Garcia avoids cell, much prefers cage

Losing to featherweight champion Mike Brown helped Leonard Garcia determine where his fighting career stood.

Nearly losing his freedom helped Garcia gain perspective on life.

Garcia, 30, continues his quest for another chance at a championship belt when he meets Manny Gamburyan on a World Extreme Cagefighting card tonight at The Palms.

Garcia could have won Brown's title in March, but was submitted in the first round and now says he might not have been ready for the bout.

''I feel like I got a title shot early on and maybe since I lost, it was premature,'' he said. ''If I won, I probably would have thought it was right on time. Now I feel like I've had a bunch of good fights here. I feel like I'm one of the fan favorites. I'm really happy with the way my career is going.''

Eighteen months ago, it was a career Garcia thought might be over after he was arrested with 12 others and charged with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

Garcia said he was friends with someone who was involved but that he was innocent. He since has been exonerated.

''Having the feeling of big grief lifted (off) your shoulders helps a lot. It gives you a perspective on life, and being able to appreciate life is something some people never get to do,'' Garcia said. ''Now I can appreciate things. I look back and say, 'Man, how could I not have been living like this?' It turned out to be a great thing for me.

''A bright future, man. Any future for me now is bright.''

The fear of being locked up was just one of several challenges the Texan has faced, but he has no regrets.

''There's that saying what don't kill you makes you stronger. Man, I've almost been dead several times. From a stabbing to being shot to having criminal charges brought upon me, which is basically being dead if you're in prison,'' he said. ''I faced all of these things and always come out on top and put them behind me.''

Garcia insists everything is in the past.

''One hundred percent, yeah, everything is behind me. It's done with. It's water under the bridge,'' he said. ''I feel like it made my career better. I'm a stronger person because of it.''

Garcia said a victory over Gamburyan will be enough to put him back in the title picture, an opportunity he covets after failing in his first chance.

''Being there before and seeing it live is going to help me the second time around,'' Garcia said. ''Having that bitter taste in my mouth afterward just adds fuel to the fire.''

If Garcia wins, he can do some immediate scouting of the champion. Brown will defend the featherweight title against Jose Aldo in the main event. It's his fourth defense since winning the belt from Urijah Faber in November 2008.

Aldo exploded onto the national scene with an eight-second knockout of Cub Swanson in June, his third consecutive first-round finish.

The card also features the return of former lightweight champ Rob McCullough from hand surgery to face Karen Darabedyan. Danny Castillo and Shane Roller will meet in a lightweight bout.

The first bout on the 10-fight card will start at 3 p.m., and the televised portion will air on Versus (Cable 38) at 6.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509.