Garcia brothers' blood feud boils over in Oxnard

Danny Garcia and his younger brother Robert Garcia are respected trainers of champion fighters. But they're also bitter enemies whose jealousy-laced blood feud has existed for years.

The brothers got into it again Monday morning at the Oxnard, Calif., home of Robert Garcia, 36, who shares a back yard with Danny, 44. Robert Garcia said that the argument stemmed from an online video dissing contest, during which the brothers swapped insults.

The videos were posted on Esnewsreporting.com but apparently have been removed.

Danny Garcia could not be reached for comment, but Robert Garcia described what happened from his perspective.

Danny Garcia ripped WBA lightweight titleholder Brandon Rios (28-0-1, 21 KOs),  who is trained by Robert Garcia. Robert retaliated by making disparaging remarks about his brother as Danny Garcia's prize pupil, WBC welterweight beltholder Victor Ortiz (29-2-2, 22 KOs).

Ortiz has a defense against Floyd Mayweather Jr. (41-0, 25 KOs) on Sept. 17.

"The way that the video came out, my brother and his guys are laughing and saying that Brandon can't even fight. That got me mad," said Robert Garcia. "So I responded, and I did go a little bit overboard. It was in the heat of the moment, and it just happened."

Danny Garcia, apparently feeling that Robert Garcia's comments were too far below the belt, showed up on the doorstep of his brother, who refused to let him into the house.

A shouting match ensued before police showed up to calm them. No arrests were made, and the brothers went their separate ways.

"It's something that should be resolved between the family members. We all make mistakes. Why mention Brandon? But why did I come back and make the comments that I made? It was stupid of myself also," said Robert Garcia.

"I think that we're just doing stupid things that are getting my parents more and more worried. My father is 67, my mother is sick and has had a stroke. My grandparents are in their 90s. We're both making stupid mistakes and hurting the family."

The brothers have been estranged for years because of a feud over Ortiz. Robert Garcia once worked with Ortiz, now 24, from the time he was a promising 16-year-old amateur through the first four years of his pro career. Robert Garcia trained Ortiz and Rios, now 25, at the same time during those years.

However, Rios and Ortiz developed an adversarial relationship, and Ortiz left Robert Garcia for Danny Garcia.

Ortiz also left Top Rank, Inc. and signed with current promoter Golden Boy Promotions. Rios fights for Top Rank.

Danny Garcia once trained Robert Garcia when the younger brother was only 13. Danny also assisted their father, Eduardo Garcia, in the corner of Robert during the latter's professional career. Robert Garcia (35-3, 25 KOs) won the IBF junior lightweight title.

Robert and Eduardo Garcia train younger brother Mikey Garcia, an unbeaten featherweight contender.

"You know, I still remember those days when Danny was always working in my corner. You know, we are brothers, and we were once very, very close. So when you get right down to it, it's really f---ing stupid of myself and Danny to be acting like this," said Robert Garcia.

"I've talked to my dad, and I truly believe that right now, it's best that we just let everything go. Like if we see each other, for now, we just need to walk away. Some day, though, we'll talk about it, you know? We have to and we're gonna need to."

Lem Satterfield can be reached at lem.satterfield@gmail.com