Jackson won't corner for Hokit, Garcia at White House

When Steve Garcia and Josh Hokit fight on the White House South Lawn on June 14 (but not against each other), they evidently will do so without Greg Jackson in their corner.

Jackson, co-founder with Mike Winkeljohn of Albuquerque’s Jackson-Wink MMA Academy, confirmed via text on Friday an earlier Instagram post by Hokit that Jackson will not corner for Hokit on the much-ballyhooed UFC Freedom Fights 250.

Hokit posted only that Jackson would not corner for him for “personal reasons,” but Jackson told the Journal via text he also will not corner for Garcia.

Hokit and Garcia train at Jackson-Wink, and Jackson is a key member of each fighter’s team.

“I won’t be there for either guy this time,” Jackson texted, “but I’m keeping (the reason) off the record.”

Garcia (19-5), a featherweight from Albuquerque by way of Rio Rancho who’s riding a seven-fight win streak, is matched against Brazil’s Diego Lopes (27-8). A victory over Lopes, the No. 2 challenger to the UFC featherweight title, would boost Garcia, ranked No. 9, higher in the rankings.

Hokit (9-0), a heavyweight and a former Fresno State fullback, got the full attention of the MMA world with his Fight of the Night, Performance of the Night victory over sixth-ranked Curtis Blaydes on April 11. That night, UFC President Dana White announced Hokit would face Derrick Lewis (29-13) on the Freedom Fights card.

Hokit has quickly climbed to a No. 5 heavyweight ranking. Lewis, selected as Hokit’s opponent apparently because he’s a favorite of President Donald Trump, is the No. 9 contender.

GOLDEN GLOVES: In Longmont, Colorado, four New Mexico amateur boxers won their bouts against Colorado opponents on Saturday, qualifying for the Golden Gloves National Championships May 11-16 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Las Cruces’ Joscelyn Olayo-Muñoz, 106 pounds, defeated Colorado’s Malia Paculan. Olayo-Muñoz, winner of 16 national titles as she progressed through various age groups in USA Boxing competition, is seeking her first open-division national title.

Albuquerque’s Azariah Perez, 121 pounds, defeated Colorado’s Jose Sanchez.

Rio Rancho’s Ib Maiga, 165 pounds, defeated Colorado’s Ismael Florez.

Rio Rancho’s Andres Garcia, 198 pounds, defeated Colorado’s Joel Cano.

New Mexico and Colorado winners at regionals will compete as a team at nationals.

OHKAY FIGHTS: Bloomfield welterweight boxer Rolyn Nez (7-0, four knockouts) remained unbeaten with an impressive victory by four-round, unanimous decision over Ephraim Martinez Saturday on a pro card at Ohkay Hotel Casino at Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo.

Martinez (6-3, two KOs) had handed Kirtland’s Elija Martinez, Nez’s friend and sometime training partner, his only pro defeat.

Elsewhere on Saturday’s Pat Holmes/Donald Sanchez card:

Española’s Antonio “Tone” Martinez (12-5-4, six KOs) made a successful return to the ring with a victory by six-round unanimous decision over Raymond Chacon (a ghastly 11-75-1) of Torrance, California in a six-round bout. (None of the three Martinezes, Antonio, Ephraim and Elija, are related)