When arriving at the Laredo International Airport, there's a sign, that says the home of boxing world champions Gaby & Orlando Canizalez. With the recent surge of top-notch fighters coming out of The Gateway City, they may have to make room on that sign for some new world champions. Among the names in that current surge of talented fighters from Laredo, perhaps none have a better chance of capturing a world title than 18-year-old Felix "Gatito" Garcia. The 18-year-old who comes from a fighting family turned professional at the age of 16 and scored a third-round KO in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. He has already headlined cards in his home city, captured the Super Featherweight Texas Title, and has compiled a 6-0 (1) record. He will take another major test on September 15th at the Tech Port Arena in San Antonio when he battles fellow undefeated prospect Joseph Johnson, 3-0-1 (0), on the undercard of Ramon Cardenas-Rafael Pedraza, a card that will be televised on Showtime as part of their legendary SHOBOX series.
Garcia, at just 18, has already fought a six-rounder and seems to be well on his way to big things. He has a massive cheering section and a degree of fame and notoriety in his home city. However, you would never know that from speaking to him. The college freshman is amazingly humble for an 18-year-old, who has that level of success. "My Parents raised me right," Garcia Jr. said. "They told me to stay humble and remember where you came from." They certainly did raise him the right way inside and outside the ring. Gatito turned professional last April while in 11th grade. When asked about turning pro at such a young age, Garcia explained, " I honestly feel like I made the right decision. The amateurs really weren't for us with my style. So we decided to turn pro." Garcia is a rugged come-forward fighter whose style is tailor-made for the professional ranks. That proved to be true right away! The Gateway City native scored a third-round TKO of an undefeated fighter by the name of Jesus Dorado Cruz in Nuevo Laredo in his pro debut. Something Garcia describes as "an amazing experience! Nuevo Laredo opened their doors to me... When I came out, I had a lot of fans cheering for me. It was awesome!" He won his second fight in Nuevo Laredo as well. The touted prospect then turned 17 and could fight in Texas. He made his Texas debut in his home city at the Sames Auto Arena last July. He battled a veteran of nearly 20 professional bouts, and Garcia took care of business, dominating the bout and winning every round on every card. By this summer, Garcia had run his record to 5-0 (1). In July, he took on Jose Casiano of Nuevo Laredo, a hard-hitting Mexican Knockout artist in the main event again at Same's Auto Area, and Gatito got to work delivering another unanimous decision victory, improving his record to 6-0 (1). He captured a win for his enormous and vocal cheering section and took home the Texas title in the super featherweight division.
The teenage sensation has built up a massive fan base in his hometown. The packed crowd was a sea of "Gatito" Felix Garcia, something the humble undefeated super featherweight described as having a massive fan base at such a young age, "At first, it was unbelievable. It felt like I was in a dream. As the fights progressed, I got used to it. My goal is to inspire the youth in Laredo."
Many of those fans will make the journey with him to cheer on "Gatito" as he takes on another undefeated fighter, Joseph Johnson, in San Antonio on September 15th at the Tech Port Arena.
Garcia has gotten off to such a quick start that the fans and his hometown are expecting him to follow in the shoes of the legendary Canizalez brothers and win a world title in the not-so-distant future. That's a lot of pressure for a kid who just graduated high school. The blue-chip prospect took the expectations graciously saying, "It's unbelievable to me the amount of support I get from the City. Laredo has been filled with talent. There are a lot of boxers that could be world champions. I am just glad to be in that category."
He also has lofty goals, ultimately Garcia wants to become the "youngest world champion." That title is currently held by San Antonio native Bam Rodriguez. Rodriguez captured his first world title at 22. Gatito will have to move quickly to get there, but thinks it's a realistic goal he explained, "By the way we are moving, I think it's possible. By the age of 20, or 21, I think I can say I am a World Champion." Coming from a fighting family, Garcia was born to do this, and as lofty as that goal is, it's certainly not out of the question. Garcia will look to take another step in that direction this Friday at the Tech Port Arena in San Antonio and move to 7-0.