Francos Set for Fight at Irvine

Raul Franco, a promising welterweight from Long Beach, will make his six-round debut tonight at the Irvine Marriott against Santiago Franco of San Pedro in the semi-main event. Franco, 20, has won all five of his four-round fights, beginning with an impressive third-round knockout of Roy Pegues of San Diego in his debut 11 months ago at the Marriott. Santiago Franco is 6-11-1 with five knockouts.

Raul Franco (5-0, three knockouts) struggled against Miguel Avila of Chino and Manuel Coronado of Bell, but managed to win both bouts by decision. Last month at the Marriott, Franco knocked out Simon Stuhr of Germany with a body shot.

Gonzalo Garcia, Raul Franco’s co-manager along with Richard Garcia, said he has been trying to sign his fighter to a short-term promotional deal, but he’s had no luck.

Franco trained for tonight’s bout by sparring with Mark Lewis, who is fighting for the junior welterweight North American Boxing Assn. title Saturday night in Lake Tahoe against Hector Lopez. Garcia admits he and Richard Garcia have been cautious with Raul Franco’s opponents.

“We don’t want to put him in there against a good prospect too early and then in two, three years, he’s gone,” Garcia said. “He’s too good a prospect.”

In the 10-round main event, super lightweight Jaime Ocegueda (16-1-4, seven knockouts) of Norwalk will face Eric Vasquez (8-5, eight knockouts) of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. Ocegueda upset highly-ranked Lewis of Mira Loma last September in a 10-round decision, then fought journeyman Russell Mosley to a draw two months later in a bout for the state super lightweight title.

Junior featherweight Marco Licona (9-0-1, four knockouts) of Westminster is featured on the undercard in a six-round bout against Sergio Sanchez (8-5-1, three knockouts) of Montebello. Also on the undercard is super middleweight Tyrone Bennett of Huntington Beach, who won his pro debut in May at the Marriott.

Tickets for tonight’s 7:30 show are $25, $30 and $35 and can be purchased at the Marriott box office.