Middleweight Elijah Garcia might be the next middleweight star.
Garcia will fight veteran Kyrone Davis in the main event of the Amazon Prime prelims before the Keith Thurman versus Tim Tszyu PPV card on Saturday, March 30 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Garcia is a fourth-generation boxer.
Fighting is the family business and the Garcias seem to pass down boxing from generation to generation and the 6ft 20-years-old native of Arizona wants a world title; something that has eluded his family for three generations.
“My father was a good amateur, but as a pro, he didn’t really make it, my grandpa didn’t really make it,” Garcia said, during a media call ahead of his upcoming fight.
“It [doesn’t] put any pressure on me, because I do the sport because I love it, but it is kind of in the blood. We all have that same mentality of how we do stuff and how we get stuff done, and what it takes to win.”
Southpaw Garcia holds a record of 16-0, 13 KOs. He is ranked number two by the WBA, number four by the WBC, number five by the IBF, and number 11 by the WBO.
Looking at the card, WBA middleweight world champion Erislandy Lara will defend his title against Michael Zerafa that same night and a strong performance by Garcia could serve as a prelude to a future fight.
But Garcia was quick to not overlook Davis. Davis is 29-years-old with a record of 18-3-1, 6 KOs. He has more than double the ring time experience of Garcia. Garcia has gone 54 rounds, and Davis has completed 131 rounds.
“I am not sure what he is going to do, he is a little different, and we are going to see what happens on March 30th,” added Garcia, who made it clear his goal is a world title.
That is the milestone he is searching for, but Garcia is not overlooking Davis. The youngest member of the fighting Garcia family of Arizona is hoping to bring a title to his family crest shortly. For now, he has a tough test ahead against a world-class opponent who is coming to win.
Garcia spoke about his mindset for this fight and how his family is readying him for the contest.
“Mentally, I am very strong, and I know what it takes to win and I am willing to do anything to win,” Garcia said. “We [our family and team] all got that same mindset. It keeps me ready.”