MONTROSE, California – Hard-charging knockout artists Bakhram Murtazaliev and Vergil Ortiz Jr. have planted the seeds for what could be one of the most violent fights that could be made in boxing today.

Following Ortiz’s win against Israil Madrimov, the IBF junior middleweight champion Murtazaliev wrote on social media 23 vs. 23, referencing both of their undefeated records.

The post got the Texan’s attention, and Ortiz (23-0, 21 KOs) responded with an eye emoji.

“I like it,” said Murtazaliev (23-0, 17 KOs).

“Honestly, I don't know if Ortiz wants that smoke,” Murtazaliev head coach Roma Kalantaryan told The Ring in an interview. “I think someone will get stopped in that fight and it could be the fight of the year. I don't know if Vergil is big enough to pressure Bakhram. Maybe not. He couldn't really pressure Serhii Bohachuk, and Bohachuk and Bakhram are pretty much the same size. He'd have to be more technical than physical because physically, I don't think he can go up against Bakhram. We'll have our game plan ready to go and will try to be better. Ortiz executed a perfect game plan against Madrimov. As far as Madrimov, he looked like an amateur. He's a good fighter. I don't know why he looked like that. He shouldn't have looked like that. I don't think Madrimov was prepared for Ortiz's tricks.”

Murtazaliev had been training in Southern California with Kalantaryan at KD MMA in recent weeks but has since returned home to Russia in observance of Ramadan.

Murtazaliev is hoping to make an early summertime return following his three-round demolition job of Tim Tzysu in October.

The prolific performance, which came with a broken right hand, has made it even more difficult for Murtazaliev to get callouts from the rest of the weight class. Kalantaryan said Murtazaliev is growing increasingly weary of being the avoided boogeyman of the division.

The 154-pound weight class features champions like Terence Crawford (WBA) and Sebastian Fundora (WBC/WBO) and top contenders like Ortiz (WBC interim title holder), Madrimov, Bohachuk, Charles Conwell, Jesus Ramos Jr., Keith Thurman, and the inactive likes of Jermell Charlo and Errol Spence Jr.

Murtazaliev is still in a good position. In addition to carrying the IBF crown, he also has a top-notch team handling his career in reigning Manager of the Year Egis Klimas and Hall of Fame promoter Kathy Duva.

“I hope the Fundora fight happens as well,” said Kalantaryan. “That's the best fight for us. Bakhram wants to unify the titles. Or we are going to move to 160 pounds. His power is different. It's painful. It's like being hit by a supercharged SUV. He smashes everything.”