BOXING / MIKE HISERMAN : Coetzee Comes Back Swinging After Marriott Embarrassment

Gerrie Coetzee, the former world heavyweight champion, emerged dazed from several fights during his long career.

But few times did he walk away from a boxing venue more stunned than he did a few months ago when a card he promoted at the Warner Center Marriott drew a scant 193 observers.

Embarrassed and disillusioned, Coetzee responded the same way he might have during his days as a boxer: He regrouped and came back looking for a rematch.

He hired marketing help and public relations specialists. He courted advice and help from more-experienced promoters. He pursued up-and-coming local fighters with growing followings.

The result: a near-capacity crowd for the Marriott’s monthly show in August.

This week, Coetzee is intensifying his campaign to include cable television advertising on ESPN and Prime to promote Wednesday night’s six-bout show in the hotel’s 1,100-seat Grand Ballroom.

All this trouble for club shows?

“We don’t look at it that way,” Coetzee said.

“The Marriott is a great venue for boxing. It’s a real diamond, and we want to put on shows for Valley fight fans that we all can be proud of.”

The main event features a scheduled 12-round bout between Randy (Big Man) Smith and Kenny Pratt for the vacant North American Boxing Organization middleweight championship.

Neither Smith nor Pratt is a household name, but the fight is expected to be hotly contested because the winner is in line for a Top 10 World Boxing Organization ranking and possible world title opportunity.

“These guys are both hungry and right on the verge of getting that title shot they want,” Coetzee said. “That kind of motivation makes for a good fight.”

In the semi-main event, undefeated P.J. Goossen, the reigning California junior middleweight champion, faces Eric McNair, a former national Golden Gloves champion who is trying to resurrect his professional career. Goossen, from North Hollywood, is 15-0 with 11 knockouts.

On the undercard, Coetzee has secured bouts for three local fighters. Don Goodwin of Canoga Park meets Lloyd Weaver in a junior middleweight bout scheduled for

six rounds; Jim Mullen of Simi Valley faces Sergio Guerrero in a cruiserweight bout scheduled for six rounds, and Carlos Guzman of Northridge meets Bryan Cimicata in a lightweight bout scheduled for four rounds.

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With another victory, Goossen would be in line for an NABO title shot, perhaps on October’s card at the Marriott. Another potential main event next month, Coetzee said, is a bout between Mike Weaver and Leon Spinks, both former world heavyweight champions.

“Having those kinds of quality fighters, even if they’re a little past their prime, would be a great boost for the show,” Coetzee said. “Both of them have stayed active and in great shape. It would be a very entertaining fight.”

Weaver scored a unanimous decision over George O’Mara at the Marriott in June, then challenged Coetzee to come out of retirement and face him in what would have been a rematch of two knock-down, drag-out wars they had in the late 1980s.

Coetzee declined.

“I’m playing an active role in building up the shows at the Marriott,” he said.

“But not that active.”