Bohachuk Wins Split Decision Over Butaev in Las Vegas | Boxing Results

Serhii Bohachuk survived a muddled, punishing ten rounds to take a majority decision over Radzhab Butaev, a result that settles little about his place at middleweight and raises doubts about how far this version of him can go.

The Russia vs Ukraine angle sold itself, but inside the ropes this was less chess and more battle. Bohachuk, the former WBC interim champion at 154, looked sturdier on paper moving up. Butaev, once a WBA belt holder at welterweight, looked like a full-sized middle from the opening bell. That alone shifted expectations. It also shifted the fight.

Butaev’s early work was the cleaner. His shots landed with more effect, particularly in the first three rounds, when Bohachuk absorbed punches that halted his forward steps. Stat lines floated close, but perception leaned Butaev. Bohachuk took shots hard. He did not disguise it well.

A fight without answers

By the back half, Butaev’s pace dipped. His mouth stayed open between exchanges, a small tell that grew louder with each round. Whether the added weight played a role is unclear, but the energy drain was real. Bohachuk pressed more, not with ideas but with insistence. There was little ring craft from either side. No sustained adjustments. Just turns. You go. Now I go.

Judges reflected the confusion. Two cards read 96-94 for Bohachuk, one 96-94 for Butaev. Majority decision. Narrow. Debatable. Familiar. Fans watching live split down predictable lines, many questioning how rounds were being defined when neither fighter controlled long stretches.

No knockdowns. No tactical separation. Just accumulation and tolerance.

What it changes at 160

This win moves Bohachuk to 27-3 with 24 knockouts, but it does not place him in a title lane. Middleweight alphabet belts are boxed in by mandatory chains and network priorities that favor fighters with leverage. A majority decision over a former welterweight does not force the issue. It buys time.

For Butaev, now 16-2, the loss is costly but not terminal. He proved he belongs at the weight in terms of size and punch resistance. What he did not show was late control. In this business, that keeps you in televised fights but away from belts.