Vergil Ortiz Jr puts his perfect unbeaten record on the line at Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas this Saturday night, and also goes for the interim WBC super welterweight title, as he faces the champion, Serhii Bohachuk in Sin City.
Golden Boy promote Ortiz vs Bohachuk, and DAZN televise live.
Ortiz Jr (21-0, 21 KOs) has compiled an unblemished record with several impressive displays, and has climbed the ranks with a series of wins against gate-keeper type opposition.
After halting Egidijus Kavaliauskas in eight in August 2021, and then Michael McKinson in nine a year later, Ortiz had outgrown the weight, and moved up to super welterweight after a 17-month lay-off to wipe out Fredrick Lawson inside a round.
Ortiz was last out in April, and again needed less than a round to see off Thomas Dulorme.
The Texan was due to face Tim Tszyu last week on the Madrimov v Crawford bill, but the Australian hadn’t fully healed from a bruising defeat to full WBC champion Sebastian Fundora to meet Ortiz in time, and California-based Bohachuk (24-1, 23 KOs) steps in.
The 29-year-old is also a heavy-handed type, and after being stopped in eight by Brandon Adams in March 2021, he has won six on the spin, but had to go the distance for the first time in his last outing in March, taking the interim belt with a clear decision win against Brian Mendoza, who had knocked out Fundora in April last year.
Prediction: With neither man used to hearing a final bell, this one is likely to not last the distance. Ortiz can start well, and break Bohachuk down for a stoppage win after the halfway mark.
⚠️ Serhii Bohachuk ➕Vergil Ortiz Jr. = 𝟒𝟓 𝐕𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝟒𝟒 𝐊𝐎𝐬
Don’t miss it, LIVE on DAZN August 10 pic.twitter.com/KbbNTS22bC
— Golden Boy (@GoldenBoyBoxing) August 2, 2024
Braekhus looks to roll back the years
Cecilia Braekhus (37-2-1, 9 KOs) is now 42, but the former pound for pound star still holds ambition, and faces Maricela Cornejo (19-6, 7 KOs) for the interim WBC super welterweight title.
The Norwegian saw her invincibility disappear in August 2020, when she lost her undisputed welterweight title in a majority loss to Jessica McCaskill, and the American repeated the trick in March 2021, this time unanimously.
After a comeback win, Braekhus was then held to a draw in a bid for WBA and WBO 154 pound belts in October 2023 by Terri Harper.
Cornejo has lost three times in world title bids, the last a landslide points loss to Claressa Shields in a bid for the undisputed middleweight title in June last year, but she has won three on the bounce since, all over a scheduled wight round though.
Prediction: Braekhus isn’t getting any younger, but should still have enough for Cornejo, and can win clearly over the distance on points.
Fundora defends against Asenjo
A Fundora does make the undercard, and Gabriela Fundora (13-0, 6 KOs) should defend her IBF flyweight title for a second time, this time against Daniela Asenjo (16-3-3, 2 KOs).
Defending what’s hers! Gabriela Fundora successfully defended her title vs. Christina Cruz in January. She makes her second title defense Saturday night LIVE on DAZN #BohachukOrtiz | LIVE on DAZN Aug 10
🎟️: https://t.co/coPovrnXLK pic.twitter.com/JUCU8wGldn— Golden Boy (@GoldenBoyBoxing) August 7, 2024
Fundora won the belt against Arely Mucino in October last year, and defended with a points win against Christina Cruz in January. Chile’s Asenjo is a former IBO super flyweight champion, and has won her last five contests, the last a points win over Victoria Torres Canul in March. Fundora can retain on the cards.
Further undercard preview
In ten rounders, super welterweight prospect Charles Conwell (19-0, 14 KOs) should carry on his unbeaten run, and can stop Khiary Gray (18-6, 13 KOs) inside schedule.
At super lightweight, Kenneth Sims Jr (20-2-1, 7 KOs) can extend his winning run to eight with a points win against Jair Valtierra (17-3, 9 KOs). Middleweight hope Eric Priest (13-0, 8 KOs) should have too much for Luka Lozo (9-2-1, 8 KOs), and can win by stoppage.
In six round action, Joel Iriarte (3-0, 3 KOs) can take his welterweight meeting with Miguel Ortiz (3-1, 1 KOs) on the scorecards, and at bantamweight, Figo Ramirez Gonzalez (7-0, 3 KOs) can stop Jose Silva Gonzalez (5-0-1, 4 KOs).
Statement made in Round 1😤
Another knockout for Joel Iriarte ✅
Watch #GoulamirianRamirez LIVE on DAZN pic.twitter.com/aLcEygPyoY
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) March 31, 2024
In four round contests, Jonathan Canas (4-0, 2 KOs) can bank a points win in his lightweight bout against Joseph Cruz Brown (7-9, 3 KOs). Welterweight debutant Jennah Crearson should win on points against Kelsey Wickstrum (2-1, 1 KO), and bantamweight first-timer Jordan Fuentes can begin with an early win against James Mulder (0-2).
