First Words Between Turki and Bohachuk: Serhii on Conversation with Alalshikh

Former interim WBC super welterweight champion (up to 69.85 kg) Ukrainian Serhii Bohachuk (24-2, 23 KOs) shared details of his conversation with the head of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, Turki Alalshikh, which took place immediately after Bohachuk’s fight against Vergil Ortiz Jr. (22-0, 21 KOs).

“When I stepped out of the ring, Turki came up to me, shook my hand, and said, ‘You’re a champion.’ Then he asked, ‘Who’s your agent?’ Tom [Loeffler] was right behind me, so I turned around and pointed to him. There was someone else standing near Turki, and he told him, ‘Get in touch with him, we’re going to work together.’

The point I’m making is that these moments are worth it. Not when your hand is raised, but when you leave the ring and people show you respect, instead of turning away and not caring.

When I left the ring, there was a crowd of people, Turki shook my hand, and as I walked further, people I had never met before were rushing to shake my hand.

This is my goal – to show people boxing that leaves them in awe, to earn their respect and appreciation as a boxer and an athlete,” Bohachuk said.

Bohachuk and Ortiz fought on August 10, 2024, with Vergil winning by majority decision.