Junior middleweight knockout artist Serhii Bohachuk is ready to get back on the saddle after somewhat of a snakebitten 2024 campaign.

Bohachuk (25-2, 24 KOs) will face Mykal Fox (24-4, 5 KOs) on Saturday in a 10-round bout to headline a 360 Promotions show on UFC Fight Pass at the Commerce Casino in Los Angeles.

Bohachuk had announced fights against Sebastian Fundora and Israil Madrimov slip through his hands last year, and he was also on the losing end of a disputed majority decision despite twice dropping Vergil Ortiz Jr. in a Fight of the Year-contending performance.

Fox, a 6-foot-3 southpaw, should provide Bohachuk a stiff test as “El Flaco” eyes the WBC 154-pound titleholder Fundora and IBF champion Bakhram Murtazaliev for fights later this year.

“Fox is a great opponent and he has a style like Fundora,” Bohachuk told The Ring. “He's a tall southpaw with good conditioning and good movement. He'll be a great experience for my career. I am ready for the fight, and I’m feeling great.”

After three consecutive unanimous decision losses to Luke Santamaria, Gabriel Maestre (highly disputed), and Egidijus Kavaliauskas from 2020-22, the 29-year-old Fox has landed back-to-back wins against journeymen Donald Ward and Yainel Alvarez. “The Professor” will sport an eight-inch reach advantage and a three-inch height advantage and provide Bohachuk valuable experience for the Fundora fight if it ever comes to fruition again.

Bohachuk, 30, was supposed to face Fundora in March 2024, but the matchup fell through when Fundora was called upon to fight Tim Tszyu and replace an injured Keith Thurman on two weeks’ notice. Instead, Bohachuk went on to score a unanimous decision win against Brian Mendoza Jr., while Fundora beat Bohachuk via split decision.

Bohachuk next went on to face Ortiz in an August barnburner, but lost the bout by scores of 114-112, 114-112 and 113-113.

In December, Bohachuk was supposed to fight Madrimov, but he pulled out of the fight citing acute bronchitis and instead pursued his already scheduled fight on Feb. 22 against Ortiz. Bohachuk kept busy by blasting Ishmael Davis in six rounds.

“A lot of opponents are scared to fight with me. I am a big risk,” said Bohachuk. “I need to show that I am the best. Give me the best opponents and the champions, and I will show. I am the people's champion. Fans love my boxing. That's the most important for me – to show my fans an interesting fight, like I did against Ortiz.”

Bohachuk is rated No. 6 by The Ring at 154 pounds and is the WBC’s No. 1-ranked contender. He’s also ranked No. 6 by the WBO and No. 8 by the IBF.

“I need a title shot. I want to fight Fundora. He has balls. He has courage. He's strong. But he has other plans,” said Bohachuk.

Fundora recently relinquished his WBO title to move forward with a rematch against Tszyu on July 19 in Las Vegas. Bohachuk, who’s sparred more than 100 rounds against Fundora in recent years, is picking “The Towering Inferno” to blaze Tszyu by stoppage in the sequel.

As Murtazaliev also waits for a viable dance partner, Bohachuk promoter Tom Loeffler told The Ring that he’s planning on pursuing the battle between Ukrainian and Russian knockout artists, ideally as a featured bout on the Canelo Alvarez-Terence Crawford undercard in September.

“I would also like to fight Bakhram,” said Bohachuk. “I hope I get the Bakhram fight. I want that fight. He's a good opponent. It's a good fight for me. I hope my promoter can make the fight this year. I think it will be a war, a very interesting and dangerous fight.”