Former world title challenger Brandon Adams pulled a mighty left hook out of nowhere to upset the previously unbeaten Serhii Bohachuk in eight rounds at the Felix Pagan Pintor Gym in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, on Thursday night.
The 154lbs clash had been following the accepted script with puncher Bohachuk (18-1, 18 KOs) enjoying a healthy lead on all three judges’ cards (69-63 and 68-64, twice) in an engaging bout marred by a slippery canvas and a point deduction from Adams in the third due to shots interpreted as low blows.
Adams, aka ‘The Cannon’, was aggressive on the inside and worked Bohachuk’s body to sound effect, but mostly came off second best in the exchanges as the fight progressed. The Californian had been brought in as the step-up opponent but instead sent Bohachuk’s stock tumbling when a left hook turned the fight on its head in the eighth.
Photo: Tom Hogan/Hogan Photos/Ring City USA.
A swift volley of blows had Bohachuk reeling along the ropes before Adams unleashed a huge left hook that sent the fancied Ukrainian to the deck. Bohachuk rose for more but stumbled and the fight was waved off by referee Ramon Pena.
“It was real tough in there with the ring being wet and the referee taking that point. I had to dig in deep and, regardless of what was happening during that fight, it was me against them, and I had to embody that and use all of the strength that I had to connect on one of those punches from ‘The Cannon’,” said Adams (23-3, 15 KOs), who took Jermall Charlo the full 12 rounds in a WBC middleweight title tilt in June 2019.
“He brought another side out of me that I knew was in me, but the people got to see it tonight. I am a professional. I have to figure out how to get the ‘W’. I am going to keep on doing what I have to do to keep winning. He was a tough guy. This is what it takes to be a champion. I’m grateful.”
Photo: Tom Hogan/Hogan Photos/Ring City USA.
Main image and all photos: Tom Hogan/Hogan Photos/Ring City USA.