LOPEZ BLANKS GARCIA FOR IBA BAUBLE By George Elsasser

Last noche’s ESPN FNF tour stop returned to Tucson at the desert for a David Lopez- Kirino Garcia battle for the IBA middleweight trinket … and what we got was Lopez blanking Kirino from start to finis. The deck was stacked in favor of the 26 year-old Lopez … southpaw, taller, younger, quicker hands facing a stationary, age 35, weather-beaten Garcia. Over the opening four stanzas it was Lopez delivering and Garcia receiving … the jab from the portside stance would find the mark and a sizzling straight left would follow … and a now and then right-hook to break the monotony. And then candle five … A Lopez jab, a left hand to body, and then a slight pause before another left hand dropped Garcia flat on his back - and the already bleeding Garcia, from cut under the left eye in round two, looked finished. Not to be … credit Garcia for hanging tough while being peppered from bell to bell from stanza six to the finish line of round twelve - and needed help arrived courtesy of injured left hand Lopez suffered when scoring the knockdown in number five. And so it was Lopez converting to slickster with a very active right jab and counter right hook to both body and head … toss in slow reaction time of Garcia and this one traveled full route. Scoring was unanimous for Lopez on all ballots to the tune of 120-106, 120-106, 120-106. My unofficial was in complete agreement. Post Scripts: With the win Lopez improves to 23-12, 16 KO’s … the IBA strap may well bring him better pay days, but not sure that translates to good news. Had himself a target in a terribly faded veteran of too many losing wars.                        Kirino Garcia: Word is his past toughness saw him fed early on to the proverbial wolves … nothing positive in his pugilistic future. The word "Shot" covers it all at this point in time.                       Tessie & Scotty: Clearly enjoy one another with the blow by blow and color. But hearing both sounding warm all over when describing the Lopez performance is baffling. For a fighter to toss a shutout with only one healthy mitt shouts volumes over the "other" guy’s performance. GEL Questions? Comments? Write George Elsasser 8-06-04 Brought to you by Saratogamist copyright 2001-2004