Elijah Garcia defeated Terrell Gausha by split decision on Saturday, March 22, 2025, in a 10-round contest at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino's Michelob ULTRA Arena. The fight proved to be a contentious one, with Gausha knocking Garcia down in the first round with a right hand. Garcia, a 21-year-old southpaw, ultimately secured his victory with judges Don Trella and Zachary Young scoring the match 95-94 and 96-93, respectively, while Judge Chris Migliore scored it 95-94 in favor of Gausha.
The fight, part of the Sebastian Fundora-Chordale Booker undercard, showcased a back-and-forth action with both fighters landing significant punches. Gausha displayed his experience as a 2012 Olympian, landing 35 more punches than Garcia, according to CompuBox's unofficial count (189-of-542 to Garcia's 154-of-738). Gausha's ratio of power punches was slightly more favorable too, landing 135-of-319 compared to 131-of-481 from Garcia.
Garcia, who won the fight with an overall record now standing at 17-1 with 13 KOs, was a 6-1 favorite heading into the bout according to DraftKings. The young boxer, who bled from his nose for over nine rounds, had his first fight since a loss to Kyrone Davis on June 15, 2024, during the Gervonta Davis-Frank Martin undercard.
“People can think what they want,” Garcia said post-fight, reflecting on the mixed opinions of the bout. “I went in the ring and fought my ass off against an Olympian. He’s only lost to world champions, and I went in there and beat him. He’s very experienced, very crafty. He was able to do some things that he wanted, but I figured it out as time went on. Whoever thinks I lost, whatever. I won.”
The match observed Garcia's notable strategy focusing on body shots, which seemed to pay dividends despite Gausha landing more head punches. Gausha himself acknowledged Garcia's tenacity, stating, “He was a tough, gritty guy. That’s why I took this fight – I knew he would push me. I just thought I did what I had to do. The decision is unfortunate, but all I can do is try to regroup and get better.”
Garcia faced significant challenges during the match after being knocked to the canvas in the first round. After getting back on his feet, he recovered quickly, stating, “I figured after he dropped me that was the hardest I was going to get hit. I prepared for it 1,000 percent. I don’t control the judges. My job is in the ring. It was a little closer than I thought. For the most part, I controlled the fight.”
The tactical evolution of Garcia can be attributed to a change in trainers after his loss to Davis. He switched from working with his grandfather George Garcia Sr. and father George Jr. to Bob Santos. Garcia spent nine months living with Santos in the Las Vegas area, which provided him with better sparring opportunities than he had in Phoenix.
Gausha, now 24-5-1 with 12 KOs, had hoped to rebound from a string of losses. He has faced tough competition, including Garcia, WBC middleweight champion Carlos Adames, Tim Tszyu, and Erickson Lubin, leading to a 3-4-1 record in his last eight fights. Despite the loss, Gausha's sharp boxing skills and experience were evident throughout the bout.
As the fight progressed, Gausha increased his offensive output, landing multiple right hands, particularly in the tenth round, where he recognized the need to finish strongly for a favorable decision. Despite closing the fight strong, the judges’ scores ultimately favored Garcia, who demonstrated resilience and adaptability in a challenging matchup.
Going forward, Garcia expressed readiness for future challenges, saying, “I never turn down the fight. I’ll fight anybody.” His determination is a promising sign for his continuing career, especially following this significant win against a seasoned opponent. Meanwhile, Gausha must regroup and strategize for his next steps, building on the lessons learned from this latest bout.
In a sport where the competition remains fierce, the matchup between Garcia and Gausha serves as a reminder of the unpredictability of boxing and the weight of each round on the judges’ scorecards. The excitement of the fight, combined with the tactical adjustments made by both pugilists, paints a vivid picture of the grit and determination representative of boxing’s highest stakes.
