Super middleweight Ali Akhmedov stopped Paul Valenzuela in the opening round late Friday night at the Quiet Cannon in Montebello, California.

Akhmedov, who is originally from Almaty, Kazakhstan and now resides in the Los Angeles suburb of Venice, improves to 18-1, 14 knockouts.

The hard-hitting Akhmedov fought less than three months ago, winning by knockout after David Zegarra did not come out for round 4. That fight also took place at the Quiet Cannon in Montebello.

Valenzuela, who lost by unanimous decision to D’Mitrius Ballard in his previous fight on November 13, spent most of round 1 grappling and holding onto Akhmedov. Referee Thomas Taylor warned Valenzuela that he would deduct points or just disqualify him for holding onto Akhmedov.

The tactic worked as Valenzuela began to engage more. Moments later, a sweeping left hook by Akhmedov to the head dropped Valenzuela to the canvas, next to the ring ropes. Taylor saw enough and waved the fight over.

Akhmedov, who is promoted by Tom Loeffler, has won his last two fights since losing by knockout to Carlos Gongora of Ecuador on December 18 of last year.

Valenzuela, who resides in Santa Rosalia, Mexico, drops to 26-11 1 NC, 17 KOs. 

In the main event, junior lightweight Adrian Corona of Rialto, California defeated gatekeeper Jesus Perez by majority decision. 

One judge scored the bout 57-57, while the other two judges scored the bout 58-56 for Corona, who improves to 9-0, 2 KOs. The 21-year-old is the son of California referee Ray Corona. 

Perez, who resides in Culiacan, Mexico, drops to 13-13-1, 8 KOs.

Cruiserweight Marco Deckmann (7-1, 6 KOs) needed only 35 seconds of the opening round to stop Santario Martin (4-6, 2 KOs). Deckmann, who is originally from Germany and now resides in North Hollywood, California, is trained by Freddie Roach.

Middleweight Eric Priest remained unbeaten, defeating Jamarcus Warren (2-4-1, 1 KO) of Tyler, Texas by unanimous decision. All three judges scored the bout 40-36 for Priest, who resides in Los Angeles and improves to 6-0, 4 KOs.

Amateur standout and junior middleweight Callum Walsh had a successful pro debut, stopping Earl Henry (0-5-1) of San Diego at 37 seconds of the opening round. Walsh was born and raised in Cork, Ireland and now resides in the Los Angeles suburb of Riverside. 

The ‘Hollywood Fight Nights’ card was stream live on BXNGTV.

Francisco A. Salazar has written for BoxingScene since September 2012 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He can be reached by email at santio89@yahoo.com or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing