When you trade with Vergil Ortiz Jr., you know what you have signed up for. Carrying a brute force behind his punches, he has decimated everyone who stood across from him in the squared circle. You won’t be wrong if you take him to be the next champion in the making. But what if the American boxer finds his match? What if he meets someone who throws punches with the same force and carries the same intimidating aura?

The fans will witness a clash of two knockout machines when Ortiz Jr. fights it out with Serhii Bohachuk. The Golden Boy Promotions fight card has everything it needs to make it a PPV blockbuster— fireworks, fast and relentless action, and an opportunity at one of the top names at 154 next, most probably Sebastian Fundora. Before the two go to war this Saturday at the Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas, let’s have a look at how the two stack up.

Serhii Bohachuk vs. Vergil Ortiz Jr.: Tale of Tape

Ortiz Jr. has been the talk of the town because of his aggression and penchant for knockouts since he landed on the scene. What worked for him at 147 was his size and power advantage, which helped him rack up an unblemished record of 21-0. Fans flocked to his fights to witness the 26-year-old dismantle opponents, and his eye-popping KO ratio of 100% tells why. In addition, Ortiz Jr. terrorized the division once occupied by Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr., as he used his long arms to unleash heavy punches. His height of 5’10” (178 cm) and reach of 70.0″ (178 cm) allowed him to squeeze into the needs of 147, but soon health concerns followed, and he moved up to 154. Is the welterweight fighter still the same? If anything, he is more terrifying. Since moving into Light Middleweight both his fights have been 1st-round knockouts. That is how dangerous Ortiz Jr is at the moment.

Where does it leave Bohachuk? The Ukrainian, the more experienced of the two at 29, has more fights under his belt and has built a reputation for a perfect blend of power and skills. Despite suffering one hiccup against Brandon Adams, he finds himself at 24-1 with 23 KOs. The sole fight where he went the distance was when the interim WBC super welterweight title was on the line, and you have to give it to him that he prioritized the gold over the finish. Now that he has it, you can expect him to pull all the punches for a stoppage win and improve his current KO ratio of 95.83%. What’s more, the Vinitza native has a size advantage over Ortiz Jr. with his height of 6’0″ (183 cm) and long levers with a reach of 73.0″ (185 cm).

When you add Bohachuk’s weight of 155.6 lbs (70.6 kg) into the mix, he is well adjusted to the vagaries of the 154-pound division. Compared to him, Ortiz Jr. weighed 152.5 lbs (69.2 kg) when he last stood on the scales, suggesting he still has some changes to make. But that didn’t affect his performance inside the ring, as he hasn’t gone beyond the first round in his last two fights. So, it seems that the Texan has reinvented himself, with more effective and precise punching but with more power. Will it be enough to halt the interim WBC champion’s juggernaut?

Prediction: Where will the fight be won?

What has been different about Ortiz Jr. in the last couple of fights? Despite coming off a 16-month-long layoff, he has added more weapons to his arsenal under the guidance of his long-time trainer and coaching great Robert Garcia. His skills have improved significantly, and he doesn’t solely rely on his punches to bag a favorable outcome. While he has racked up two consecutive round 1 finishes, his better conditioning and boxing prowess was on display. Undoubtedly, the decision to move up has benefited him. The orthodox boxer has been swifter on his feet and more loaded with power. You should look for his power punches, which are coming with more force and with more calculations.

However, if there is someone who can go toe-to-toe with him, it is Bohachuk. ‘El Flaco’ is also coming off a dominant victory, where he tore down Brian Mendoza. That’s not it. He has fought fighters with better competitors compared to the crop of journeymen that Ortiz Jr. mowed down upon his return. When you weigh them on the scales of skills, the fighter hailing from Europe has the upper hand. But their power makes it a level playing field. It’s one of the closest fights to call and, irrespective of the result, you are in for a thrill.

What do you make of this coming fight between Serhii Bohachuk and Vergil Ortiz Jr.? Who do you think will leave the arena with a win on August 10? Let us know in the comments below.