BANGKOK, Thailand – Brandon Adams heard all the speculation, and let everyone predict freely how coming off a loss aged 36 left him ripe for falling in September’s rematch with Ukraine’s Serhii Bohachuk.
Let the talking continue, Adams says now, as he waits to hear from whichever champion or challenger in boxing’s deep 154lbs division wants to contact him now.
“For the most part, it’s always been my career,” Adams told BoxingScene at the WBC Convention.
“I’m no stranger to being the underdog. It’s my job and duty to always show that I’m ready to upset whoever I’m in the ring with. And that’s what I’m in the business of doing now – upsetting everybody’s favorite fighters and showing proof why I should be your favorite fighter.”
The former The Contender winner was pegged as the likely victim of recent WBC interim champion Bohachuk on the undercard of Saul “Canelo” Alvarez-Terence Crawford in September. Adams, 26-4 (16KOs), instead won at least eight of 10 rounds on all three judges’ cards at Allegiant Stadium.
He now finds himself ranked third, behind the WBO champion Xander Zayas, fifth to WBC champion Sebastian Fundora, and sixth to IBF champion Bakhram Murtazaliev.
Zayas is headed to a unification bout against new WBA champion Abass Baraou on January 31, on the same day that Murtazaliev defends his belt against Josh Kelly, and Fundora is awaiting a new date as he returns from an injury suffered while training for former unified welterweight champion Keith Thurman.
Adams should move past just-defeated, fourth-ranked Erickson Lubin in the coming WBC rankings, and an ideal foe could be the top-ranked contender Bakary Samake of France.
“[I’m] trying to get back in the ring as soon as possible,” Adams said. “Everybody has obligations and duties right now, so I’m just looking for someone who can give me the opportunity to become a mandatory. Or if one of the champions can be daring enough to get in the ring with me and fight ‘em… .”
The depth of the division ensures a quality opponent should emerge sooner rather than later.
“My job is to stay in the gym, stay sharp, trim, ready and make myself completely available and go after whoever’s giving me opportunities,” Adams said.
He also said venturing to the WBC event is aimed at “becoming one of the family; to show face and hold titles. That’s what I’m here for: legacy.”
Adams’ name value might’ve made him a target for the new Zuffa Boxing venture being planned for 2026 by Dana White, who promoted his fight in September, but Adams said he’s more incentivized by pursuing a world title than a company distributed strap.
“It’s about what’s best for the rest of my career,” he said. “I’m so close to becoming a world champion, I wouldn’t want to stray away from that.
“For me, a guy who started fighting late – first went to a gym at 19; turned professional when I was 21 – I’ve sacrificed a lot. I never minded, because I knew in due time it would pay off. It hasn’t been in the time I wanted.
“But, as you can see, in today’s time, it’s paying off and I appreciate it. It couldn’t have come at a better time.”
He said any of the top 154lbs fighters are fair game.
“I would love to fight any of the top 154lbs fighters to prove I’m the superior guy,” Adams said. “I was looking to fight [WBC interim champion] Vergil [Ortiz Jnr]. That was an opportunity that didn’t go through. [Fundora] would be a remarkable fight. The tallest guy in the division fighting the guy with the widest shoulders. The immovable object against the irresistible force. That would be dope. The fans would love it.
“Every fight I’ve fought that’s been televised has been a fan-friendly fight.”
