Youthful confidence and recklessness often get the best of all of us.

Serhii Bohachuk is no different, but by landing his rematch with Brandon Adams on the Canelo Alvarez-Terence Crawford card September 13 card he’s freed to display the effects of his wisdom and maturity in seeking revenge.

When they met in March 2021, on a RingCity USA card in Puerto Rico, the then-26-year-old Bohachuk built a lead on all three scorecards and landed some impressive, crisp power punches to Adams’ jaw in the eighth round before leaving himself open.

Struck hard to the head by a counter left, Bohachuk was further rocked by a combination in the final minute of the round before Adams uncorked a massive left to the head that dropped Bohachuk. When he sought to stand by the eight-count, his wobbly legs triggered a stunning stoppage.

It was Bohachuk’s first loss, and Adams’ first career TKO after the seventh round.

“I made a big mistake four years ago with Brandon Adams,” Bohachuk told BoxingScene this week. “Now, I need to fix that mistake and show people I’m the better boxer. I’m better, I’m stronger and I will show this. Showing this on this big night makes it very interesting.”

Bohachuk trainer Manny Robles said the Adams loss was the greatest lesson his fighter has absorbed. Bohachuk had stopped his first 18 foes before Adams and admitted he wanted to beat Adams in the same fashion as the deep waters approached.

Seeking that signature finish got him caught.

“I learned I needed to be smarter, that I needed to be ready for [a distance fight],” Bohachuk said. “I made mistakes because I was feeling tired, and he was fresh.

“For this fight, I know I can’t go in there with my hands down as I’m trying to go forward, leading with my chin upward. No, my chin needs to be down. I need to be careful. Now, I’m different. Before, in every fight, I never worried about winning by decision. Now, I know I can allow taking a decision from 12 good rounds of boxing. I’m ready for 15 rounds.”

Ironically, Bohachuk is training under the same cornerman in Robles in the same gym in Big Bear Lake, California, where he trained before his 2017 pro debut.

The cardio and stamina effects of the high-altitude training should make Bohachuk the fresher fighter as the aging Adams enters off a loss and a 10-month layoff.

Thanks to the card’s high profile, Bohachuk believes an impressive victory should move him to a title shot. He was supposed to fight current WBC champion Sebastian Fundora in March 2024, but an injury to Keith Thurman led Fundora to a title shot against Tim Tszyu that he won while Bohachuk was left with an empty promise that Fundora would fight him down the road.

Now, because Bohachuk narrowly lost a 2024 decision to Vergil Ortiz Jnr despite dropping Ortiz twice, Ortiz stands as the WBC’s interim champion, obstructing Bohachuk’s WBC title shot unless Ortiz is upset by Erickson Lubin in November.

“I’m No. 1. Fundora’s a good boxer. I will show him and my fans quality boxing [September 13] and I’ll make it an interesting fight because he’s one of the best in the division,” Bohachuk said.

Perhaps of greater interest would be a 2026 title shot at IBF 154lbs champion Bakhram Murtazaliev of Chechnya, Russia. Amid the backdrop of the warring countries, a bout between two ferocious punchers would compel.

“For me, my interest is in winning a title and it doesn’t matter who I fight to get it,” Bohachuk said. “Bakhram would make for an interesting title fight, and if my promoter can make this fight, let’s go.”

It doesn’t need to get political, Bohachuk added.

“I don’t know Bakhram’s position. Maybe he’s a good guy, maybe he’s not supporting this stupid war. He lives here [in Southern California]. He’s from Chechnya. He’s not just bad because he’s from Russia,” Bohachuk said.

First comes the matter of Adams, and the opportunity of displaying his development for an NFL stadium crowd and a large streaming audience to witness.

“It’s so big and interesting. I need to show everyone that four years ago was a big mistake. I will fix this mistake, and I want to show everyone I’m the best boxer in this division,” Bohachuk said. “I’m ready for the title. I’m ready for everyone. Let’s go.”