WBC kicked Bogachuk. The Ukrainian lost the opportunity to become world champion in a couple of hours and received a more dangerous opponent

March 30 Ukrainian middleweight Sergei Bogachuk (23-1, 23 KO) was supposed to fight for the title as part of a big boxing evening in Las Vegas WBC junior middleweight champion with an American Sebastian Fundora (20-1-1, 13 KOs). 12 days before the fight – March 18 – it became known that World Boxing Council sanctioned Fundora fight with WBO junior middleweight title holder Tim Tszyuputting his full division title on the line. Bogachuk urgently found a new opponent – Brian Mendoza (22-3-0, 16 KOs) – and were given the opportunity to challenge the temporary championship belt. The replacement, to put it mildly, turned out to be unequal. But there is no point in considering a “conspiracy.” Let’s explain.

Why did the Bogachuk-Fundora fight fail?

A third party interfered. Namely, Keith Thurman, who in the main fight of the evening was supposed to fight for the WBO junior middleweight title with Tim Tszyu. Thurman was injured and had to withdraw from the fight.

The organizer of the boxing evening in Las Vegas, Premier Boxing Champions, had a choice: cancel the main fight of the evening, or try to save the event by quickly finding an adequate replacement for Thurman. We must give credit to the promoters: they did a great job. It’s not just about finding an opponent – ​​Fundora was also preparing to enter the ring on March 30 – but also about the ability to add importance to the moment. Namely, an agreement with the WBC to sanction the championship fight according to their version.

So, instead of disrupting the main event and the entire evening of boxing, Premier Boxing Champions is giving fans a division unification bout. Brilliant work.

Why Premier Boxing Champions chose Fundora as Tszyu’s opponent

It seems there are two reasons. The first is the recognition and attractiveness of boxers. Fundora is an American, he is better known in the USA and closer to local fans. Agree, in the USA, in terms of publicity, the championship fight of the Australian representative against the American is much more interesting than the showdown between the Australian and the Ukrainian. Even if it’s for two titles.

The second reason is subjective. But it seems that Bogachuk is a more dangerous boxer for Tszyu than Fundora. No promoter would risk two titles in this situation.

Actually, the injured Thurman, it seems, was considered by the organizers on exactly the same principle: well known in the USA, but not too dangerous for Tszyu.

Bogachuk was originally supposed to fight for an interim title

The full WBC junior middleweight title belongs to Jermell Charlo, who has held it since May 2016, and in May 2022, he won the title of absolute world champion. But the American got into a financial squabble with Saul Alvarez, lost to the Mexican last September in a fight in the super middleweight division and took a break.

Initially, the World Boxing Council declared the Bogachuk-Fundora fight to be a fight for the interim title. Later, by assigning Charlo the status of “champion on vacation,” he gave the Ukrainian and American the opportunity to fight for a full belt.

Why Mendoza is a more dangerous opponent for the Ukrainian than Fundora

If only because 30-year-old Mendoza defeated Fundora. And ahead of schedule. Brian has 22 victorious fights out of 25 held in the professional ring. He received his last defeat in October last year, losing on points in Australia (which is important for understanding the context) in a fairly equal fight to Tim Tszyu.

Mendoza is a well-trained boxer with a powerful punch and a strong handle. Plus, he is a fighter of a different style than Fundora, and now Bogachuk and his coaches will have to disassemble Brian in a short period of time, find the keys to him and try to find/force the sparring partners available in the camp to work in the manner of Mendoza. On the other hand, it is still unclear the form of Brian himself, how ready he will be for the fight in 11 days.

What should Bogachuk do now?

To win against Mendoza, preferably convincingly. The title of interim world champion will give him the opportunity to fight for a full belt in the next fight. Perhaps even a few.

Plus, there is an important point. Now the organizers were urgently looking for a replacement for the main title fight in the USA. When organizing the next event, such problems should not arise. If Tszyu defeats Fundora, his fight with Bogachuk can be organized in Australia – there will be no problems with interest. If Fundora wins and there is no rematch clause in the contract for the fight with Tszyu, the possible fight between the American and Bogachuk has already been partially promoted and less effort will be required to promote it.

So the situation for Bogachuk is unpleasant, but then everything is in the hands of the Ukrainian. And to do this you need to win against the very dangerous Mendoza.