Marriott Signs Deal With New Promoter

Boxing will return to the Warner Center Marriott in 1997.

Roy Englebrecht, an Orange County promoter with a history of success presenting bouts at the Irvine Marriott hotel, announced Tuesday he has signed a one-year contract with the Woodland Hills hotel to promote monthly bouts beginning Jan. 9.

Englebrecht, promoter at Irvine since 1992, replaces Gerrie Coetzee, who quit promoting fights at Warner Center in June because of financial reasons.

“We want to put on a boxing show and do it better than anyone else,” Englebrecht said at a press luncheon at Warner Center. “We’ll have competitive bouts and we’ll have full houses and people will walk away and say, ‘Wow! That was a good show.’ ”

Englebrecht began negotiating with Warner Center officials last month and convinced them his promotional approach would be successful. The monthly boxing program at Irvine, Englebrecht said, typically attracts 95% capacity in a 1,250-seat ballroom similar to Warner Center’s Grand Ballroom that seats 1,154.

“Roy and his team have done an excellent job over the years,” said Allen Kramme, general manager at Warner Center. “His past history at the Irvine Marriott has given us tremendous confidence in his ability to create a very successful promotion with our property.”

Coetzee, a former world heavyweight champion, began promoting bouts at Warner Center in May 1995 but never was successful in filling the Grand Ballroom to capacity.

One reason might have been the price of admission; ticket prices ranged from $100 to $20. Englebrecht, emphasizing a credo of “giving customers great entertainment at the right price,” said the most-expensive seat at Warner Center shows will cost $35, the least-expensive $25. Season tickets also will be available for the first time at Warner Center.

Englebrecht and promoter Jerry Bilderrain, matchmaker at Irvine, have yet to begin negotiating with fighters. Englebrecht said they will attempt to schedule bouts involving women boxers as well as fights for state championships.

“We’re still five months away from our first show,” Englebrecht said. “We’ll do whatever it takes to make sure each fight is a competitive fight. Local fighters are important. But having competitive fights is more important.”

Shows are scheduled for the second Thursday of every month and each program will include six bouts. Among the innovations Englebrecht will bring to Warner Center will be prize drawings between bouts, new boxing lights and refreshment stands inside the ballroom.