Promoter: Tyson Incident Won’t Hurt Local Boxing

Like most boxing fans who watched the Mike Tyson-Evander Holyfield heavyweight title fight, Roy Englebrecht was shocked and horrified at Tyson’s behavior Saturday night. But Englebrecht had more at stake than most of the outraged fans who watched the fight with him at the National Sports Grill in Anaheim.

“I make my living in boxing,” he said. “I don’t want to be embarrassed. Was I embarrassed? Yeah, as a promoter, I was embarrassed.”

For the better part of the last 12 years, Englebrecht has been selling boxing at the Irvine Marriott’s ballroom. Lately, he has been selling it pretty well. Last Friday night, 24 hours before the biggest money-making fight in pay-per-view history, the Irvine Marriott drew 1,190 boxing fans and took in more than $27,000.

Is Englebrecht worried that the Holyfield-Tyson fight might affect his gate? Will the people who were losing interest and respect for boxing finally give up on the sport?

“Boxing fans are some of the most knowledgeable sports fans,” Englebrecht said. “They’ll go anywhere to see good boxing.

“We had seven fights Friday night. We had a 21-year-old, Raul Franco, winning by a first-round knockout and looking forward to his professional boxing career. We had a 31-year-old former gang member, James Shipp, making his professional debut with 100 people from his church to support him. There was nothing wrong with boxing Friday night, June 27. Let’s not throw out the baby with the bath water here.”

So far, Englebrecht said he has not heard from any of his season-ticket holders regarding Saturday’s biting incident. He said there is a clear distinction between big-time heavyweight prize fights and the club fights he puts on at the Marriott once a month.

“It’s like comparing major league baseball to minor league baseball,” Englebrecht said. “It’s still pretty pure at our level. These kids haven’t been spoiled by success.

“Let’s not forget about Oscar De La Hoya, a great champion and an articulate person. And let’s not forget about the great Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. I’ve been listening to these talk show hosts that say the sport is in trouble. Some people are in trouble, the sport is not in trouble.”

Englebrecht said boxing is bigger than one man.

“Roberto Alomar spitting at an umpire didn’t destroy baseball,” Englebrecht said. “Mike Tyson’s problems won’t destroy boxing.”