Zachary Wohlman
Born(1988-05-23)May 23, 1988
San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
DiedFebruary 14, 2021(2021-02-14) (aged 32)
NationalityUnited States American
Other namesKid Yamaka[1]
Statistics
Weight(s)Welterweight
Height5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
StanceSouthpaw
Boxing record
Total fights15
Wins10
Losses3
Draws2

Zachary Wohlman, also known as Kid Yamaka[lower-alpha 1] (May 23, 1988 – February 14, 2021), was an American boxer in the Welterweight division, who was an amateur and later a professional.[1][2] Wohlman, a late-comer to the sport, went from juvenile delinquency to becoming the 2010 winner of the Los Angeles Golden Gloves Tournament.[1] On February 15, 2021, it was announced that Wolhman had died at the age of 32.[3]

He was trained by International Boxing Hall of Famer Freddie Roach, with whom he started training in 2008, and trainer Eric Brown.[2][4] His record as of December 2017 was 10–3–2. He went on to help at risk youth, joining Ring of Hope Boxing.

Early life

Zachary Wohlman was Jewish, and was born in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles to David Wohlman and his wife, a beautician.[1] He lived in Northridge, Reseda, and Woodland Hills, California.[5]

Wohlman’s early life was marked by a lack of family structure, fights in school, military school in Texas on the Mexico border where he had his first taste of boxing, drugs, and “behind-the-barn” amateur boxing matches across the border in Mexico.[1][2][5][6][7] He was sent to Sylmar Juvenile Detention at age 16, worked on an oil rig in San Jose to support himself at age 17, and had brushes with the criminal justice system.[1][2][5][8][9] He said: "If you’re getting hit in the face for a living, something fucked up happened [in your life]".[5]

At the age of 20, he had a bar mitzvah and started attending Shabbat Friday night dinners each week, and said "I got that sense of family and community that I didn’t grow up with."[5][7] He sported many tattoos, including a Star of David across his stomach, and wore a Star of David around his neck.[1][5] He attended weekly Jewish services, and his nickname "Yamaka" referred to his Jewish heritage.[1]

Career

Amateur

Freddie Roach

He was the first amateur boxer taken on by International Boxing Hall of Famer Freddie Roach, with whom he started training in 2008.[1][2] Roach and Eric Brown trained him during his professional career.[1] Brown says of him:

I've had him box with world champions and contenders, and Zac's held his own with all of them. He's got mad skills, heart, determination and an eagerness to learn.[1]

He won the California Golden Gloves Championship in 2010.[4][6][10] His amateur record was 18–4.[11]

Professional

He made his professional boxing debut on December 1, 2011, at a packed Fight Night Club at Club Nokia in downtown Los Angeles, aired on Fox Sports Net, winning by unanimous decision.[1][5] On March 31 Wohlman scored his first knockout, to improve his record to 3–0 (1 KO), over Clifford McPherson.[8]

His performance on July 12, 2012, in Hollywood brought his record up to 4–0 and led to him being on the cover of LA Weekly.[12] In February 2014 he defeated Luis Hernandez at the Florentine Gardens in Hollywood, California, in a four-round decision to bring his record to 7–1–1.[13][14]

Movies

Wohlman appeared in the movies Golden Boy Boxing (2009), Boxer (2011), and Xander Cohen (2012).[15]

Personal life

Wohlman was married to Serafina until his death. He died on February 14, 2021, at the age of 32.[16]

Professional boxing record

Source: BoxRec[17]

14 fights 10 wins 2 losses
By knockout 2 1
By decision 8 1
Draws 2
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round Date Location Notes
14 Draw 10-2-2 United States Matt Murphy D 4 (4) 2017-06-22 California Exchange LA, Los Angeles, California, United States
13 Win 10–2-1 Mexico Roman Mendez TKO 1 2017-02-24 Mexico Salon Mezzanine, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
12 Win 9–2-1 United States Lionel Jimenez UD 4 (4) 2016-03-12 California Marriott Convention Center, Burbank, California, United States
11 Loss 8–2-1 United States Paul Velarde UD 6 (6) 2014-08-09 California Civic Auditorium, Glendale, California, United States
10 Win 8–1-1 United States Eddie Cordova UD 4 (4) 2014-05-17 California Forum, Inglewood, California, United States
9 Win 7–1-1 United States Luis Hernandez MD 4 (4) 2014-02-06 California Florentine Gardens, Hollywood, California, United States
8 Win 6–1-1 Canada Steve Conkin UD 4 (4) 2013-11-14 California Florentine Gardens, Hollywood, California, United States
7 Win 5–1-1 United States Omar Avelar UD 4 (4) 2013-07-13 California Hollywood Park Casino, Inglewood, California, United States
6 Loss 4–1-1 United States Alonso Loeza TKO 4 2012-11-10 California Staples Center, Los Angeles, California, United States
5 Draw 4–0-1 United States Jesus Vallejo D 3 2012-09-20 California Florentine Gardens, Hollywood, California, United States
4 Win 4–0 United States Jose Martell UD 4 (4) 2012-07-12 California Florentine Gardens, Hollywood, California, United States
3 Win 3–0 United States Clifford McPherson TKO 1 2012-03-31 California Warner Center Marriott in Woodland Hills, California, United States
2 Win 2–0 United States Tatsuro Irie UD 4 (4) 2012-01-21 California Warner Center Marriott in Woodland Hills, California, United States
1 Win 1–0 United States Ricardo Malfavon UD 4 (4) 2011-12-01 California Club Nokia in Los Angeles, California, United States Professional debut.

Notes

  1. ↑ A phonetic spelling of "yarmulke," the skullcap worn by Jews while praying

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Chelin, Pamela (October 3, 2013). "Zachary Wohlman, aka 'Kid Yamaka,' Is Boxing's Great Jewish Hope". LA Weekly. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Zachary Wohlman, a.k.a. Kid Yamaka". Fight Network. February 1, 2012. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
  3. ↑ Mustafa, Filiz (February 15, 2021). "Tributes pour out to Zachary Wolhman after his death - American boxer dies aged 32". HITC. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  4. 1 2 "Boxing Debut of Freddie Roach Protege". Doghouse Boxing. November 28, 2011. Retrieved November 30, 2011.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Gabriel Alvarez (November 11, 2013). "Papa Said Knock You Out: Issue 53's Zachary Wohlman Fights This Thursday". Mass Appeal. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
  6. 1 2 "Zachary Wohlman: In the Ring". Nowness. February 20, 2013. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
  7. 1 2 Elie Seckbach (July 6, 2012). "Interview with Zachary "Kid Yamaka" Wohlman". Boxing News. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
  8. 1 2 Doug Fischer (November 30, 2011). "Wohlman Debuts on Thursday's Fight Night Club". Ring TV.com. Retrieved November 30, 2011.
  9. ↑ Raymond Markarian (January 19, 2012). "Zachary Wohlman: "This Is Not A Sob Story By Any Means"". The Sweet Science. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
  10. ↑ Simon Ruvalcaba (December 1, 2011). "The Pro Journey Of Zachary "Kid Yamaka" Wohlman Starts Today". Fight Hype. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Biography". Zachary Wohlman. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
  12. ↑ LA weekly Cover story http://blogs.laweekly.com/arts/2012/08/zachary_wohlman_boxer.php
  13. ↑ Francisco Salazar (February 7, 2014). "Chris Van Heerden Stops Cosme Rivera in Four – Boxing News". Boxingscene.com. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
  14. ↑ Miguel Maravilla (February 7, 2014). "Boxing News | Full Report: Hollywood Fight Night". Fightnews.com. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Zachary Wohlman Biography". TV Guide. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  16. ↑ Tapp, Tom (February 15, 2021). "Zachary Wohlman Dies: Focus Of ESPN+ Doc 'Why We Fight' & Boxer Known As Kid Yamaka Was 32". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  17. ↑ "Zachary Wohlman". BoxRec. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
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