Tom Loeffler, promoter of Serhii Bohachuk, expressed his dissatisfaction with Bohachuk losing his WBC interim junior middleweight title in a controversial 12-round majority decision against Vergil Ortiz Jr. Loeffler felt that the judges’ scoring was inaccurate and believed Bohachuk should have emerged victorious, especially considering the two knockdowns he achieved in rounds one and eight. Despite the knockdowns, the judges scored the fight 113-113, 114-112, and 114-112, with the latter two in favor of Ortiz.
With Bohachuk being the defending champion and scoring two knockdowns, Loeffler anticipated a different outcome. The fact that the decision did not go in Bohachuk’s favor despite the knockdowns left Loeffler disappointed. Manny Robles, Bohachuk’s trainer, also highlighted the significance of knockdowns in a close fight and expressed his disagreement with the judging.
In the post-fight press conference, Loeffler pointed out the questionable judging in the 12th round. Despite Bohachuk’s dominance and the visible damage on Ortiz, the judges still favored Ortiz in the final rounds. The decision in the 12th round was particularly contentious, with Loeffler mentioning how Bohachuk was in control before his momentary setback due to tape issues.
Bohachuk’s aggressive approach, effective pressure, and impactful punches were overshadowed by the judges’ decision to award the fight to Ortiz. Loeffler expressed disbelief at the judges’ ability to overlook Bohachuk’s knockdowns and overall performance, prompting him to consider pushing for a rematch. He suggested that the WBC may intervene if there is enough controversy surrounding the scoring, potentially leading to a mandated rematch between the two fighters.
Serhii Bohachuk’s loss to Vergil Ortiz Jr. was met with disappointment and disagreement from his promoter, Tom Loeffler. The questionable judging, especially in the 12th round, raised concerns about the fairness of the decision. Despite Bohachuk’s commendable performance, including two knockdowns and superior boxing skills, the judges’ verdict favored Ortiz. Moving forward, the possibility of a rematch remains on the table as Loeffler aims to seek justice for Bohachuk and uphold his status as a deserving champion in the WBC junior middleweight division.