!” His supporters also reportedly wore t-shirts with a “P” shaped like the “S” in Superman’s logo.
Let this kid’s death serve a lesson to us all, fuck grudges they are petty. If you did me wrong in the past all good. If we have beef it’s one way I forgive you. Life’s too short for bullshit, I hope we all make it and enjoy our families. RIP @PinchePelos
Garcia told Knot Move, “I think it helped me out really good because now I appreciate the sport more. I train harder. I went through my ups and downs like everybody else. I am just happy. Before when I stopped fighting I wasn’t happy anymore. That’s why I stopped. I took my time off. I helped Robert. Now I feel great.”
4. Garcia’s Uncle, Robert, Has Been Involved in a ‘Blood Feud’ Over Victor Ortiz With Fellow Trainer Danny Garcia
Garcia’s
uncle, Robert, was previously involved in a “blood feud” with Danny Garcia over the respective boxers they trained, according to Ring TV. It stemmed from Victor Ortiz deciding to leave Robert Garcia to be trained by Danny Garcia.
An article on the pair’s beef said that they shared a backyard but could often be heard yelling at each other regarding each other’s proteges, notably Robert Garcia’s Brandon Rios. When Floyd Mayweather was due to fight Danny Garcia’s charge in September 2011, Mayweather’s camp gave Robert Garcia and Rios tickets to their fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Robert Garcia said of the fight, “I want to see a good fight. I’ve known Mayweather many years. I’ve always admired him. He’s had a great career.”
5. Garcia, Who Grew-Up in a Gang Neighborhood in Oxnard, Graduated From California Lutheran University Where He Studied Behavioral Technology
gETTYGarcia celebrates his fifth-round TKO victory over Darnell Jiles during their welterweight fight at the inaugural event for BKB, Big Knockout Boxing, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on August 16, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
On his Instagram page, which was set to private that time of his death, Garcia writes, “Do Things With Passion Or Not At All.” Garcia had studied behavioral technology at California Lutheran University. Garcia notes his other interests as poetry and piano. In an interview, Garcia’s cousin, Miguel, described the family as growing up in a “gang-related” neighborhood in Oxnard, California.
Following his retirement from boxing, Garcia went on to fight in Big Knockout Boxing. A non-traditional format where fights are fought in a pit, 17-by-17-foot circular canvas with no ropes or turnbuckles. Each fight features seven two-minute rounds. Garcia would go on to become the BKB Welterweight Champion in 2015. Garcia would later go on to lose his title to Jonathan Chicas.
READ NEXT: Teenage Porn Star Controversy Rocks California High School
Comments
Javier ‘Pelos’ Garcia Dead: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know