An Oakland boxer is stepping into the biggest fight of his life next week, and he says he’s carrying his city into the ring with him. Anthony Garnica is one win away from becoming World Champion, but for the 26-year-old, this fight started long before this training session. “It’s kinda h ard in a way, it is really testing my mental, I just want to focus on the fight,” Garnica said. Garnica, a son of Mexican immigrants, grew up in east Oakland, sharing a two-bedroom apartment with his brothers and sister. He started boxing when he was 7 years old. What started as fun became a full-time grind. Now he is training three times a day: Running, weights, sparring, years of sacrifice, all leading to this title shot in Long Beach. “All the years of preparation, all the different people that I have met has led me to this opportunity and having that faith and just keeping that faith and not giving up,” Garnica said. Signed Pro at 18, Garnica recently started training with Virgil Hunter, a legendary coach who trained an Olympic gold medalist and multiple world champions. Hunter believes Garnica has what it takes to reach the top. “Those who have the championship desires, they exhibit the same personality, the same temperament, the same work ethic, the same abilities although, they are shown in different ways. He possesses all those qualities to achieve his goal,” he said. On May 15, Garnica will face 33-year-old veteran Eros Correa for the World Boxing Council Continental Americas title. “It means everything. It means a step closer to that world title, a step closer to where I want to be in life, giving my family that opportunity, that dream,” Garnica said. And his team says he’s ready for the moment. “I have seen dedication in a lot of people, but I haven’t seen this level of dedication from such a young man like this and with the talent that he has there is no doubt that we will all remember his name one day,” said Wilson Du, his team manager. Outside the ring, Garnica says this journey is about more than boxing. He wants to give back to his family and inspire Oakland kids chasing dreams of their own. “As a kid coming out of Oakland, all the things you hear and it just means a lot trying to give back to my parents, trying to give back to the community. It’s more than just for me, it’s for everyone around me,” he said. If Garnica wins this fight, reports suggest he will be ranked top 20 in the WBC organization. ...read more read less