Serhii Bohachuk has unprecedented encouragement for Shane Mosley Jr’s fight – his mum will watch him for the first time | Debate News

“I only had one chance – boxing.”

To quote his hero Wladimir Klitschko, for Serhii Bohachuk failure was not an option.

The Ukrainian was born in Vinnytsia and by his own admission his youth was a struggle.

“I had a hard time growing up. I had no money, I had nothing,” said Bohachuk Sky Sports.

Then he saw Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko. Their example opened his mind. “My favorite boxers were the Klitschko brothers. When I was young, I followed the Klitschko brothers and I wanted to be like them,” he explained.

“I wanted to be a champion. And they’re from Ukraine and I’m from Ukraine. They’re big stars and I saw that when I was young and I thought woah, it’s possible. If they can, I can. It’s possible.

“They really inspired me,” he continued. “Maybe I had a little food. I just had a dream – world champion.

“I want to be a champion and if my brothers Klitschko can do it, so can I.”

He succeeded. In a tough novice fight, he defeated Olympic gold medalist Roniel Iglesias in the World Series of Boxing. The only opponents he has beaten in his 30-game professional career are Brandon Adams and Vergil Ortiz. He is now based in Los Angeles and on Sunday night, he continues Sky SportsHe will fight Shane Mosley Jr in Las Vegas.

“I just worked hard and now I’m here,” Bohachuk said. “I have a house, I have a car. When I was young I had nothing. Now I have one [something]. I help my family, I help my family in Ukraine.

“This is my dream and I work hard. Every day I work hard. I know what I’m doing. Many people tell me it’s impossible, I tell them it’s possible. My brothers Klitschko can do it, Lomachenko can do it, Usyk can do it, I can do it. Let’s go, go, go. And I’m here now.

“If you think oh I can’t, I’m tired, you’re done. This will kill you.

“Everything is possible. It just takes hard work.”

He is enjoying his fight with Mosley Jr, who was his sparring partner at Apex in Las Vegas.

“He’s a good boxer,” said the Ukrainian. “He’s smart. This is going to be a really interesting fight. If he’s ready for this fight, it’s going to be a very interesting fight.

“This is my weight class now and for me it’s the best because I don’t need to cut weight like in the fight with Adams.

He added: “With [the last fight against Radzhab] Butaev I changed the weight division, the first time I fought at 160lbs and I felt bigger and fought more, I think.

“And this battle is even bigger. More power. It’s bigger.”

He has more need to win on Sunday. It was the first time his mother came to watch.

“Before my mother had one time in Europe and another time in Moscow. That’s it. My mother is 62 years old,” said Bohachuk with a smile. “Now I can bring my mom to my next fight. This is really special.

“Ukraine [feels] it is impossible to go to the USA, Las Vegas, Los Angeles. We just watch it in the cinema, it’s like it’s impossible. Now I can show my mother everything. I am very happy.

“My mother will go to my first battle,” he continued. “It’s never happened before, not a novice, not an expert, it’s the first time.

“I’m so inspired!”

Watch Bohachuk vs Mosley live Sky Sports Action again Sky Sports Main Event from 11pm on Sunday.