Promoter in Pursuit of Unbeaten Franco

Chasing Raul. Sounds like a catchy title for a movie, but it’s actually what promoter Roy Englebrecht has been doing since Long Beach welterweight Raul Franco turned professional three years ago.

“I already told him he shouldn’t be fighting, he should be on [Beverly Hills] 90210 with his looks, “ Englebrecht said after Franco’s pro debut, a knockout of San Diego’s Roy Pegues at the Irvine Marriott. “Technically, he was sound for 19 years old. I was surprised by his power. He’s charismatic, he has that spark and he has a great smile.”

Two things have remained constant since that August night in 1996. Franco is still undefeated, 12 fights later, and Englebrecht is still trying to sign Franco to a promotional deal.

What has changed is that Englebrecht is no longer negotiating with Richard Garcia and Gonzalo Garcia, who managed and trained Franco for the first 2 1/2 years of his pro career. Now, Englebrecht is talking to Franco’s stepbrother, Omar Perez, who is the boxer’s acting manager.

Meanwhile, Franco is in North Carolina, where he is training with Jesse Reid for an Aug. 20 fight on ESPN2. Franco is without a true manager and he is still without a promoter. That’s probably why he hasn’t fought since Feb. 4, when he took out journeyman Antonio Gonzalez of Lakeside in the fourth round of a Marriott main event.

Englebrecht said he plans to meet with Franco and Perez after Franco’s second ESPN2 fight in the last year. He expects to offer Franco a four-fight deal worth upward of $15,000.

Not great money, but not bad for an untested 22-year-old without a promoter or a manager.

“It surprises me a little that he hasn’t signed with us,” Englebrecht said. “Especially since no one else is exactly knocking down your doors.”

Englebrecht believes the reason he hasn’t inked Franco has more to do with style than substance.

“We’re not looked at as a powerhouse, but our gates are better than the Forum’s,” Englebrecht said. “They think if they fight [at the Marriott], they’re forever looked at as a club fighter.”

If he signed Franco, Englebrecht said he would stage one or two of his fights at the Marriott and others in larger venues.

“We have a good relationship with Cedric Kushner and Bruce Trampler [of Top Rank Inc.],” Englebrecht said.

STATE TITLE BOUT SET

Naoya Hirahara and Isreal Correa will meet for the vacant state featherweight title Thursday night at the Marriott in the 10-round main event. Correa (7-2) of Oxnard upset Hirahara (11-3) of Fukoukoa, Japan, four months ago at the Marriott in a majority decision. Hirahara’s handlers are so confident their fighter will avenge his defeat, they asked Englebrecht what would be engraved on the state title belt.

ESPADAS SHOOTS FOR 10

Guty Espadas Jr. (29-2, 19 knockouts), the World Boxing Council’s No. 4 featherweight, tries for his 10th consecutive victory against Prangky Mamuaya (20-6-1, 10 knockouts) of Indonesia on Aug. 9 in the Arrowhead Pond’s 10-round main event. Espadas Jr., of Merida, Mexico, hasn’t lost since he was beaten by San Diego’s Jesus Salud in December of 1996.

The co-main event will be a 10-round junior featherweight bout between Israel Vazquez (20-2, 16 knockouts) of Mexico City and Nelson Medina (24-15-2, seven knockouts) of Venezuela.