Garcia Motivated for Upset!; By Andre Courtemanche

Garcia Motivated for Upset!; By Andre Courtemanche
Photo Courtesy: Kerry Daigle
It would appear on the surface that Houston super lightweight Daniel Garcia will be a huge underdog when takes on Puerto Rico’s Jesus Pabon (11-1, 8 KOs) at the Paragon Casino and Resort in Marksville, Louisiana, and live on ESPN2 this Friday, February 29.



But Garcia (9-4-1, 7 KOs) has a motivational speaker for a manager and doesn’t see the situation that way. “This is a step up for him just as much as for me,” he explains. “He hasn’t really been fighting top opposition until two fights ago. And then he fought somebody undefeated and lost. I‘ve been fighting guys that are there to fight, but don’t have the skill that this guy has. It’s going to be good for both of us to see where we are with our careers.”

In fact, 29-year-old Garcia sees himself as a good match for Pabon in every way. “I know he was an amateur star out of Puerto Rico, but I had 256 amateur fights. I’ve been fighting since I was seven. He’s a typical Puerto Rican fighter, quick on his feet and a good boxer/puncher. I’m a boxer/puncher as well.”

Of his early start in the sport, Garcia says while he was growing up, boxing was mandatory. “In my family you start fighting when you are seven. You box until you’re 18. Then you can quit or keep going.”

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Three title bouts highlight the card as the International Fight League stops at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas on Friday, February 29

LAS VEGAS– Three title bouts highlight the card as the International Fight League stops at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas on Friday, February 29. HDNet will have live coverage beginning at 11 p.m. EST/8 p.m. PST and will feature six of the eight bouts on the card, including the championship defenses of lightweight Ryan Schultz (North Platte, Neb.), middleweight Matt Horwich (Portland, Ore.) and heavyweight Roy Nelson (Las Vegas). Here are some quick notes on the event: • The IFL event will see the debut of “Fitestat,” the new custom-designed IFL statistical program that the league has designed with Stats Inc. “Fitestat” will provide over 20 statistical categories for fans for the first time.• Schultz, who defeated previously unbeaten Chris Horodecki in December to win the first IFL lightweight belt, will battle John Gunderson (Medford, Ore.), who now lives in Las Vegas and competes for Ken Shamrock’s Lion’s Den.• Horwich, who is to be married the following day in Las Vegas, takes on Ryan McGivern (Bettendorf, Iowa), who fights out of Miletich Fighting Systems.• Nelson, a Las Vegas native, will be in front of his hometown fans when he defends against IFL newcomer Fabiano Scherner (Brazil), who trains with Matt Lindland at Team Quest.• Under the revamped IFL format, the camp matchups include three bouts each between Las Vegas-based Mario Sperry’s World Class Fight Center and Xtreme Couture, and three between Team Quest and Lion’s Den.• Several NASCAR drivers and team members, in town for the races this weekend, will be in attendance on Friday night.• Actor Sean Faris, who stars in the upcoming feature film Never Back Down, will attend and will sign autographs for fans.• Eight competitors will make their IFL debuts, including Josh Haynes (Las Vegas), who may be best known for his appearance on the popular “The Ultimate Fighter 3” television program in 2006.• The next IFL event will be Friday, April 4, at Izod Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey and will feature three title bouts, with a host of local athletes (including New Jersey’s Jamal Patterson and NYU’s Shad Lierley) looking to capture an IFL belt. IFL Las VegasFriday, February 29, 2008 Preliminary Bout145 lbs.: Ian Loveland (Portland, Ore.) (0-2 IFL, 8-7 overall MMA) vs. Dennis Davis (Las Vegas) (0-0, 13-6) Team Xtreme Couture vs. MMA Top Team (Mario Sperry)145 lbs.: Santino Defranco (Tempe, Ariz.) (0-0, 10-3) vs. Rafael Dias (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) (0-0, 8-3-1)185 lbs.: Josh Haynes (Las Vegas) (0-0, 8-9) vs. Leopoldo Serao (San Francisco) (0-0, 11-6)205 lbs.: Lew Polley (Coconut Creek, Fla.) (0-0, 6-0) vs. Alexandre Ferreira (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) (0-0, 15-5) Team Quest (Matt Lindland) vs. Lions Den (Ken Shamrock)170 lbs.: Jake Ellenberger (Omaha, Neb.) (2-2, 16-3) vs. Pat Healy (St. Louis) (2-1, 18-12)*155 lbs.: **Ryan Schultz (North Platte, Neb.) (5-2, 18-9-1) vs. John Gunderson (Medford, Ore.) (2-2, 15-5)*265 lbs.: **Roy Nelson (Las Vegas) (4-1, 11-2) vs. Fabiano Scherner (Portland, Ore.) (0-0, 7-5) Championship Bout*185 lbs.: Ryan McGivern (Bettendorf, Iowa) (5-4, 11-5) vs. **Matt Horwich (Portland, Ore.) (6-3, 21-9-1) *Championship Bout**Current Titleholder

Tonight on Nabaté's TV/Webcast show‏; Lenn Robbins from the New York Post one of the most well-respected sports journalists and TV in-studio analysts

Tonight on Nabaté's TV/Webcast show‏; Lenn Robbins from the New York Post one of the most well-respected sports journalists and TV in-studio analysts in the country.
We will discuss the exciting events approaching in college basketball: March Madness!!

Every Wednesday February 27-Guest: Lenn Robbins, sports writer for the N.Y. Post and
college sports analyst on ESPN, Comcast, SportsNet-New Yorkon 'So Much to Talk About' @9pm (Eastern Time) Channel 57 (Time Warner-Manhattan Cable) Channel 84 (RCN-Manhattan Cable) Streams LIVE: http://www.mnn.org/, click 57/84 link