The Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez has been synonymous with boxing over the last 15 years.
In an area known for tourism and wine country, some of the best fights in the sport have taken place at Chumash.
Promoter Tom Loeffler hopes to bring back the atmosphere of big fights to the Central Coast. A fight card he is promoting will take place Saturday night.
Unbeaten junior middleweight contender Serhii Bohachuk will face Patrick Allotey. The 10-round bout will headline a 360 Boxing Promotions card that will stream live on UFC Fight Pass at 6 p.m.
Fight cards promoted by Gary Shaw that aired live on Showtime and ESPN took place three or four times a year at the Chumash Casino Resort. After Shaw stepped away from the sport, coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic, there were no high-profile cards at Chumash.
Promoter Matt McGovern has promoted smaller club-level fight cards, including the last one in April.
Loeffler, who has promoted the likes of Gennadiy Golovkin, brothers Vitaly and Wladimir Klitschko and “Sugar” Shane Mosley, believes he can begin a new era of top-fight cards in Santa Ynez. While he has promoted fight cards that have aired on HBO and has recently promoted fight cards at the Quiet Cannon in Montebello and the Commerce Casino in Commerce, Saturday will mark his first promotion at Chumash.
“We’re really excited about this show,” Loeffler said at an open workout last Saturday. “Chumash has such a great history of having world-class boxing there. That’s why we put together this show. We have Serhii Bohachuk, (ranked) No. 2 in the world by the WBC (World Boxing Council) defending his Continental Americas title against Patrick Allotey. That’s a great matchup. We have a great (undercard). We’re excited to do our first show at Chumash Casino. I’ve been up there many times. Being on UFC Fight Pass, it’ll definitely give this show a lot of exposure.
“We’re based in Los Angeles, but Chumash is very close to us. I’ve been up there a number of times, not only for boxing, but for the casino, and we’re excited to have developed a relationship with them and we’re looking forward to going back again to promote more world-class fights at Chumash.”
Bohachuk (22-1, 22 knockouts), who is originally from Ukraine and now lives in Los Angeles, last fought on Jan. 27, knocking out former contender Nathaniel Gallimore in the sixth round. Bohachuk has won his last four bouts since losing by knockout to Brandon Adams in March 2021, when he was ahead on the scorecards at the time of the stoppage.
The 28-year-old has been promoted by Loeffler since 2017.
Allotey (42-4, 32 KOs) has not fought since March 26, 2022, defeating Hamisi Maya by knockout in his hometown of Accra, Ghana. Allotey has won his last two bouts since losing to then-WBO world junior middleweight titleholder Jaime Munguia. The 32-year-old lost by decision to Oxnard resident Kanat Islam in October 2016.
In the co-feature, Omar Cande Trinidad (12-0-1, 9 KOs) of East Los Angeles will square off against Temecula’s Roberto Meza (15-3-1, 8 KOs) in an eight-round bout.
In a compelling clash of unbeaten light heavyweights, Umar Dzambekov (5-0, 4 KOs) of Austria will face Baltimore’s Kwame Ritter (10-0, 8 KOs) in an eight-round bout.
Sacramento resident Cain Sandoval (9-0, 9 KOs) will square off against Jose Marruffo (14-11-2, 2 KOs) in an eight-round lightweight bout.
Amateur standout Daniel Barrera (2-0-1, 2 KOs) of Riverside will face Eduardo Alvarez (0-2-1) of Long Beach in a six-round bout.
Tickets start at $55, with ringside priced at $105. Tickets can be purchased through ChumashCasino.com or by calling 800-248-6274.
Doors open at 5 p.m., with preliminary action beginning at 5:15. The ceremonial weigh-in will take place Friday at 5 p.m. and will be open to the public.
Credit: Yahoo Sports
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