TACOMA — As quick as it is to change status in boxing, becoming a professional isn’t is easy as flipping a switch.

It’s a different style of fighting.

That is something that Miguel Garcia has found out in his first three fights as a pro.

“It’s just about focus and using speed instead of just waiting,” said the 140-pound boxer from Arlington.

But one of the tests of a professional in most sports is sticking to the game plan, which Garcia couldn’t quite do in his rematch with Walla Walla native J.R. Delgadillo June 19 at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma.

Despite promising moments, Garcia lost the four-round bout by decision, with one judge just favoring him 39-37 and the other tallying for Delgadillo 40-46. The plan was to keep Delgadillo at arms’ length and initiate contact, but Garcia was caught trying to counter punch the first two rounds.

“That was not the game plan,” said trainer Dan Hathaway. “We wanted to be the aggressor and that’s something he hasn’t quite learned yet. He developed a habit of being a counter-puncher when he was an amateur, and that’s something we’re going to have to break.”

In the third round, Garcia initiated exchanges more often, landing nearly a handful of clear body shots and a couple blows to the head — a good sign of things to come, as he clearly won that round. But in the fourth round, Garcia couldn’t maintain the same edge.

Garcia, 21, was introduced to boxing 10 years ago by one of his four brothers. All five of the Garcia brothers were boxers at one point or another, Miguel, who was the last to get into the sport, happened to be the only one to stick with it.

“I just didn’t want to get left behind,” said Miguel Garcia. “All my brothers were doing it and one-by-one, they just stopped.”

Hathaway, who trained all five brothers at the Arlington boxing club, said there is something special about Miguel that differentiates him from his siblings.

“They all had great talent and potential,” Hathaway said. “But Miguel’s the only one to have the determination to train every day and take it one step further.”

While working to get his AA degree, Garcia trains everyday in Arlington with help of Hathaway and his most immediate older brother, Augustine, 24.

As an amateur, Garcia had a 19-18 record, but fought a number of opponents with more experience, including a Canadian national champion. He and Delgadillo made their pro debuts against each other nearly a year ago, with the outcome a draw. Garcia said that he has a tremendous amount of respect for Delgadillo.

Garcia will look to gain his second career victory against Ralph Prescott at the Emerald Queen August 28.