Jamal James and Radzhab Butaev will begin the World Boxing Association (WBA) Welterweight Box Off with their title bout this Saturday night in Las Vegas.

James, who is the champion, will fight the fourth-ranked fighter of the WBA. The American will defend his title for the first time against the Russian in a bout that will put the winner in good position to become the only 147-pound champion in the WBA.

Whoever comes out on top will have to face the winner of the bout between the super champion, Cuban Yordenis Ugas and his mandatory challenger, Lithuanian Eimantas Stanionis, who must fight in the coming months. 

These pairings were ordered by the Championships Committee as part of the WBA’s plan to reduce the number of world titles.