The following is an article that was featured in the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Impresario counts on Russians to boost boxing, martial arts ventures
By Jerry Magee
STAFF WRITER
July 5, 2007
Two all-purpose warriors schooled in boxing, kick-boxing and mixed martial arts are in the vanguard of what could become a colony of fighters from Russia based here.
They are Evgeny Khil, 24, and Dennis Grachev, 23. They were brought to San Diego by Mark Dion, proprietor of the City Boxing gym on 14th Street in the downtown area and also of a gym in Pacific Beach.
“If they do everything right, they are going to be my mentors for bringing in other people,” Dion said.
In Russia, Khil and Grachev were most active in kick-boxing, but they boxed in a recent series of four-rounders at the San Diego County Fair. Grachev's appearance was an explosive one. A super middleweight with a shaved head who is known as “the Pirate,” he scored a second-round knockout of an opponent who could not be revived for several minutes.
Khil lost a majority decision to an unbeaten super featherweight, but his defeat did nothing to disabuse Dion of the notion that Khil could have a future in boxing.
“He's a tough kid, that's the thing,” Dion said. “If he can get the technique down, he's money, especially at 126 pounds.”
Should he continue in boxing, Grachev “can be somebody to reckon with,” said Sergio Melendrez, a City Boxing trainer. “He has one-punch knockout power.” But whether Grachev will concentrate on boxing or mixed martial arts has not been determined, according to Dion.
“He likes MMA, and he's super strong,” Dion said. “With City Boxing guys, it's all a matter of which one is going to make the most sense for them as far as a future. There's no money in kick-boxing, so it angles them for MMA or boxing, either way.”
Khil and Grachev are college graduates, Khil in chemistry, Grachev in physical education, but when they came to this country eight months ago, Khil had only a slight understanding of English, Grachev none. Across the street from City Boxing is San Diego City College, where Dion enrolled them in an English course. While learning English, they also have picked up a smattering of Spanish. They share an apartment Dion leased for them in Golden Hill.
“Usually, one hour a day, we try to speak English, for practice,” said Khil, who at the gym is addressed as “Eugene.”
Khil and Grachev are from communities about 100 miles apart. They had known one another for nine years when they made the determination to respond to Dion's summons.
Coming to Southern California meant adjusting to a new lifestyle.
“Every time, when you change your life, you worry,” Khil said.
“Here, everything is different. I have had to change my mentality. In Russia, the mentality is very different than in America. Here, the people are different. Now, I am better. I feel comfortable – almost comfortable.”
Grachev on the things he has come to enjoy: “Beach, nightclubs, gym. Because I like to train,” he said.
Dion manages K.J. Noon, a junior middleweight who is 8-1 with seven knockouts and has signed a promotional contract with Gary Shaw of Showtime. One time, after Noon had been working against a Russian at the Pound Per Pound gym in North Hollywood, Dion and the Russian began talking.
“He said he used to be a kick-boxer,” Dion said. “I said, 'That's funny, I'm looking for a kick-boxing trainer.' He said, 'My friend is a former world champion.' I said, 'What's his name?' ”
His name was Khil. Dion sought out some video on him.
“He was small, which wasn't exactly what I was looking for,” Dion said, “but he had amazing skills. The kid had 240 fights at 24 years old. I don't know anybody with that kind of record. I told Khil, 'Find me a big boy.' Khil told me about Grachev. The only way I was bringing Khil over was if I had a bigger guy than him.”
By Dion's account, he retains one of the leading immigration attorneys in Beverly Hills. Soon enough, the two Russians were encamped at City Boxing, where they serve as instructors.
“If you were that impressed at Del Mar by Dennis, then a year from now, you'll be really impressed because he still has a long way to go,” Dion said. “His whole career has been 150 kick-boxing fights. Eugene is just really crafty, while Dennis is more of a straight-ahead powerhouse. We've got to train Eugene to sit down more on his punches and Dennis to be a little more crafty and get some Mexican-style body punching going on.”
Dion said he has applied to the California State Athletic Commission for a promoter's license for boxing, kick-boxing and MMA and by the end of summer could be offering cards in San Diego if, that is, he can come up with the proper venue.
“When the time is right,” he said he expects to expand the number of Russians campaigning out of City Boxing. In particular, he would like to acquire a heavyweight. Meantime, he has Khil and Grachev. The Russians aren't merely coming to San Diego. They're already here.
