My favorite statistic this week is that out of the 45 combined victories of Serhii Bohachuk and Vergil Ortiz -- who clash this Saturday night at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas -- 44 of them have come by knockout.
Yes, I know, I know, there are lies, damn lies... and statistics.
But they tell the truth in this instance. Bohachuk-Ortiz, a contest for the WBC interim junior middleweight title, is a fan-friendly fight, that will provide plenty of fireworks. What we have here are two offensively orientated boxers who are in the prime of their lives.
Golden Boy Promotions
The 29 year old Bohachuk (24-1, 23 KOs) is coming off a decisive 12-round victory over the respected Brian Mendoza in late March. On this night at the T-Mobile Arena he just methodically out-worked Mendoza with a relentless two-fisted attack. Mendoza -- who has a victory over Sebastian Fundora to his credit -- was game, but out-gunned.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQr2m4UDHe4
Bohachuk isn't necessarily someone that knocks you out cold with a single shot. He is a grinding, pressure fighter, that puts on constant pressure and causes physical erosion over time. This Ukrainian isn't hard to find. He prefers to work in close quarters and suffocate his foes with leather.
PBC
As for Ortiz (21-0, 21 KOs), this is technically his first real junior middleweight contest. His two bouts in 2024 versus Frederick Lawson and Thomas Dulorme had contracted weights just above 154. (And to be clear, he did not technically miss weight)
It wasn't too long ago that the 26 year old native of Grand Prairie, Texas, was a rising welterweight contender on the verge of big things. Unfortunately, in the last year or two, he has been beset with a case of rhabdomyolysis (which can be caused by over-training). Which is why he has only fought once since the summer of 2022.
He has reunited with his old-new trainer, Robert Garcia, and the expectation is that Ortiz will come in on weight. It will be interesting to see how he looks and feels at the junior middleweight limit. It may only seem like a pound or two difference, but anyone who has cut weight will tell you that those are the toughest ones to shed.
Golden Boy Promotions
Ortiz has some athletic advantages versus Bohachuk. He is faster and quicker off the trigger, and he has the type of power where he has scored more than one highlight reel KO.
VERGIL ORTIZ JR'S TOP 10 KNOCKOUTS
While Ortiz might have the advantage in the early rounds, what happens if this bout goes into the late and middle rounds? As stated earlier, this is Ortiz's third contest of the year, the other two didn't get out of the first. It will be vital for Bohachuk to get out of the early stages relatively unscathed, he has to deal with the expected early onslaught from Ortiz.
This is why this contest is so intriguing. We have two combatants who have each scored a multitude of stoppages, but have gone about it in different ways.
Last week's affair between Terence Crawford and Israil Madrimov was tactical and strategic. This weekend we should expect a good ol' fashioned donnybrook with a good deal of violence.
ESPN
While that's taking place on DAZN, ESPN has a Top Rank card from the Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The bill is topped by IBF featherweight champion, Luis Alberto Lopez, taking on Angelo Leo.
What makes this bout interesting is that Leo hails from Albuquerque (which has produced the likes of Johnny Tapia and Danny Romero). So 'Venado' is venturing into enemy territory by going into the challenger's hometown.
Top Rank
This turns out to be nothing new for him.
In the past Lopez has gone into the backyards of Isaac Lowe, Josh Warrington, and Michael Conlan in the UK, and scored three victories.
He is boxing's latest road warrior.
3KR
This week on 'the 3 Knockdown Rule' with Mario Lopez and I, we have a complete recap of the Riyadh Season card that took place at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles:
THE 3 KNOCKDOWN RULE EPISODE 55 | RIYADH SEASON IN LA
To subscribe on your preferred podcast platform, click on the Linktree:
3knockdownrule - Listen on YouTube, Spotify - Linktree
FINAL FLURRIES
In the latest Ring Ratings at junior middleweight, Crawford is now number one, followed by Madrimov. Bohachuk comes in at five....The likes of Charles Conwell, Kenneth Sims, and Joel Iriarte are on that DAZN/Golden Boy show at the Mandalay Bay...As for the ESPN/Top Rank, the co-main has a junior welterweight battle between Lindolfo Delgado and Bryan Flores.....Turki versus Canelo currently the greatest rivalry in boxing?....I can be reached at k9kim@yahoo.com....
