Now and then, a hot prospect with a quick pair of hands and power behind punches rises. But very few of them maintain their upward trajectory. Ashton Sylve seems like one of those rare cases where you look at a young boxer and instantly realize they are destined for greatness. But is it really the case? Will the American continue to sway fans and make a strong case for himself at 140? Or will he stumble on his way as he faces a more experienced fighter in Lucas Bahdi?

The fans will find out whether Sylve lives up to his hype when he fights on the exciting Jake Paul vs. Mike Perry undercard. While Sylve is still rising through the ranks, Bahdi finds himself on the cusp of a title shot. The #12 ranked IBF fighter is a couple of fights away from punching his golden ticket. So, two fighters on two different journeys collide at the Amalie Arena in Tampa on July 20. Who wins this fight is anyone’s guess, but we have you covered. Before making any predictions, let’s have a look at how the two boxers stack up.

Ashton Sylve vs. Lucas Bahdi: Tale of Tape

You know Sylve is special given the amount of faith ‘The Problem Child’ and MVP Promotions have in him. At 20, he has already headlined a couple of MVP cards, including his previous bout with Estivan Falcao in Orlando this February. It’s impressive, isn’t it? The numbers also strengthen his case, as he has racked up an impressive record of 11-0 with 9 KOs. Sylve has swayed fans and pundits with his power and fan-friendly style, as suggested by his KO ratio of 81.82%. That’s not it. Did you know that the Long Beach native made his pro debut even before he graduated high school?

Sylve also has the frame to impose his will on his opponents inside the ring, as he stands tall at 5’8″ (173 cm) and has a reach of 68″ (173 cm). So, he is turning out to be the best investment MVP Promotions has made so far. Does Bahdi have what it takes to spoil MVP’s blue-chip prospect? The Canadian boxer certainly has turned heads with his performances and is more experienced, having more fights under his belt. At 30, he boasts an unblemished record of 16-0 with 14 KOs.

If you think Sylve’s punches cause destruction, you should look at Bahdi’s KO ratio of 87.5%, which implies that his blows snuff the air out of his foes. In addition, he also carries the size advantage, as his height measures 5’9″ (175 cm). He also has the weight advantage to push the narrative statistically in his favor. When Bahdi last stood on the scales, he weighed 134.5 pounds (64.6 kg). But does ‘Prince’ have enough tools in his arsenal to bag a win and inch closer to his dream?

Prediction: X factor, and what should you look forward to?

When you look at Sylve, you see a boxer who has been molded into a fighter with a champion’s potential. Even before making his professional debut, he was sparring with the likes of former world champion Leo Santa Cruz and continued to do so, even helping him prepare for the fight against Gervonta Davis. While ‘H20’ certainly made a reputation as a talented boxer with a swift pair of hands and ample knockout power, there are no visible cracks in his game. Maybe he didn’t need to exhibit his skill set, but the fans will witness those as he moves up.

However, what separates him from the rest is his confidence and belief in himself that he is already a boxing superstar. MVP Promotions and the younger of the Paul brothers have already instilled the champion’s mindset in him, and it will be hard to strip him of that. But Bahdi has all the experience in the world to overcome and prevail over whatever Sylve throws at him.

The lightweight boxer is not only a skilled technician but also a power puncher in true essence. Bahdi is on a three-fight knockout streak and is still at peak physical levels, as he brushed aside Jose Luis Rodriguez on June 1. His size and weight advantage will also make a difference in the ring, but not as much as his experience. It remains to be seen how he handles Sylve and whether the latter’s youthful energy makes a difference inside the squared circle. You can be certain of one thing, though: the fight is not going the distance.

What do you make of this coming fight between Ashton Sylve and Lucas Bahdi? Who do you think will emerge victorious? Let us know in the comments below.