Though the results of Serhii Bohachuk’s scintillating slugfest towards Vergil Ortiz Jr. will formally be mirrored as a loss on his ledger, “El Flaco” could possibly be a winner in the long term with monetary rewards and a burgeoning fan base.
Bohachuk (24-2, 23 KOs) and Ortiz Jr. (22-0, 21 KOs) delivered on the warfare they promised throughout their pre-fight buildup and deposited a fight-of-the-year frontrunner on August 10, incessantly blasting one another continuous for 12 rounds of their junior middleweight scrap.
Bohachuk dropped Ortiz twice, however he wasn’t awarded the win within the shut combat, as Ortiz sneaked away with a majority determination and the WBC interim 154-pound title Bohachuk held.
Bohachuk may, nonetheless, be awarded one other high-profile showcase his subsequent day trip, courtesy of boxing energy dealer Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the Common Leisure Authority in Saudi Arabia.
“Serhii’s star skyrocketed after this combat. I do not know why nobody gave him an opportunity heading into this combat. He was a five-to-one underdog,” Bohachuk promoter Tom Loeffler, founding father of 360 Promotions, instructed BoxingScene.
“It was nice that Alalshikh was there in individual to see how nice of a efficiency Serhii placed on. He additionally mentioned that he thought Serhii gained that combat, or at worst, it ought to have been a draw. He actually appreciated Serhii. He got here as much as us after the combat and mentioned that he needed Serhii on a future present by the top of this 12 months. It may positively be on the December 21 present in Saudi Arabia. Serhii is able to go. It could be nice to have Serhii on the present, as his fellow Ukrainian heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk takes on Tyson Fury.”
The 154-pound weight class boasts loads of prime expertise, and with a win already towards Brian Mendoza below his belt earlier this 12 months, Bohachuk can be a deserving opponent to a bunch that options Terence Crawford, Israil Madrimov, Sebastian Fundora, Tim Tszyu, Erickson Lubin, Charles Conwell, Jesus Ramos, Bakhram Murtazaliev, Xander Zayas, Vito Mielnicki Jr. and the inactive likes of Errol Spence Jr., Jermell Charlo, Brian Castano, and Keith Thurman.
“The division is so scorching and there are such a lot of nice matchups to be made,” mentioned Loeffler. “Serhii is within the prime three to 5 within the division. Serhii has earned the best to combat any of the highest names. The one factor with Serhii is that you’re by no means going to see a boring combat.”
Loeffler additionally expressed his considerations that Bohachuk was wronged in his combat with Ortiz.
“There are positively questions concerning the judging, and even the refereeing, which we would have liked instantaneous replay to overturn a knockdown,” mentioned Loeffler. “I do not perceive the mechanics of why it took so lengthy to announce it to the corners. Total, we’re satisfied that Serhii ought to have stored his title and that he ought to nonetheless be the champion. Serhii did not lose the combat.
“It was at worst a draw, or successful by two factors because of the two knockdowns. We’re dissatisfied within the determination however proud of how Serhii fought. It was 12 rounds of continuous punching, motion, knockdowns, and controversy. We by no means take something away from Vergil. It was a fantastic efficiency by him and we give him credit score. It is the main candidate for the combat of the 12 months.”
Manouk Akopyan is a sports activities journalist, author and broadcast reporter. He’s additionally a member of the Boxing Writers Affiliation of America and the MMA Journalists Affiliation. He might be reached on X (previously Twitter), Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube at @ManoukAkopyan, by means of electronic mail at manouk[dot]akopyan[at]gmail.com or by way of www.ManoukAkopyan.com.
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