Junior middleweight contender Serhii Bohachuk wanted to fight more rounds, but will take a knockout win on his journey towards a world title shot.
Bohachuk knocked out former world title challenger Patrick Allotey in the opening round Saturday night at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California.
The hard-hitting Bohachuk improved to 23-1, 23 knockouts.
Bohachuk, who is originally from Ukraine and now resides in Los Angeles, worked methodically behind a jab from the opening bell.
With less than a minute left in the round, Bohachuk landed a sweeping right cross to the chin, dropping Allotey face-first to the canvas. Allotey did get up after the count of nine, but referee Jack Reiss waved the fight off at 2:33 to the surprise of Allotey.
Several moments passed before a despondent and upset Allotey finally took the gloves off, as instructed by an inspector with the California State Athletic Commission.
The 28-year-old previously fought on January 27, knocking out former contender Nathaniel Gallimore in the sixth round. Bohachuk has now won his five bouts since losing by knockout to Brandon Adams in March 2021, in a fight he was ahead on the scorecards at the time of the stoppage.
Promoter Tom Loeffler announced Bohachuk, who is ranked No. 2 by the WBC, will return to action on November 10 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
“Serhii is ready for a world title shot now,” said Loeffler after the fight. “Whether it’s for the vacant WBC world title or if (Jermell) Charlo decides to move down after the Canelo (Alvarez) fight, I would like to make that fight happen.
Allotey, who resides in Accra, Ghana, falls to 42-5, 32 KOs. The 32-year-old had won his previous two fights since losing by knockout to then-WBO world junior middleweight titleholder Jaime Munguia in September 2019.
Credit: The Ring
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