Serhii Bohachuk Faces Mosley Jr at Zuffa Boxing in Las Vegas
Serhii Bohachuk steps into zuffa boxing on Sunday night in Las Vegas with more than a middleweight fight on the line. He said his mother will watch him fight for the first time, adding a personal first to a bout against Shane Mosley Jr.
The 11pm start gives Bohachuk a spotlight he never had as a child in Vinnytsia, when he said he had little food and no money. Now based in Los Angeles, he arrives at 160lbs saying this is the division that fits him best.
Bohachuk and Mosley Jr in Las Vegas
Bohachuk called Mosley Jr a former sparring partner from the Apex in Las Vegas and said the matchup will be interesting if Mosley Jr is ready. He described him as a good boxer and a smart one, which fits the kind of measured fight Bohachuk expects at middleweight.
The change in weight is part of that expectation. Bohachuk said this is his weight division now and that he does not need to cut as much weight as he did for the fight with Brandon Adams.
Klitschko brothers shaped Bohachuk
Long before this Sunday, Bohachuk said his idea of a boxing life came from Vitali Klitschko and Wladimir Klitschko. He said, “My favourite boxers were the brothers Klitschko. When I was young I followed the brothers Klitschko and I wanted to be like them,” and added, “I wanted to be a champion. And they're from Ukraine and I'm from Ukraine. They're big stars and I saw that when I was young and thought woah, it's possible. If they can, I can too. It's possible.”
That outlook carried him through an amateur run that included a win over Roniel Iglesias in the World Series of Boxing. In his 30-bout professional career, only Brandon Adams and Vergil Ortiz have beaten him.
160lbs fits Bohachuk better
The 160lbs move came in his last fight against Radzhab Butaev, when Bohachuk said he fought at the weight for the first time and felt great. He said, “With [the last fight against Radzhab] Butaev I changed weight division, first fight at 160lbs and I felt great and fought great, I think.”
That leaves Sunday’s bout with a cleaner frame than his past cuts. Bohachuk said, “This is my weight division now and for me it's much better because I don't need to cut a lot of weight like in the fight with Adams.”
For Bohachuk, the fight brings a rare family moment into a career built on hard work and long odds. His mother will be watching for the first time, and the ring in Las Vegas gives him a chance to turn that first into something he has chased since childhood.
