Opening Salvo: Elijah Garcia ready to deliver the first pay-per-view shots

By Norm Frauenheim –

The last time Elijah Garcia opened the show he proved to be a showstopper. He said a memorable hello to a new audience with a quick goodbye to an unbeaten veteran.

It was an impressive introduction, one that Garcia can continue with another hello to an even bigger audience, again in the opening pay-per-view bout in what is being called boxing’s biggest card so far this year.

This time, Elijah Garcia (14-0, 12 KOs) can deliver the opening salvo on the much-anticipated and highly-hyped Tank Davis-versus-Ryan Garcia clash on pay-per-view ($84.99) Saturday night (5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET) at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

It’s significant for lots of reasons. Showtime is calling it a “generational” fight, meaning it’s time for the young guns to move in and the aging ones to move on.  The 28-year-old Tank and the 24-year-old Ryan Garcia are at the defining edge of what might be boxing’s passing of the torch.

It’s a good place for a promising 19-year-old to be. For Garcia, it’s the only place. The teenaged middleweight from Arizona can further enhance his credentials as a fighter to follow for the next several years

“My last fight was an opportunity that I just couldn’t pass up, just like this fight,’’ Elijah Garcia said during a media workout Wednesday at the MGM Grand. “I’m still learning. This is a huge card right here. I am so happy to be a part of it.

“I’ve never experienced anything like this before, but it is not as hard as I thought it would be so far.’’

Elijah Garcia expects the hardest part to happen at opening bell against Kevin Salgado, a Mexican middleweight living in San Antonio with a taste of world-class experience.

Salgado’s lone loss is to Joey Spencer, who lost a seventh-round TKO to junior middleweight prospect and fellow Arizona fighter Jesus Ramos March 25 on a card featuring Phoenix super-middleweight David Benavidez’ decision over Caleb Plant at Vegas’ MGM Grand.

Salgado (15-1-1, 10 KOs), who is listed as Kevin Salgado Zambrano on BoxRec, is more than five years older than Elijah Garcia. Then again, most everybody in the pro ranks are older than Elijah. He likes it that way.

“This is going to be a war,’’ said the young middleweight, who wears his Phoenix roots with city’s 602 area code stitched across his waist band “Someone is going to get knocked out.’’ 

Less than two months ago, Elijah Garcia opened the pay-per-view portion of a card featuring featherweight Brandon Figueroa’s stoppage of Mark Magsayo on March 4

The bout looked risky. His opponent was 27-years old, unbeaten and known for power. Elijah Garcia knocked out Amilcar Vidal within four rounds.

With the victory, Garcia did more than introduce himself as a prospect. He said hello to fans who didn’t know him. He also introduced heightened expectations, both for himself and newfound followers.

“Being a main event fighter is everybody’s dream,’’ he said. “My goal is doing it even sooner than [Tank] Davis and [Ryan] Garcia did.’’

Time to say hello again.