The WBC has put Serhii Bohachuk (24-1, 23 KOs) back in as number 1 at junior middleweight. Promoter Tom Loeffler pushed the case and won the appeal after Jaron \u201cBoots\u201d Ennis (31-0, 28 KOs) announced a move to 154 but hadn\u2019t actually fought there.<\/p>\n
That decision means Bohachuk is once again in line for a crack at champion Sebastian Fundora (21-1-1, 13 KOs). But before that happens, he\u2019s got to deal with some old business \u2014 a September 13 rematch with Brandon Adams on the Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford undercard. Adams stopped him back in 2021, and plenty of fans still haven\u2019t forgotten it.<\/p>\n
Why It Matters<\/p>\n
This isn\u2019t just paperwork. Bohachuk\u2019s whole career is riding on what happens next. Loeffler argued that guys already fighting at 154 should be ahead of names only talking about it, and the WBC agreed.<\/p>\n
The sanctioning body even pointed to the Ali Act in its statement:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe WBC\u2019s Ratings Appeals Committee received and resolved the appeal in compliance with the provisions of the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
That sounds nice, but at the end of the day, none of it will matter if Bohachuk can\u2019t flip the result against Adams. Lose again and the no 1 spot goes straight in the bin.<\/p>\n
Fundora\u2019s Side of It<\/p>\n
Fundora, the \u201cTowering Inferno,\u201d is a nightmare frame for 154. Six-foot-six, throws in bunches, southpaw \u2014 but his chin doesn\u2019t always back him up. Mendoza exposed him with that brutal stoppage in 2023. To his credit, he came back and beat Jesus Ramos Jr., but it didn\u2019t exactly erase the doubts.<\/p>\n
A fight with Bohachuk is the classic mix: size and volume against relentless pressure and knockout power. Bohachuk has 23 stoppages in 24 wins \u2014 he\u2019s not coming to box pretty, he\u2019s coming to break you down. On paper, someone gets hurt.<\/p>\n
As for Ennis, he\u2019s now focused on 154 and maybe 160. The kid\u2019s a star in the making, no question. But the WBC is right \u2014 you don\u2019t become number 1 in a division you\u2019ve never fought in. For now, Bohachuk\u2019s the one holding the ticket.<\/p>\n
My Take: Credit to the WBC here. They usually get hammered for dodgy rankings, but this time they made the fair call. Bohachuk has been active, patient, and consistent. Ennis will get his chance, but he\u2019s got to earn it at the weight first.<\/p>\n
The real drama is September 13. If Bohachuk beats Adams, Fundora-Bohachuk is a fan-friendly scrap: height and awkward angles versus pressure and power. If Adams pulls it off again, Bohachuk\u2019s number\u00a0 1 tag gets ripped up overnight.<\/p>\n
Simple as that.<\/p>\n
Amy Kaplan has been a boxing fan since she was 10 years old, which means she\u2019s spent most of her life explaining to people that yes, she really does prefer fight nights over dinner parties. Now writing for Boxing News 24, she covers everything from world title fights to prospects swinging for a payday.\u00a0 She mixes sharp analysis with sarcasm, calling out boxing politics and cutting through the press-release spin to give fans the stories that actually matter.<\/p>\n