Navarro Faces Chavez in Main Event Tonight

Carlos Navarro, a promising 20-year-old junior featherweight from Los Angeles, will make his 10-round debut tonight against journeyman Juan Manuel Chavez of Mexico City in the main event at the Irvine Marriott.

Navarro made his pro debut at the Marriott last July with a second-round knockout of Luis Antonio Martinez. He went on to win his next six fights, five by knockout.

Navarro has a chance to join Genaro Hernandez and Johnny Tapia as fighters who debuted at the Marriott and went on to win a world title. Navarro, who attended Los Angeles Manuel Arts High, is represented by Mouthpiece Sports and Entertainment of Beverly Hills, the same group that promotes former world champion James Toney and prospect Pedro Pena.

Chavez (21-19 with 11 knockouts), went into the eighth round in February at the Pond with the highly ranked Nestor Garza (26-0). Chavez, 34, was knocked down four times but he kept coming back and could be a tough opponent for Navarro.

In the semi-main event, welterweight Horatio Garcia (7-0, six knockouts) of Sacramento will fight Jesus Gutierrez (8-2, seven knockouts) of Juarez, Mexico, in an eight-round bout.

Of the six knockouts by Garcia, 23, only one has gone past the first round. Gutierrez is a two-time national amateur welterweight champion in Mexico.

The top undercard fight of night features heavyweight Paul Ashley (3-1-1) of Fontana in a rematch with Gilbert Williamson (4-1-3) of Mesa, Ariz.

The six-bout monthly event begins at 7:30 p.m. For ticket information call (714) 261-9456.

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The comeback of Carlos Palomino, former World Boxing Council welterweight champion, will continue May 10 with a scheduled 10-rounder against Gabriel Palafox of Mexico, according to PJ Promotions; however, the site is unknown.

Despite published reports, the Freedman Forum will not host the fight. The Anaheim facility’s general manager, David Gendreau, said PJ Promotions failed to confirm the fight date in time for the venue to prepare for the event.

Matchmaker Rina Coetzee said PJ Promotions learned late Wednesday about the snafu and now may have to move the event outside Orange County. Originally planned for the Sportsman’s Lodge in Reseda, it was thought the fight would draw better if it were held closer to Westminster, where Palomino, 47, trains.

Palomino (30-3, 19 knockouts), who hadn’t fought in 10 years, beat Ismael Diaz in an eight-round bout Jan. 10 in Hollywood.