Sweet science promoter is back

Andrew Edwards

Don’t call it a comeback.

Roy Englebrecht Promotions is back in business, but the return of

the Newport Beach boxing company is more of a continuation, owner Roy

Englebrecht said.

“Most boxing promoters get run out of town or go belly-up. I’m

back,” Englebrecht said.

Englebrecht’s company began operating under its own name again at

the beginning of the year when his contract with Golden Boy

Promotions expired at the end of 2004, he said. In 2001, Englebrecht

signed a three-year contract with Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy

Promotions when the former champ was starting his own business.

Englebrecht, a former Daily Pilot “stringer” and part owner of the

Rancho Cucamonga Quakes Class A minor league team, sold his company

to De La Hoya, receiving a minority interest in Golden Boy

Promotions. From 2002 through last year, he continued to promote

fights in his old portfolio, which included the “Battle in the

Ballroom” in Irvine and other California bouts. He also served as

Golden Boy Promotions chief operating officer and taught the fight

business to De La Hoya’s promoters.

When his contract expired, Englebrecht and his company regained

their independence in a deal in which Englebrecht sold his interest

in Golden Boy Promotions to De La Hoya. Englebrecht enjoyed working

with the boxer’s company, but getting there each day was a drag.

“It was a great run. The downside was I was commuting from Newport

Beach to Los Angeles,” he said.

The two companies are still connected, Englebrecht said. Golden

Boy Promotions is now a minority owner of Englebrecht’s company,

which will continue to promote the same events.

“All we’re doing is just changing some words, and I don’t have a

boss anymore,” Englebrecht said.

In a statement, Golden Boy Promotions chief executive Richard

Schaefer said Englebrecht’s company will develop fighters like a farm

system for De La Hoya’s firm.

“Battle in the Ballroom” fights are held at the Irvine Marriott,

and Lynne Gates, the hotel’s sales manager, said Golden Boy

Promotions’ purchase of Englebrecht’s company did not cause a big

shake-up. She expects a similarly smooth transition now that

Englebrecht is again in business under his own name.

Season-ticket holder Dore Gilbert, who has a dermatology practice

in Newport Beach, has been a regular at the Irvine bouts for about 10

years, he said. Gilbert said the boxers at the ballroom aren’t

famous but can be counted on to put up a good fight.

“It’s rare that someone steps in the ring and doesn’t give 100%,”

Gilbert said.