Veteran California promoter confident in Primm venture

Apparently, Roy Englebrecht isn’t afraid of a challenge.

The veteran California boxing promoter is trying to buck a sluggish economy and succeed in putting on quality boxing cards at Primm Valley Resorts. Bigger promoters such as Gary Shaw and Golden Boy also tried in 2008 and found themselves staring at a lot of empty seats.

On Friday night, Englebrecht teamed with ArenaBox Promotions and ESPN to host a nationally televised card at the Star of the Desert Arena that saw Yuriorkis Gamboa remain undefeated with a win over Roger Gonzalez. About 4,000 fans attended, though a good number of them got in for free.

“I’m optimistic this can work here,” Englebrecht said. “If you’re doing a $50,000 gate and the hotel is selling rooms, food and beverage and gaming, you have a chance.

“I’m not a big fan of doing these kind of fights on Fridays. To me, Saturdays are much better. But TV likes Friday, so we don’t have a choice.”

Next month, Englebrecht will stage a boxing-mixed martial arts tournament in Primm to kick off a six-show series. Competition will take place in three weight categories — 130, 150 and 170 pounds — with eight boxers and eight MMA combatants competing in each division. The six tournament champions will receive $5,000 apiece.

“This concept is the best I’ve been involved with,” Englebrecht said of his boxing-MMA tournament, dubbed “Worlds Collide,” which will begin Feb. 14 and conclude with the finals Dec. 5. “There’s no egos, no prima donnas, no fortune, no fame. Just young, hungry fighters who want to be treated like big leaguers.”

Englebrecht admits he’s not a big league promoter. He primarily does club fights in Southern California. But he said he thinks Las Vegas has room for second-tier boxing, and even though times might be tough economically, people still can afford to spend $10 to $35 for a night’s entertainment.

“I’m a frugal promoter, and frugal promoters tend to be successful,” said Englebrecht, who has been in the boxing business for 25 years. “If you watch what you spend and still provide a quality product, you can be successful.”

• PACQUIAO-HATTON ODDS — The Las Vegas Hilton has made Manny Pacquiao a minus-215 betting favorite to beat Ricky Hatton in their May 2 junior welterweight title fight in Las Vegas.

The takeback on Hatton, the Ring Magazine and IBO champion, is plus-185. The Hilton also has the “will go” 101/2 rounds as the favorite at minus-140 with the “won’t go” at plus-120.

• AZTECA AMERICA — In an attempt to tap into the Mexican TV audience and promote its Latino fighters, Top Rank is leaving Telefutura in favor of Azteca America.

Top Rank chairman Bob Arum said the move, which will have about 30 shows in the series, begins Saturday.

“I think it’ll be better than Telefutura because there will be more money to pay the fighters,” Arum said. “More important, it allows us to televise in Mexico and the United States.”

Azteca America is available in Las Vegas on Cable Channel 63.

• JOHNSON JOINS SHOWTIME — Veteran broadcaster Gus Johnson has joined Showtime’s boxing broadcast team as the cable network’s lead blow-by-blow announcer. He will make his debut Feb. 7, calling the Vic Darchinyan-Jorge Arce super flyweight title fight.

Johnson replaces Steve Albert, who has been Showtime’s lead announcer since 1987. Al Bernstein will continue to serve as Showtime’s analyst.

• BARRY HONORED — Veteran local trainer Pat Barry was honored Saturday at the South Point after retiring from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department following a 30-year career on the force.

Barry, who owns and runs Barry’s Boxing Gym with wife Dawn, will continue to train fighters. Along with working with hundreds of local amateurs, Barry helps train local pros Diego Magdaleno and Alex Mercardo.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@ reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913.