BOXING NOTEBOOK: GARCIA IS TRYING FOR A COMEBACK.

LAS VEGAS - Buried deep on the boxing card featuring Fernando Vargas and Jose ``Shibata'' Flores on Saturday at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino is a familiar name - Robert Garcia.

The Oxnard resident and friend of Vargas was the IBF junior lightweight champion and on top of his game less than two years ago. However, three knockout losses in his past four fights have raised doubts about whether he should continue.

Garcia, bright-eyed and only 26, says he's not through.

``I was born to be a fighter,'' said Garcia, who faces the obscure John Trigg in an eight-round lightweight bout. ``I'm still young, I still have a good chance to get some big fights. I'll know when it's time to go.''

Garcia (33-3, with 24 knockouts) took a brutal beating from Diego Corrales and lost his title in October 1999, his first loss. That was followed by a 10th-round loss to Ben Tackie in June of last year, an eight- round decision over Sandro Marcos the following month and a ninth-roDRE0920 ``They're part of the sport,'' Garcia said of his losses. ``The key is to learn when you lose and I think I have. And I lost to great champions. Corrales, Casamayor, they're good fighters. And I was winning both fights. ... I'm going to start slowly (with Trigg) and take it easy, get some fights, build my confidence.

``And then we'll see what happens.''

--Renaissance man: Flores, who hasn't lost since 1998, is more than a fighter. The native of Navojoa, Mexico, who lives in Los Angeles, owns and runs a busy gym in East L.A., only recently sold a restaurant in that area to concentrate on his boxing career, sings ranchera music and does impersonations that provide infinite amusement for friends.

``He does a Jim Carey face that's better than Jim Carey,'' promoter Gary Shaw said.