Roy Englebrecht, a.k.a. "The King of So Cal Fight Promoters," has another special lined up for Thursday's "Battle in the Ballroom" boxing card at the Irvine Marriott.

Prego Ristorante is offering a special priced Battle in the Ballroom Gourmet Three Course Dinner before Thursday's show gets started. Contact Prego Ristorante for reservations and mention the Battle in the Ballroom special.

The card starts with three amateur heavyweight bouts at 6:45 p.m. Joe Hanks (8-0) and Ashanti Jordan (10-0) hook up in the main event for the unofficial California heavyweight championship. Go online at battleintheballroom.com for tickets ($32-$40).

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Promoter Roy Englebrecht has super-sized the next Battle in the Ballroom card on June 11 at the Irvine Marriott.

Englebrecht promised to include at least one heavyweight bout on all future Battle in the Ballroom cards, but he has three heavyweight fights lined up for this show.

Former Idaho power forward Lionel Davis, a 6-7, 255-pounder, and Scott Alexander, a 6-3, 235-pounder, are scheduled to make their pro debuts in separate bouts and the return of Joe Hanks, a 6-4, 236-pounder, who impressed the Mariott crowd with a dominating win over Lawson Baker on April 8.

Highly-touted prospect Hugo "The Boss" Centeno of Oxnard is back after knocking out John Dunham in the second round of his pro debut on April 8.

Finland's Mia Etelapelto, who trains with Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Gym, takes on Atlanta's Mia Henderson in a matchup of two top female amateurs making their pro debuts.

There are also three amateur heavyweight bouts, featuring former Notre Dame power forward Dennis Latimore, a 6-8, 249-pounder, former Cal State Northridge power forward Chris Davis, a 6-7, 256-pounder, and former Northern Colorado quarterback Dominic Breazeale, a 6-7, 272-pounder.

The amateur bouts start when the doors open at 6:30 p.m. Go online at www.battleintheballroom.com for tickets ($32-$40).

A number of former world champions have made their pro debuts at the Irvine Marriott's "Battle in the Ballroom," including Genaro "Chicanito" Hernandez, Johnny Tapia, Carlos "Famoso" Hernandez, "Mighty" Mike Anchondo and Sergio Mora.

Could Hugo "The Boss" Centeno Jr. be the next one?

Centeno, a former Jr. Olympic, National Silver Gloves, National PAL and Jr. Golden Gloves champion with a 90-10 amateur record, signed a seven-fight contract with Newport Beach promoter Roy Englebrecht and will make his pro debut at "The Battle in the Ballroom" on April 8 at the Irvine Marriott.

"As a club promoter you don't very often have the opportunity to sign a great amateur boxer, as they are normally swept up by the big guys," Englebrecht said. "But I feel very fortunate that Hugo and his manager Robert Lewis III have chosen to sign a seven-bout promotional contract with me, and that I can help launch his pro career. Hugo has all the tools, both inside and outside the ring, to achieve greattness ... a great work ethic, greatt amateur experience, a great smile and a great attitude."

Centeno, who is trained by his father Hugo Centeno Sr., is a senior at Oxnard High.

"The feeling is surreal and exciting at the same time," Centeno Jr. said. "I feel blessed because not a lot of people get to say that they are professional athletes. Being part of Roy Englebrecht's promotions company is a dream come true and the fight fans at Roy's shows can always expect a great performance from me. I will earn their respect and become the people's choice."

Tickets, priced $32-$40, for the April 8 card are available online at battleintheballroom.com.

Highly-touted middleweight Craig McEwan, who is one of Golden Boy Promotions' prized prospects, takes on Pomona's Ivan "Sitting Bull" Stovall in the main event of a six-bout "Battle in the Ballroom" card on Feb. 19 at the Irvine Marriott.

The card kicks off the 25th year of the popular boxing series. Opening night will also feature the induction of the first four boxers into the inaugural Battle in the Ballroom Hall of Fame. Genaro "Chicanito" Hernandez, Freddie Roach, Johnny Vasquez and John Montes will be the first inductees. The Irvine Marriott's first promoter, Don Fraser, will be inducted in the non-boxer category.

McEwan, a southpaw originally from Edinburgh, Scotland, who now makes his home in Hollywood, brings a record of 12-0 with seven KOs, while Stovall is 10-2 with seven KOs.

Female star Rhonda Luna (13-1-1, 1 KO) of Rowland Heights goes up against Tammy "The Tigress" Franks (2-6-1). Luna is coming off a victory over Kina Malpartida in November.

Welterweight "Mad" Max Skayzer (5-0-1, 1 KO) of West Covina puts his unbeaten record on the line against Mexican veteran Francisco Rios Gil (13-9, 9 KOs).

In the other bouts on the card, Arquimedez Garcia (1-0) of Santa Ana faces Cesar Garcia (1-3), middleweight Ayo Olorunsola makes his pro debut against Terrell Hendrix (2-0) and newcomers Ramon Camacho of La Habra and Scott Rose of Carlsbad make their pro debuts against each other.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and first bell is at 7:30 p.m. Go online at battleintheballroom.com for tickets ($32-$40).

IRVINE - Santa Ana's Luis Ramos and Ronny Rios got the chance to fight in front of their local fans at the "Battle in the Ballroom" on Thursday night at the Irvine Marriott, and the two highly-decorated amateur stars didn't disappoint.

Ramos (9-0, 5 KOs) pounded out a six-round unanimous decision over Justo Vallecillo (5-8, 2 KOs) of San Antonio, Tex., to claim the Battle in the Ballroom lightweight belt.

Ramos, a southpaw, showed off his slick technical skills, combinations and body punches as he swept every round on all three of the judges' scorecards.

Ramos had Vallecillo hurt on a number of occasions, but each time the tough Texan fired back and showed a tremendous chin.

"I'm still a baby in this sport," Ramos said. "I'm learning every time I go in there."

Rios needed less than two minutes to dispatch Fermin Perez in his pro debut on Oct. 25, but Carlos Luque (0-2) of Tucson, Ariz., extended the 122-pound prospect the distance.

Rios won every round on two of the judges cards, while the third judge had it even to give Rios a four-round majority decision victory.

"I'm not pleased with my performance," Rios said. "I know I can do better."

Rios' trainer, Hector Lopez, said he plans to keep Rios busy with 6-8 fights in 2009.

Featherweight Abraham Lopez (5-0, 4 KOs) of Santa Ana scored a spectacular second-round kayo over Manuel Sarabia (16-28-9) of Coachella.

Lopez took his time sizing up Sarabia in the first round, then moved in for the kill in the second stanza.

Lopez dropped Sarabia with a hard right to the body. Sarabia beat the count, but Lopez was waiting. Lopez connected a right hook and a left uppercut that sent Sarabia crumbling to the canvas at 2:59 of the second round.

Lightweight Arquimedez Garcia (1-0-1, 1 KOs) of Santa Ana landed a right hook that knocked Francisco Solis (0-1) of Oxnard down and out at 1:42 of the second round.

Bantamweight Johanna Tangaro (2-0) of Coachella pounded out a unanimous decision over Carley Batey (4-4-2) of San Diego in a four-round women's bout. Tangaro swept every round on all three of the judges' scorecards.

Angel Magdaleno (1-0-2) of Las Vegas and Ludwin Mondragon (0-1) of Santa Ana kicked off the card with an excellent super-flyweight scrap.

Magdaleno had a slight edge over Mondragon on the judges' scorecards, 39-37 (three times), to take the four-round slugfest by unanimous decision. Mondragon might have lost, but he turned ina  valiant effort in defeat.

PHOTOS BY KEVIN SULLIVAN/O.C. REGISTER

RELATED LINKS:

• VIDEO: Luis Ramos highlights, post-fight interview
• VIDEO: Ronny Rios highlights, post-fight interview
• ‘Battle in the Ballroom’ ring card girls