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

Published

5 years ago

July 25, 2019

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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David A. Avila

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Ramirez Outpoints Barthelemy and Vergil Ortiz Scores Another Fast KO in Fresno

Published

3 hours ago

April 27, 2024

David A. Avila

Ramirez-Outpoints-Barthelemy-and-Vergil-Ortiz-Scores-Another-Fast-KO-in-Fresno

Northern California favorite Jose Ramirez avoided an upset and knockout artist Vergil Ortiz destroyed his opponent on Saturday to set up a showdown with Australia’s power-punching Tim Tszyu.

After a 13-month layoff Ramirez (29-1, 18 KOs) shook off ring rust and avoided an upset by Cuba’s Rances Barthelemy (30-3-1, 15 KOs) in a battle between former world champions at Save Mart Center in Fresno.

It was Ramirez’s first bout under Golden Boy Promotions and he was nearly derailed by the slick counter-punching southpaw in the third and six rounds with laser left counters that connected every time. Though he was floored in the third round it was ruled a push down by referee Jack Reiss.

Fans gasped.

“He throws that left hand and I got hit with it in one round,” Ramirez said. “It motivated him.”

Once Ramirez figured out the remedy, he kept the fight inside and attacked the body and head. Barthelemy was unable to uncork one of his long lefts at close distance.

From the seventh round on the former super lightweight champion took control and kept the Cuban fighter against the ropes and unloaded shots to the body and head. He nearly forced a stoppage in the 11^th round.

Barthelemy survived but all three judges scored it big for Ramirez after 12 rounds: 119-109 twice and 118-110.

Vergil KOs Number 21

Knowing a win sets up a massive showdown against Aussie slugger Tim Tszyu, the Texas slugger Vergil Ortiz (21-0, 21 KOs) wasted no time in blasting out Puerto Rico’s Thomas Dulorme (26-7-1, 17 KOs) with a perfectly placed left hook to the body. Dulorme collapsed to the ground in agony.

Referee Tom Taylor stopped counting at 2:39 of the first round.

“It was a very calculated punch,” Ortiz said.

It was a commanding one round performance that sets up the showdown against the equally powerful Tszyu who despite losing a split decision to Sebastian Fundora last month by split decision, retains his reputation as a dangerous puncher.

Ortiz, who has 21 knockouts in 21 fights, will probably be fighting Tszyu in Los Angeles on June 1 if all negotiations go smoothly.

“Tim (Tszyu) I know you are watching the fight,” said Ortiz. “I’m ready. Let’s put on a great performance.”

Other Bouts

Oscar Duarte (27-2-1, 22 KOs) proved his knockout loss against Ryan Garcia would not stop him from improving as he defeated Jojo Diaz (33-6-1) by knockout at 2:32 of the ninth round in a super lightweight match. Referee Michael Margado wisely stopped the bludgeoning as a towel came flying in almost simultaneously.

It was the first time Diaz was ever defeated by knockout, though he never touched the canvas. It was also the first time Duarte trained with Robert Garcia and the difference was notable as he repeatedly walked through incoming fire and attacked the smaller fighter continuously.

“I want to fight the best in the world,” Duarte said.

Female Title Fight

A rematch battle for the flyweight championship saw Argentina’s Gabriela Alaniz (15-1) defeat Marlen Esparza (14-2) this time with a two-fisted attack to win by split decision after 10 rounds.

Esparza failed to make weight and walked in three pounds overweight and Alaniz took advantage to win the WBA, WBC, and WBO flyweight titles in the rematch. Once again the scores were puzzling but this time in favor of Alaniz 97-93, 96-94, and 92-98.

Alaniz now holds the WBO, WBA, WBC flyweight world titles.

Welterweights

Mexico’s Raul Curiel (15-0, 13 KOs) busted body shots on Jorge Marron Jr. (20-5-2) and floored him twice in the first round. The second body blow left Marron paralyzed and unable to continue at 1:31 of the first round as referee Thomas Taylor counted him out.

Curiel, who is managed by Frank Espinoza and son, proved he’s ready for the upper levels of the welterweight division.

“I think I’m ready for the bigger names,” Curiel said. “You see the results.”

Photo credit: Cris Esqueda / Golden Boy

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Avila Perspective, Chap. 282: Ryan’s Song, Golden Boy in Fresno and More

Published

2 days ago

April 26, 2024

David A. Avila

Avila Perspective, Chap. 282: Ryan’s Song, Golden Boy in Fresno and More

Don’t call it an upset.

Days after Ryan Garcia proved the experts wrong, those same experts are re-tooling their evaluation processes.

It’s mind-boggling to me that 95 percent thought Garcia had no chance. Hear me out.

First, Garcia and Haney fought six times as amateurs with each winning three. But this time with no head gear and smaller gloves, Garcia had to have at least a 50/50 chance of winning. He is faster and a more powerful puncher.

Facts.

Haney is a wonderful boxer with smooth, almost artistic movements. But history has taught us power and speed like Garcia’s can’t be discounted. Think way back to legendary fighters like Willie Pep and Sandy Sadler. All that excellent defensive skill could not prevent Sadler from beating Pep in three of their four meetings.

Power has always been an equalizer against boxing skill.

Ben Lira, one of the wisest and most experienced trainers in Southern California, always professed knockout power was the greatest equalizer in a fight. “You can be behind for nine rounds and one punch can change the outcome,” he said.

Another weird theory spreading before the fight was that Garcia would quit in the fight. That was a puzzling one. Getting stopped by a perfect body shot is not quitting. And that punch came from Gervonta “Tank” Davis who can really crack.

So how did Garcia do it?

In the opening round Ryan Garcia timed Devin Haney’s jab and countered with a snapping left hook that rattled and wobbled the super lightweight champion. After that, Garcia forced Haney to find another game plan.

Garcia and trainer Derrick James must have worked hours on that move.

I must confess that I first saw Garcia’s ability many years ago when he was around 11 or 12. So I do have an advantage regarding his talent. A few things I noticed even back then were his speed and power. Also, that others resented his talent but respected him. He was the guy with everything: talent and looks.

And that brings resentment.

Recently I saw him and his crew rapping a song on social media. Now he’s got a song. Next thing you know Hollywood will be calling and he’ll be in the movies. It’s happened before with fighters such as Art Aragon, the first Golden Boy in the 50s. He was dating movie stars and getting involved with starlets all over Hollywood.

Is history repeating itself or is Garcia creating a new era for boxing?

Since 2016 people claimed he was just a social media creation. Now, after his win over Devin Haney a former undisputed lightweight champion and the WBC super lightweight titleholder, the boxer from the high desert area of Victorville has become one of the highest paid fighters in the world.

Ryan Garcia has entered a new dimension.

Golden Boy Season

After several down years the Los Angeles-based company Golden Boy Promotions suddenly is cracking the whip in 2024.

Avila

Vergil Ortiz Jr. (20-0, 20 KOs) returns to the ring and faces Puerto Rico’s Thomas Dulorme (26-6-1, 17 KOs) a welterweight gatekeeper who lost to Jaron “Boots” Ennis and Eimantas Stanionis. They meet as super welterweights in the co-main event at Save Mart Arena in Fresno, Calif. on Saturday, April 27. DAZN will stream the Golden Boy Promotions card live.

It’s a quick return to action for Ortiz who is still adjusting to the new weight division. His last fight three months ago ended in less than one round in Las Vegas. It was cut short by an antsy referee and left Ortiz wanting more after more than a year of inactivity in the prize ring.

Ortiz has all the weapons.

Also, Northern California’s Jose Carlos Ramirez (28-1, 18 KOs) meets Cuba’s Rances Barthelemy (30-2-1, 15 KOs) in a welterweight affair set for 12 rounds.

It’s difficult to believe that former super lightweight titlist Ramirez has been written off by fans after only one loss. That was several years ago against Scotland’s Josh Taylor. One loss does not mean the end of a career.

“My goal is to get back on top and to get all those belts back. I still feel like I am one of the best 140-pounders in the division,” said Ramirez who lives in nearby Avenal, Calif.

An added major attraction features Marlen Esparza in a unification rematch against Gabriela “La Chucky” Alaniz for the WBA, WBC, WBO flyweight titles. Their first fight was

a controversial win by Esparza that saw one judge give her nine of 10 rounds in a very close fight. Those Texas judges.

In a match that could steal the show, Oscar Duarte (26-2-1, 21 KOs) faces former world champion Jojo Diaz (33-5-1, 15 KOs) in a lightweight match.

Munguia and Canelo

Don’t sleep on this match.

Its current Golden Boy fighter Jaime Munguia facing former Golden Boy fighter Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in a battle between Mexico’s greatest sluggers next week at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on May 4.

“I think Jaime Munguia is going to do something special in the ring,” said Oscar De La Hoya, the CEO for Golden Boy.

Tijuana’s Munguia showed up at the Wild Card Boxing gym in Hollywood where a throng of media from Mexico and the US met him.

Munguia looked confident and happy about his opportunity to fight great Canelo.

“It’s a hard fight,” said Munguia. “Truth is, its big for Mexico and not only for Mexicans but for boxing.”

Fights to Watch

Fri. DAZN 6 p.m. Yoeniz Tellez (7-0) vs Joseph Jackson (19-0).

Sat. DAZN 9:30 a.m. Peter McGrail (8-1) vs Marc Leach (18-3-1); Beatriz Ferreira (4-0) vs Yanina Del Carmen 14-3).

Sat. DAZN 5 p.m. Vergil Ortiz (20-0) vs Thomas Dulorme (26-6-1); Jose Carlos Ramirez (28-1) vs Rances Barthelemy (30-2-1); Marlen Esparza (14-1) vs Gabriela Alaniz (14-1).

Photo credit: Cris Esqueda / Golden Boy Promotions

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Ramon Cardenas Channels Micky Ward and KOs Eduardo Ramirez on ProBox

Published

3 days ago

April 24, 2024

Arne K. Lang

Ramon-Cardenas-Channels-Micky-Ward-and-KOs-Eduardo-Ramirez-on-ProBox

The Wednesday night bi-monthly series of fights on the ProBox TV platform is the best deal in boxing; the livestream is free with no strings attached! Tonight’s episode was headlined by a super bantamweight match between San Antonio’s Ramon Cardenas and Eduardo Ramirez who brought a caravan of rooters from his hometown in Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico.

Cardenas, coached by Joel Diaz, entered the contest ranked #4 by the WBA. He was expected to handle Ramirez with little difficulty, but this was a close, tactical fight through eight frames when lightning struck in the form of a left hook to the liver from Cardenas. Ramirez went down on one knee and wasn’t able to beat the count. It was as if Cardenas summoned the ghost of Micky Ward who had a penchant for terminating fights with the same punch that arrived out of the blue.

The official time was 1:37 of round nine. Cardenas improved to 25-1 with his14th win inside the distance. Ramirez, who was stopped in the opening round by Nick “Wrecking” Ball in London in his lone previous fight outside Mexico, falls to 23-3-3.

Co-Feature

In an upset, Tijuana super welterweight Damian Sosa won a split decision over previously undefeated Marques Valle, a local area fighter who was stepping up in class in his first 10-round go. Sosa was the aggressor, repeatedly backing his taller opponent into the ropes where Valle was unable to get good leverage behind his punches.

The 25-year-old Valle, managed by the influential David McWater, was the house fighter. This was his 10^th appearance in this building. He brought a 10-0 (7) record and was hoping to emulate the success of his younger brother Dominic Valle who scored a second-round stoppage of his opponent in this ring two weeks ago, improving to 9-0. But Sosa, who brought a 24-2 record, proved to be a bridge too high.

The judges had it 97-93 and 96-94 for the Tijuana invader and a disgraceful 98-92 for the house fighter.

Also

In a fight whose abrupt ending would be echoed by the main event, 34-year-old SoCal featherweight Ronny Rios, now training in Las Vegas, returned to the ring after a 22-month hiatus and scored a fifth-round stoppage over Nicolas Polanco of the Dominican Republic.

A three-punch combo climaxed by a left hook to the liver took the breath out of Polanco who slumped to his knees and was counted out. A two-time world title challenger, Rios advanced to 34-4 (17 KOs). Polanco, 34, declined to 21-6-1. The official time was 0:54 of round five.

—

The next ProBox show (Wednesday, May 8) will have an international cast with fighters from Kazakhstan, Japan, Mongolia, and the United Kingdom. In the main event, Liverpool’s Robbie Davies Jr will make his U.S. debut against the California-based Kazakh Sergey Lipinets.

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