Irvine Super-Bantamweight Bout Has Everyone Talking

IRVINE —  Tonight’s Carlos Navarro-Marcos Licona matchup at the Irvine Marriott is that rare main event that comes along, oh, about every 12 years or so.

Jerry Bilderrain admits it’s the best main event he has put together in his years as a matchmaker for the 12-year-old monthly boxing show.

“You don’t get fights like this very often,” Bilderrain said. “This would be a good Forum fight or ESPN fight. In the 12 years I’ve been associated with Marriott Boxing, I am proudest of this main event.”

Of course, Bilderrain couldn’t have matched super-bantamweights Navarro and Licona without a lot of help from one of the most powerful figures in boxing, international promoter Cedric Kushner. Navarro was originally scheduled to fight at the Forum this month, but the bout fell out and suddenly Navarro was without an August date.

“Carlos has wanted to fight as often as possible in the L.A. area,” Kushner said. “I said to Tom Loeffler [Navarro’s manager], ‘Is there anything we can do in the immediate area?’ I hated to let the kid down. Tom mentioned this fight [at the Marriott].”

Loeffler met with Bilderrain over breakfast and offered to sweeten the deal by paying Navarro’s purse. Otherwise, Bilderrain admits the Marriott would not have been able to afford Navarro (10-0, nine knockouts), one of the top prospects in the super-bantamweight (122-pound) division.

“We’re very excited about Carlos,” Kushner said. “I think he’s a legitimate contender. We’re in this for the long haul with Carlos.”

Kushner, who also promotes South Africa’s Vuyna Bungu, the International Boxing Federation 122-pound champion, said Navarro is nearly ready for a title fight. Navarro, a 5-foot-7 left-hander from Los Angeles, was the 1996 U.S. amateur champion.

Because of Navarro’s credentials, tonight’s fight for the California super-bantamweight title amounts to the opportunity of a lifetime for Westminster’s Licona (10-0-1, four knockouts).

“I don’t have many fighters that have 10 fights that I can match Carlos up with,” Kushner said. “You can put Carlos in with almost anyone and he’s going to knock them down or win a decision. I have a lot of confidence in him.

“This is a good opportunity for [Licona]. If he can beat a fighter like Carlos Navarro, he can be in the catbird’s seat. Unfortunately for him, I don’t think it’s going to happen.”

Navarro’s brother, Nacho (6-0, three knockouts), is on the undercard and will fight Gustavo Tapia (3-2-1) of Costa Mesa. The six-bout show will begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25, $30 and $35.