7-Footer to Fight Tonight in Irvine

Mike White, who at 7-feet and 280 pounds is the largest boxer in the country, has his biggest fight tonight at the Irvine Marriott.

White (22-7) takes on Mark Wills (12-6) in a 10-round heavyweight bout, the main event on the six-fight card.

White was on the verge of moving into the top 10 before his last fight June 30, according to promoter Don Fraser, but he lost his state title when he was beaten by Levi Billups.

White was ahead on points in the fifth round, but Billups used a series of combinations and forced White to drop his hands long enough for Billups to score a knockout with a right to the chin.

Billups, who had lost another fight to White, has refused to grant a rematch.

Wills, of Los Angeles, comes into the fight off an impressive knockout of Avery Rawls last April in Irvine.

In other scheduled fights:

Johnny Tapia of Albuquerque will fight Manuel Martinez of East Los Angeles in the six-round semi-main event. Tapia is a two-time Golden Gloves bantamweight champion.

Light heavyweight Dave Kilgour of Westlake will fight Robert Underwood of Los Angeles in another six-round bout.

Rocky Pepeli, a former Iowa Golden Gloves heavyweight champion, faces Thor Jenkins of Long Beach in a four-round bout.

Rocky Goddard of England will take on Allan Mainus of San Luis Obispo in a four-round, light heavyweight bout. Wilfred Tojin of Long Beach will fight Eddie Valdivia of Artesia in a four-round, super bantamweight bout.

The first fight starts at 7:30 p.m. and tickets go on sale today at 10 a.m. in the hotel’s grand ballroom.