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They don’t call him “the Animal” for nuthin’
Elco Garcia will let his fists do the talking Friday night against Vernon Forrest
Story & photos by Chris Cozzone
There’s a reason why Elco Garcia of Durango, Colo. has been nicknamed ‘the Animal.’
It could be his ferocity in the ring, as displayed in his eight-round war with Anthony Bartinelli in 2003—a fight that, locally, equates to Corrales-Castillo I; or his six-round destruction of Joaquin Zamora last year when he won the vacant WBC Intercontinental Mundo Hispano belt.
Or it may be his willingness to step into the ring against anybody.
That much will be evident when, on Friday, Garcia, 18-3 (8 KOs), takes on former champ and 1992 Olympian Vernon Forrest, 36-2 (27 KOs), Friday night on FOX Sports Network’s “Best Damn Sports Show Period” from the Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, California.
Garcia is a massive underdog, +1250 at the sportsbooks while the heavily favored Forrest is –2500.
“They think I’m a punching bag,” Garcia says. “They already have a fight lined up for Dec. 3rd on the Hopkins-Taylor card in Vegas.
“But I respect that.”
‘Respect’ has always been a key word for Garcia. He’s one of the few fighters you’ll never hear talking smack. “I do my talking in the ring,” has been his creed—despite this reporter’s own attempts to cajole something stronger out of him, for the sake of good copy.
That is why Garcia—and those who know him—were surprised to see him quoted on a recent press release sent out by promoter Goossen-Tutor as saying, “I plan on being the second Latino to knock out Forrest.”
“Everyone who knows me knows it was not true,” says Garcia who merely shrugged it off. “I would never say anything bad about my opponent. I would never predict or brag about knocking someone out—and I would never call myself a Latino. I’m Mexican.”
Garcia, the son of a pro baseball player, was born in Chihuahua, Mexico but moved to Durango, Colo. when he was in the second grade. After a solid amateur career, he turned pro in 1997, building up a record by fighting on the road and locally at the Sky Ute Casino in nearby Ignacio, Colo.
Garcia’s level of opposition might be far below the class faced by Forrest; and his accomplishments may mark him as a solid club fighter, out of Forrest’s world class league; but that is not stopping him from giving the former champ his best.
“It’s all good,” says Garcia. “I’m just thankful for this opportunity. I’m ready to rock ‘n’ roll.”
Does he stand a chance in hell beating someone like Forrest—even a Forrest coming off shoulder injuries and back-to-back losses to Ricardo Mayorga?
“I look at him as a human being. Just because he was a champion doesn’t mean he can’t be beat.”
What gives Garcia further hope are the two losses Forrest suffered to Mayorga.
“Mayorga and I have the same style,’ says Garcia. “Stylewise, I’m not a fighter—I’m a brawler. If we go at it, one of us will be going down.”
Garcia also points out that Mayorga was, at best, a blown-up welter when he faced Forrest—a 5’9’ welter masquerading as a junior middle for the money—while Garcia, at 6’0”, is not only the same height as Forrest, but is, quite possibly, the biggest fighter this reporter has ever seen squeeze into 154 pounds.
Physical size, of course, doesn’t mean victory.
“All I can say is I’m in the best shape of my career,” says Garcia. “I’ve never trained so hard for a fight—not just sparring but with conditioning.”
While Forrest has probably trained with his pick of sparring partners, Garcia stayed close to home in Durango, and put in at least 30 rounds with local prospect Joe Gomez—a Bloomfield, New Mexico fighter built like Forrest, with a similar style.
“I’m an old fart (34), and, probably, just what they think they’re looking for—but I’m not here to lay down. I will let it all go on Friday, but win or lose, I have to say, it’ll an honor stepping into the ring with a guy like Vernon Forrest.”
“In the meantime, let them do all the talking they want—you’re not going to get trash out of me. I’ll let my fists do the talking in the ring.”
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Elco Garcia will let his fists do the talking Friday night against Vernon Forrest
Story & photos by Chris Cozzone
There’s a reason why Elco Garcia of Durango, Colo. has been nicknamed ‘the Animal.’
It could be his ferocity in the ring, as displayed in his eight-round war with Anthony Bartinelli in 2003—a fight that, locally, equates to Corrales-Castillo I; or his six-round destruction of Joaquin Zamora last year when he won the vacant WBC Intercontinental Mundo Hispano belt.
Or it may be his willingness to step into the ring against anybody.
That much will be evident when, on Friday, Garcia, 18-3 (8 KOs), takes on former champ and 1992 Olympian Vernon Forrest, 36-2 (27 KOs), Friday night on FOX Sports Network’s “Best Damn Sports Show Period” from the Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, California.
Garcia is a massive underdog, +1250 at the sportsbooks while the heavily favored Forrest is –2500.
“They think I’m a punching bag,” Garcia says. “They already have a fight lined up for Dec. 3rd on the Hopkins-Taylor card in Vegas.
“But I respect that.”
‘Respect’ has always been a key word for Garcia. He’s one of the few fighters you’ll never hear talking smack. “I do my talking in the ring,” has been his creed—despite this reporter’s own attempts to cajole something stronger out of him, for the sake of good copy.
That is why Garcia—and those who know him—were surprised to see him quoted on a recent press release sent out by promoter Goossen-Tutor as saying, “I plan on being the second Latino to knock out Forrest.”
“Everyone who knows me knows it was not true,” says Garcia who merely shrugged it off. “I would never say anything bad about my opponent. I would never predict or brag about knocking someone out—and I would never call myself a Latino. I’m Mexican.”
Garcia, the son of a pro baseball player, was born in Chihuahua, Mexico but moved to Durango, Colo. when he was in the second grade. After a solid amateur career, he turned pro in 1997, building up a record by fighting on the road and locally at the Sky Ute Casino in nearby Ignacio, Colo.
Garcia’s level of opposition might be far below the class faced by Forrest; and his accomplishments may mark him as a solid club fighter, out of Forrest’s world class league; but that is not stopping him from giving the former champ his best.
“It’s all good,” says Garcia. “I’m just thankful for this opportunity. I’m ready to rock ‘n’ roll.”
Does he stand a chance in hell beating someone like Forrest—even a Forrest coming off shoulder injuries and back-to-back losses to Ricardo Mayorga?
“I look at him as a human being. Just because he was a champion doesn’t mean he can’t be beat.”
What gives Garcia further hope are the two losses Forrest suffered to Mayorga.
“Mayorga and I have the same style,’ says Garcia. “Stylewise, I’m not a fighter—I’m a brawler. If we go at it, one of us will be going down.”
Garcia also points out that Mayorga was, at best, a blown-up welter when he faced Forrest—a 5’9’ welter masquerading as a junior middle for the money—while Garcia, at 6’0”, is not only the same height as Forrest, but is, quite possibly, the biggest fighter this reporter has ever seen squeeze into 154 pounds.
Physical size, of course, doesn’t mean victory.
“All I can say is I’m in the best shape of my career,” says Garcia. “I’ve never trained so hard for a fight—not just sparring but with conditioning.”
While Forrest has probably trained with his pick of sparring partners, Garcia stayed close to home in Durango, and put in at least 30 rounds with local prospect Joe Gomez—a Bloomfield, New Mexico fighter built like Forrest, with a similar style.
“I’m an old fart (34), and, probably, just what they think they’re looking for—but I’m not here to lay down. I will let it all go on Friday, but win or lose, I have to say, it’ll an honor stepping into the ring with a guy like Vernon Forrest.”
“In the meantime, let them do all the talking they want—you’re not going to get trash out of me. I’ll let my fists do the talking in the ring.”
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