LAS VEGAS – It was a matter of taste for the judges deciding Sunday’s Serhii Bohachuk-Radzhab Butaev middleweight fight: Softer, scoring blows, or power punching?

In the end, Bohachuk’s more assertive effort gained him a much-needed split-decision victory by scores of 96-94 on two cards, while the third had it by the same score for Butaev in the Zuffa Boxing co-main event at the Apex.

The bout closed with a toe-to-toe tenth as each fighter wailed from close distance, hoping to lobby one more time for the campaign they were waging.

Bohachuk, 27-3, enters Zuffa Boxing on the heels of two losses in his past four bouts – surrendering his WBC interim 154lbs belt to Vergil Ortiz Jnr in 2024, then getting defeated for a second time by veteran Brandon Adams on the Terence Crawford-Canelo Alvarez undercard in September.

Stoking the Ukrainian’s passion to regain his position as a top contender in the loaded division was the assignment of the Russian Butaev, 16-2, who has never touched the canvas through his first 18 bouts.

In a reference to the obvious politics in play in the bout pitting products of warring nations, Bohachuk said he’s happiest “when my fans enjoy my fight.”

Bohachuk, 30, applied the in-your-face style that made the Ortiz bout so gripping, with Bohachuk scoring two knockdowns in that bout.

Positioned defiantly in front of Butaev, Bohachuk found openings for his right fist to strike Butaev’s jaw.

Fighting from a southpaw pose, Butaev worked to land scoring blows throughout, but failed to match Bohachuk’s strength.

Bohachuk’s activity intensified in the fifth and his up-close punching kept the accounting of the heavier scoring blows comfortably in his favor.

Trainer Manny Robles pressed Bohachuk to continue the zero-subtlety fight plan of slugging it out up close, and Bohachuk jarred Butaev with rights, seeking to tire the Russian.

By the eighth round, it became clear Butaev was dug in on the idea of remaining upright against Bohachuk, hopeful the right judges were viewing his accomplishments favorably.

Bohsachuk, meanwhile, just lowered his head and slugged away.

After all, he just needed a win.