Avila Perspective, Chap. 57: Bohachuk, Dadashev, Tevin Farmer and More

Avila Perspective, Chap. 57: Bohachuk, Dadashev, Tevin Farmer and More

Living in the sunny clime of Southern California has its benefits. But often overlooked, due to the super nova presence of the motion picture and music industries, is the sport of professional boxing.

It was in the Los Angeles area that the greatness of Gennady “Triple G” Golovkin was finally uncovered after years spent in Germany under a blanket of anonymity.

Now Triple G basks in the glow of recognition. Who will be next?

Tom Loeffler, the promotional genius behind Golovkin’s ascent to the top of the boxing world, has another fighter from Eastern Europe named Serhii Bohachuk (14-0, 14 KOs) who fights Fernando Marin (16-3-3, 12 KOs) on Sunday June 28, at the Avalon Theater in Hollywood. The fight card starts at 4 p.m. and can be seen at this link: www.360Promotions.us

Could Bohachuk (pictured) be the next Triple G?

“We believe Serhii is ready to take the next step in the super welterweight division and on Sunday night he’ll prove that he is the fastest rising star at 154lbs,” said Loeffler who guided Golovkin to success and hopes for similar results with Bohachuk.

You only get one Golovkin. It’s similar to winning the lottery, but it can be done.

Bohachuk, 24, has faced 14 foes and knocked out 14 of them. He doesn’t have a physique like Golovkin, but those skinny arms pack whip-like strength a la Tommy “Hit Man” Hearns. Opposing the Ukrainian, nicknamed “El Flaco” by his trainer Abel Sanchez, is Fernando Marin (16-3-3, 12 KOs), a 31-year-old slugger from Mexico.

“I like fighting in Hollywood,” said Bohachuk while at a media day in South El Monte on Monday. “Abel and Ben (Lira) tell me to be patient, not to go for the knockout, but just to keep the pressure on my opponent and use the skills I have to set up the stoppage. I know how tough and heavy-handed Marin is so I have to fight smart, listen to Abel and Ben and I believe I’ll be successful on Sunday night.”

The last time the rail thin super welterweight from Vinitza, Ukraine entered the ring he faced Mexican fighter Freddy Hernandez, a veteran of 44 pro fights including wins over Alfredo Angulo, Luis Collazo and Mike Anchondo. It took five rounds for Bohachuk to burst the defensive bubble of Hernandez and win by knockout.

Bohachuk said he’s followed the careers of his fellow Ukrainians Vasyl Lomachenko and Oleksandr Usyk but when he arrived on the Ukrainian amateur team they had already departed.

But he does know Golovkin and what it took for him to reach success. And when asked if he can reach that too he simply smiles. Bohachuk’s ascent could prove to be very similar to Triple G’s.

Others on the Sunday fight card include Marco Deckman, Mario Ramos and Elvis Garcia Munoz.

R.I.P Max Dadashev and Hugo Alfredo Santillan

Prizefighting took a massive hit from the passing of Max Dadashev who succumbed to a brain bleed suffered after his fight last week.

In a week that saw Manny Pacquiao experience one of his most memorable wins against the classy Keith Thurman in Las Vegas, sadly we also saw Russia’s Dadashev lose his life in pursuit of his world championship dream while in a title eliminator in Maryland.

Dadashev was one of many from Russia who moved to Southern California three years ago to train and fight in one of the busiest boxing areas in the world. The first time I saw him in the boxing ring was during his second pro fight on May 2016.

On the same Top Rank card in Studio City, Dadashev fought alongside Andy Ruiz Jr. and Saul Rodriguez at the Sportsmans Lodge. He exhibited a smooth boxing style and for the next three years showed a tremendous heart in the eight subsequent times I saw him enter the boxing ring.

Prizefighting demands an extreme amount of courage, dedication and determination. Only a small percentage of human beings are capable of enduring the life of a prizefighter.

Over the years while sitting ringside I’ve witnessed many lose their life while in pursuit of their world title dreams. Their names I will never forget: Kiko Bejines, Jimmy Garcia, Pedro Alcazar, and Leavander Johnson.

One last goodbye to our young Russian boxing brother Dadashev.

Sadly, today, Argentina’s Hugo Alfredo Santillan passed away five days after a fight in San Nicholas, Argentina that ended in a split draw. Santillan was 23 years old and lived in Santa Fe, Argentina.

Three Fight Cards in a Row

Beginning on Friday July 26, the greater Los Angeles area hosts back-to-back-to-back fight cards. If you prefer watching prizefighting live this is a good week.

Ontario

First, Santa Monica’s 21-year-old Ruben “Ace” Torres (9-0, 7 KOs) returns after an impressive showing last May in a battle of undefeated super lightweights at the Ontario Doubletree Hotel. Thompson Boxing Promotions will stage the fight card pitting Torres against former world title challenger Ruben Tamayo (27-13-4, 18 KOs) who has spoiled many a fighter’s dreams of world championships.

“I expect he (Tamayo) is going to give me a lot of different looks and different angles,” said Torres. “

Thompson Boxing always seems to find those hidden nuggets in the boxing world that become world champions. Could Torres be the next Danny Roman who holds the WBA and IBF super bantamweight world titles?

The fight card can be seen at this link: ThompsonBoxing.com

Montebello

On Saturday, July 27, All Star Boxing hosts a boxing card at the Quiet Cannon in Montebello, Calif. Among those participating will be welterweights Vlad Panin, Martin Saldana and Arthur Saakyan.

Ed Holmes the promoter has been putting on extremely entertaining shows at that venue for decades. More than a few future champs fought on his cards including Murat Gassiev, Mariana Juarez, Isaac Dogboe and others.

The Quiet Cannon is located on a golf course and has been a prime spot for prizefighting for decades. Celebrities often attend the fight cards here because of the easy access from the 60-Freeway.

Doors open at 7 p.m. For more information call 323 816-6200.

Hollywood

On Sunday, 360 Promotions returns to the Avalon Theater in Hollywood with undefeated super welterweight prospect Serhii Bohachuk versus Fernando Marin. The theater is located on Vine Avenue near Hollywood Boulevard. Start time is 4 p.m.

World Title Fights

For those opposed to facing the heat of summer or the crunch of traffic, several key fights can be watched via television or streaming.

World champions collide in the super lightweight division when WBO titlist Maurice Hooker meets WBC titlist Jose Carlos Ramirez on Saturday, July 27, in Arlington, Texas.  The unification title fight will be streamed by DAZN.com.

Hooker (26-0-3, 17 KOs) returns to his native Texas and has been the underdog in a number of recent fights. Since escaping with a split draw against Darleys Perez in 2016 he’s run off consecutive wins over Terry Flanagan, Alex Saucedo, and Mikkel LesPierre. And winning the world title seems to have added hip to his hop. He’s confident about facing the pressure style of Mexican-American fighter Ramirez.

“There’s a lot of fighters in and around San Diego, we’re down the street from Mexico so we can get fighters in with that Mexican style,” said Hooker, 29, who trains with Vince Parra in San Diego, Calif. “We drive to LA, Big Bear and Las Vegas and get great work as we’re right in the middle of that.”

Ramirez, 26, is equally confident and prepared. The California prizefighter is the visiting champion but eager for the test.

“Maurice wanted the fight in his hometown so it was up to me to accept those terms and I did,” said Ramirez. “When two fighters really want a fight and the promoter gives you the green light, there’s nothing to stop the big fights from being made. It just takes a little encouragement from your team. It’s a great fight for everyone involved.”

Also on the same card IBF super featherweight titlist Tevin Farmer defends against Guillaume Frenois.

Gervonta

Meanwhile, in Baltimore, WBA super featherweight titlist Gervonta Davis defends against Panama’s Ricardo Nunez in a match that pits two fighters not accustomed to going more than three rounds. Both pack power. Davis hopes a victory leads to a clash with Farmer soon.

“I am definitely open for 130-pound title unifications. I believe I haven’t done enough at 130. I would say I have about three or four more opponents that are champs at 130 that I want,” said Davis. Go to this link: https://s.sho.com/2JMHHwi

Fights to Watch

(All times Pacific Coast Time)

Fri. Telemundo, 11:35 p.m. Mauricio Pintor (21-3-1) vs Edson Ramirez (18-3-1)

Sat. Showtime on YouTube.com, 3 p.m. Gervonta Davis vs Ricardo Nunez

Sat. DAZN.com, 6 p.m. Maurice Hooker (26-0-3) vs Jose Carlos Ramirez (24-0); Tevin Farmer (29-4-1) vs Guillaume Frenois (46-1-1).

Photo credit: Alonzo Coston

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