Parillo, Ornelas Steal the Show

Thursday night’s boxing card at the Irvine Marriott didn’t have world featherweight champion Isidro Garcia, but the sellout crowd of 1,141 didn’t mind. They seemed thoroughly entertained by talented local prospects Jason Parillo of Villa Park and Enrique Ornelas of La Habra, who won their undercard fights with flashy knockouts.

Garcia, who pulled out of the main event last weekend to prepare for an August title fight, couldn’t have provided more excitement than Parillo or Ornelas, who drew a shower of dollar bills after their bouts.

Parillo, a 26-year-old super welterweight, hadn’t fought in seven months, but the rust didn’t show. After a cautious first round, he knocked down Miguel Rivas of Bell three times with vicious straight right hands. The bout was stopped after the last knockdown, with six seconds left in the round.

Parillo, a 1992 graduate of Villa Park High, turned professional three years ago, but he has had only five fights--all victories.

“I’ve been working, dealing with life,” Parillo said. “Life gave me a little detour but now I’m back on track.”

Parillo, fighting for the first time in front of his hometown fans, admitted to being a little nervous.

“I wanted to feel him out because I heard he was a strong guy with a good chin,” he said. “I didn’t want to get into a brawl. I wanted to box. But I have the killer instinct. As soon as I feel I have a guy hurt, I jump on him.”

Ornelas (5-0, two knockouts) hit the canvas for the first two times in his career, but he finished strong with a fourth-round knockout of Harold Lowe of Pacoima.

Ornelas, a 19-year-old super middleweight, put down Lowe in the first round and took control in the second round by staying outside and landing left jabs and right uppercuts. Late in the fourth round, Ornelas stopped Lowe with a left uppercut and overhand right.

Notes: Flyweight Jose Mulgado of Mexicali scored a 10-round split decision victory over Javier Varquez of Merida, Mexico in the main event. Promoter Roy Engelbrecht announced that North American Boxing Organization champion Marcos Licona will headline his Aug. 17 card at the Arrowhead Pond. Parillo and welterweight Roddy Grajeda, a 2000 Loara High graduate, will be on the undercard.