New Promoter Talking With Warner Center

An Orange County boxing promoter with a history of success presenting bouts at the Irvine Marriott hotel is negotiating with Warner Center Marriott officials about promoting fights at the Woodland Hills hotel throughout 1997.

Roy Englebrecht, promoter at Irvine since 1992, said Wednesday he is seeking a one-year contract with Warner Center to promote bouts on a monthly basis. Englebrecht would replace Gerrie Coetzee, who announced last week he no longer will promote bouts at the hotel because of financial reasons.

“I want to run some more numbers and make sure we’re doing the right thing,” Englebrecht said. “They said they wanted to make sure they want to stay in the boxing business.”

Alan Kramme, general manager at Warner Center, said a decision is likely within the next two months.

“I do know he has a very good track record, and we’re seeing whether the possibility makes sense,” Kramme said. “We are considering a lot of things.”

The monthly boxing program at Irvine typically attracts 95% capacity in a 1,250-seat ballroom similar to the one at Warner Center, Englebrecht said. Englebrecht approached Warner Center representatives a few months ago about promoting fights in Woodland Hills.

“They’re interested in success and we have a formula that is successful,” Englebrecht said. “I want to fill 1,200 seats a night at the [Warner Center] Marriott.”

Coetzee, who has promoted bouts at Warner Center since May 1995, said hotel officials have complained that fights have not generated enough income through concessions, largely because the hotel’s 1,154-seat Grand Ballroom has never sold out during Coetzee’s tenure.