It’s now been five months since Russian Super-Lightweight and former IBF Champion 🇧🇾Ivan Baranchyk (19-1-0, 12KO) was eliminated in the semifinals of the World Boxing Super Series tournament. Baranchyk went down by unanimous decision, losing his title in the process, to Scotland’s Josh Taylor.

The rough and rugged Baranchyk returns to the ring Saturday on the undercard to the IBF Middleweight world title bout between Gennadiy Golovkin and Sergey Derevyachenko at Madison Square Garden. Baranchyk will face 38 year old ring veteran 🇺🇸Gabriel Bracero (25-3-1, 6KO) in a ten round match.

Baranchyk fought hard against Taylor, making for some solid action at times, but he was simply overmatched in overall skill down the stretch of the bout. His pressure style has made him a hit with fans where he currently resides in Miami, Oklahoma, and can provide us with some quality matchups going forward, so this is a fight that should get him back in the fold in the 140 pound division.

As for Bracero, the Brooklyn native has never made the rise to championship contention but has faced a former Champion in Paulie Malignaggi, losing a decision in 2016, and title contender Felix Diaz in 2015 where he also lost on the cards. It’s been 15 months since Bracero was in the ring where he won by 5th round knockout over Artemio Reyes in a scheduled 10 round bout.

This one bodes well for Baranchyk to impose his physical strength early and often. Bracero has 29 fights under his belt and has never been stopped in 3 losses, but he only brings a 21% knockout rate to the table. His lack of pop will prevent him from holding off the brutish attack of Baranchyk, and he will eventually break under the pressure in a early-mid round stoppage.

PREDICTION: BARANCHYK 4TH ROUND TKO