By Francisco Salazar

CARSON, Calif. - Strawweight Louisa Hawton stopped Lorraine Villalobos at the end of the fifth round. With the win, Hawton (9-2, 4 KOs) won an interim world title belt. Both fighters had their moments early in the fight, with the shorter Villalobos (2-2) finding success on the inside.

By round three, Hawton's punches began taking their toll on Villalobos. Hawton relied on her speed to outbox and outslug Villalobos, who looked worse for wear in round five.

Rather than send her out to receive further punishment in round six, Villalobos' corner told referee Jack Reiss to stop the fight. 

Middleweight Serhii Bohachuk (12-0, 12 KOs) battered Carlos Hernandez until the fight was stopped in round six. Hernandez (15-20-2, 12 KOs) was game, but Bohachuk kept breaking him down in each round, drilling him with repeated hooks and uppercuts to the head and body.

Hernandez finally went down from an accumulation of punches, prompting referee Thomas Taylor to stop the fight at 1:44. 

Junior flyweight Shokichi Iwata had a successful pro debut, stopping Joel Bermudez in the fourth round. Iwata, who signed a promotional deal with Teiken Promotions, dropped Bermudez with a barrage of punches at the end of the third round.

Iwata continued to batter Bermudez (0-2) in round four until referee Dr. Lou Moret stepped in and stopped the bout at 2:44. 

Junior lightweight Mario Ramos (7-0, 7 KOs) battered veteran Elliot Brown until the fight was stopped in the fifth round. Ramos landed several hooks and crosses until Brown's corner referee Jack Reiss to stop the fight at 2:01 of the fifth round. Brown (2-6, 2 KOs) was visibly upset with the stoppage. 

In the opening bout, lightweight Rene Moreno (2-0, 1 KO) dropped David Courtney twice en route to a fourth round knockout victory. Moreno dropped the southpaw Courtney towards the end of the second round with a left hook to the body. Moreno battered Courtney (3-9, 2 KOs) in round three until a right hook to the head shook Moreno as the bell sounded to end the round. Moreno dropped Courtney again in round four with another left hook to the body. Courtney beat the count but referee Dr. Lou Moret stopped the bout at 1:44.

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