HOLLYWOOD, Ca.-Hollywood has long been called a dream factory for aspiring actors, directors and film makers and a long time ago it also produced prizefighters.

After a near 60-year absence, a new prizefighting factory has resurfaced and a few sterling prospects have emerged including a young firebrand from Ukraine named Serhii Bohachuk.

A boisterous crowd of more than 400 packed the Avalon Theater to see Bohachuk (15-0, 15 KOs) overwhelm Mexico’s rugged Fernando Marin (16-4-3, 12 KOs) by knockout on Sunday evening. It was a one-sided victory but showed the kid called “El Flaco” could be ready for another level.

It was Bohachuk’s 15^th knockout in 15 fights.

Long ago, about a mile away from the Avalon Theater was a boxing arena called the Hollywood Legion Stadium that housed prizefights for more than 40 years. Many boxing stars performed in that venue in front of movie stars like Ann Miller, George Raft and Douglas Fairbanks.

360 Promotions has led the resurgence with a few sterling prospects exploding on the boxing scene like Bohachuk and Brian Ceballo a former New York Golden Glove winner who wowed his hometown crowd at Madison Square Garden this past June. Ceballo out-classed the dangerous Bakhtiyar Eyubov to cruise to victory at Madison Square Garden in a showcase welterweight fight. He was present on Sunday evening to watch one of his 360 Promotions teammates.

Now the California promotion company has Bohachuk itching to join Ceballo on the national stage.

Bohachuk, 24, doesn’t have that California glow from days spent on the beach. He’s quite the opposite and looks like he seldom comes out to catch rays from the sun. But when he opens up against opposition you could swear you see sparks flying and smoke emanating from the guys he punches.

Mexico’s Marin has a concrete chin and it was on display for the fans. Bohachuk battered the fighter from Aguascalientes with a murderous array of uppercuts, overhand rights and left hooks that would have felled a rhinoceros. It was at times frightening to watch especially this past week with two prizefighters from different parts of the world dying after sustaining blows in the boxing ring.

Final , at 1:25 of the third round, referee Rudy Barragan halted the bludgeoning. Though Marin never touched the canvas it was a severe beating delivered by Bohachuk. It was also proof that the exuberant Ukrainian super welterweight might be ready for contender status.

Other Bouts

Adrian Corona (6-0, 1 KO) gained his first win by knockout with a steady pummeling of Mexico’s taller Francisco Camacho (7-12-1). A left hook finished the job at 2:24 of the sixth and final round of their super featherweight bout. Corona gained the upper hand for good in the fourth round and the fight was nearly stopped in the fifth, but somehow Camacho survived. He did not survive the sixth when Corona cornered him and connected with a left hook that forced referee Zachary Young to halt the fight.

Cruiserweight Marco Deckmann (3-0) knocked out Keith Berry (2-3) with an overhand right at 1:37 of the second round. Deckmann had problems with Berry’s hard charging attack in the opening frame but settled into a groove and took over the fight behind his jab.

Mario Ramos (9-0) remained undefeated by winning a majority decision over Emmanuel Castro (26-1) in a lightweight battle between southpaws, but he was nearly stopped before the end of the sixth and final round. Castro connected multiple times in the last two rounds and had Ramos severely wobbled in the sixth round. Somehow Ramos stayed on his feet and that helped him gain the win by majority decision in a fight much closer than the scores tallied. One judge scored it 57-57 while the other two saw it 59-55 and 58-56 for Ramos.

Andre Marquez (1-1) defeated Lucnor Diserne (0-4-1) by decision after four rounds in a featherweight match.

Humberto Rubalcava (11-1) won by unanimous decision after six rounds in a lightweight clash with Luis Javier Valdes (5-3-1).

In a brutal battle, Riverside’s Donte Stubbs (3-0) pulled out a victory over Francisco Alfaro (0-3) by unanimous decision after four middleweight rounds. Alfaro attacked the body mercilessly throughout the four-round battle, but apparently the judges preferred the counter pot shots by Stubbs who lost his mouthpiece twice in the fight. All three judges scored it 39-37 for Stubbs.

The search for the next Mexican heavyweight champion saw Elvis Garcia manage a majority decision over Hugo Trujillo after six close rounds. Both showed quick hands but Garcia was the sharper puncher. Trujillo managed to stay in the fight by staying busy as Garcia paused often. One judge scored it 57-57 while two other judges scored it 59-55 and 58-56 for Garcia who trains with Joel Diaz in Indio.

A super bantamweight battle saw Alexander Enriquez (11-0-3) win by unanimous decision over Ricardo Cuellar (5-4) after six rounds.

Photo credit: Al Applerose

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