Featherweight Prospect Ernesto Garza RCM Interview

Super Featherweight Prospect Ernesto Garza Interview: Ready To Rise To The Top

By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent

In a Real Combat Media interview exclusive, Eddie Jaafar Promotions southpaw featherweight prospect Ernesto Garza, now training and sparring in Saginaw, Michigan, and Detroit, Michigan, talked about his upcoming six round bout with Ohio fighter Hakeem Watkins, on Friday evening, June 10, 2016, in Columbus, Ohio.

Watkins, now 5-1 with five consecutive knockouts, Whitehall, Ohio, is a tall skinny lightweight, the type to cause shorter opponents trouble. Garza will be traveling from Michigan to Ohio to fight Watkins in enemy territory.

Robert Brizel: “Ernesto, why the 10 month layoff?”

Ernesto Garza: “It’s been hard to get fights and opponents, they don’t show up for the fight or they back out, and I know usually they found out my background as an amateur and when it falls into place they don’t want to fight me.”

Robert Brizel: “They don’t want to fight you?”

Ernesto Garza: “I’ve got a lot of my fight videos posted on YouTube. I didn’t post them.”

Robert Brizel: “You think the videos of you boxing scare off potential opponents?”

Ernesto Garza: “Yes. The videos cover mostly my accomplishments as an amateur. I am a five time amateur champion and two time world champion at 119 and 125 pounds open.”

Robert Brizel: You as signed with top Detroit promoter Eddie Jaafar. Your father trains you. Did you ever get any bigger offers to sign with anybody?”

Ernesto Garza: “No. I didn’t.”

Robert Brizel: “You grew up in Saginaw, Michigan. Do you think where you grew up affected your ability to be discovered?”

Ernesto Garza: “It could be a possibility.”

Robert Brizel: Have you gotten in any good sparring recently?”

Ernesto Garza: “I have been sparring and working out in Detroit with James Lester Jr.”

Robert Brizel: “What sort of things do you guys do in the gym?”

Ernesto Garza: “I train out of Detroit, and also the Saginaw Boxing Club. It’s a good place. They have an auditorium set up as a gym with a heavy bag and speed bags. “

Robert Brizel: “Do you do roadwork also?”

Ernesto Garza: “I do a lot of running. I run around Saginaw!”

Robert Brizel: “Tell me about your opponent this weekend, Hakeem Watkins. How did the fight happen?”

Ernesto Garza: “My promoter Eddie Jaafar set it up.”

Robert Brizel: Your next fight is in Columbus, Ohio, where Watkins has scored four of his five wins. How do you feel about fighting in your opponent’s backyard?”

Ernesto Garza: “I really don’t feel too much. I just look at it as another fight, and I’m going in (there) and taking care of business.”

Robert Brizel: “This fight is how many rounds?”

Ernesto Garza: “Six rounds. We tried to go for eight (rounds), but they (the Watkins corner) didn’t want to go eight.”

Robert Brizel: “Tell me about your preparations for this fight.”

Ernesto Garza: “We noticed he (Watkins) was a taller guy, so mainly when my dad had me hit the pads, he held them up higher because the guy (my opponent) is taller.”

Robert Brizel: “Has your promoter Eddie Jaafar ever spoken about training in different training camps?”

Ernesto Garza: “Yeah, Eddie has talked to me about some different training camps. He has me doing my sparring in Detroit. I’m ready for it (to change locations for better training facilities in the future). I just don’t want to leave my father behind. I would want to take my father with me, so he can see what we’re doing. He’s the reason I am (in) boxing. He stuck with me from the beginning.”

Robert Brizel: “What do you think will happen in your fight this weekend with Watkins? What do you predict?”

Ernesto Garza: “What I predict is I will come out on top! I will come out victorious at the end of the fight! I’m gonna stay on him (Watkins). I’m gonna chop him down like a tree, body head, body head. He’s tall, but he’s not thick. He’s skinny on the body. I’m gonna do a lot of body punches, which will have the effect on him of slowing him down. Every opponent I’ve fought I’ve gone to the body. Once I get to work, and land nonstop body shots, I break them down (and eventually) they always go down. They take an eight count or they can’t continue.”

Robert Brizel: “Do you think Haakim Watkins will fight differently than the other fighters?”

Ernesto Garza: “He’s taller, so he’s probably going to try to use his reach and run.”

Robert Brizel: “Let’s talk about inactivity. Has it affected your dream to become a world champion?”

Ernesto Garza: “Yeah. It has kind of stopped me from moving on up and getting my fights.”

Robert Brizel: “Has promoter Eddie Jaafar promised to move you?”

Ernesto Garza: “Right now, Eddie has said he’s got some fights lined up and he’s moving me, so I can have about ten fights (under my belt) by the end of the year, or be up to my tenth fight (at year’s end).”

Robert Brizel: Talk about your relationship with Emmanuel Steward at Kronk Gym.”

Ernesto Garza: “My dad and Emmanuel were close. We used to visit him at Kronk Gym. Emmanuel always said he saw something in me. Emmanuel wanted you to train at Kronk Gym with him when I was an amateur. He wanted me to come from Saginaw and train with him and be one of his fighters. Emmanuel Stewart helped me get my first pro fight (with Jesus Lule). He was supposed to work with us (me and my dad) and then he passed away.”

Robert Brizel: “After the Watkins fight, would you like to fight for a Michigan State title?”

Ernesto Garza: “Yeah. I would love to!”

Robert Brizel: “Ernesto, Are you ready for an eight round fight?”

Ernesto Garza: “Yeah. I’m ready to fight an eight or ten rounder. I feel I’m ready to go 10 or 12 rounds in the shape I’m in now.”

Robert Brizel: “Have you ever worked with any trainers besides your dad?”

Ernesto Garza: “The only time I worked with other trainers was when I was in the amateurs (training with them) on the USA team, and we traveled (together to competitions as well).”

Robert Brizel: “Ernesto Garza, do you still hope to be discovered as a pro?”

Ernesto Garza: “Yeah. I know there’s (a lot of) people out there that know me from the amateurs. I would like to get more recognition, and then everybody would know me better. Thank you.”