Tom Loeffler’s 360 Promotions wrapped up a stellar year with a fully packed Hollywood Fight Nights, touted as boxing’s finest monthly event, at the Chumash Casino Resort this past Friday. The crowd was on their feet, wouldn’t you be too, with knockout performances lighting up the night?
Kazak middleweight contender Sadriddin Akhmedov, along with super lightweight Olympian Karlos Balderas, both delivered knockouts, adding some serious heat to the chilly evening. And let’s not overlook the 19-year-old Perla Bazaldua, who stormed into her pro career in the women’s super flyweight fight with a victory that surely had fans streaming from all corners of the globe on UFC Fight Pass.
Tom Loeffler beamed, “Thanks to all the fans for packing the house once again at Chumash Casino and to those tuning in globally.” He reminisced about a year filled with ten massive events, spanning from the iconic Madison Square Garden to Dublin’s 3Arena, and of course, their home turf in Southern California. “Each knockout and debut tonight just caps off our incredible run this year,” he added.
The night’s headline fight saw Sadriddin Akhmedov stay unbeaten, halting Nigerian veteran Raphael Igbokwe with a barrage of unrelenting punches in the seventh round. Did you catch that relentless attack? Trained by the famed Abel Sanchez, Akhmedov showcased a robust strategy, persisting despite Igbokwe’s clever counters. The stoppage came after a relentless flurry to Igbokwe’s head and body, marking Akhmedov as a fighter you just can’t miss.
Karlos Balderas, returning to fight in his home state, did not disappoint his legion of fans. Under the guidance of Robert Garcia, Balderas showcased a diverse skill set, overwhelming Colombian veteran Cesar Villarraga with precision punches before dropping him in the sixth round with a sharp right hand. Villarraga beat the count but couldn’t continue, ending the fight in dramatic fashion.
Fresh on the pro scene, Perla Bazaldua didn’t waste a minute showing her mettle. The young fighter, trained by Manny Robles, knocked down Mollie Backowski with a fierce left hook and finished the fight in the first round. With 15 national amateur titles under her belt, Bazaldua’s transition to the pros has fans talking—is she the next big thing in women’s boxing?
The card also featured a welterweight clash that had everyone talking. Jorge Maravillo and Damoni Cato-Cain threw down in an eight-round fight that ended in a draw, leaving fans debating who really had the edge. Meanwhile, super featherweight Angel Carrillo kept his record clean with a unanimous decision over Joshua Torres.
Closing the night, featherweight newcomers Fidencio Hernandez and Josephat Navarro squared off in a spirited battle, with Hernandez taking a unanimous decision.
All Results:
- Sadriddin Akhmedov triumphed with a TKO over Raphael Igbokwe in round seven.
- Karlos Balderas wowed the crowd with a knockout win in round six against Cesar Villarraga.
- Perla Bazaldua made a knockout debut in the very first round.
- Jorge Maravillo and Damoni Cato-Cain battled to a gripping draw.
- Angel Carrillo secured another win today
