On a bustling Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the WBC interim junior middleweight champion Vergil Ortiz Jr. managed to secure another win, improving his record to 23-0 with 21 knockouts. His unanimous decision victory over Israil Madrimov, who now sits at 10-2-1 with 7 KOs, left fans buzzing.
Despite neither fighter landing any significant damage, Ortiz Jr. ended the night with noticeably swollen eyes, a testament to the battle he endured in the ring. Madrimov, showcasing his strategic prowess, used his agility and powerful punches to put Ortiz Jr. on the back foot during the first six rounds. However, as the fight progressed, Madrimov’s stamina waned, allowing Ortiz Jr. to seize the advantage and dominate the latter half.
### Controversial Verdict?
The judges scored the fight at 115-113, 115-113, and 117-111 in favor of Ortiz Jr., although many spectators believed Madrimov deserved a win based on his performance. Some argue that Ortiz Jr. was awarded rounds for his aggression rather than effective striking.
Promoter Oscar De La Hoya, speaking with iFL TV, explained, “A big reason Madrimov did well against Crawford is due to his bouncing movement before he throws. Vergil was prepared for that.” De La Hoya praised Ortiz Jr.’s body shots and power, claiming, “Vergil hits with force. I saw it 8-4 in favor of Vergil. He wasn’t phased by Madrimov’s style.”
While De La Hoya praised Ortiz Jr.’s performance, saying he “was hunting him down,” it’s hard to ignore that Ortiz Jr. was visibly challenged early on. The bout was reminiscent of Madrimov’s rough breaks in previous decisions, including his fight with Terence Crawford. Speaking of Crawford, De La Hoya hinted at the possibility of a future bout against Ortiz Jr. “I doubt it’s likely, but if wishes were horses, it might happen.”
### Dreams of Crawford vs. Ortiz Jr.
De La Hoya expressed optimism about a potential fight with Crawford, stating, “With [Turki Alalshikh] and DAZN involved, the possibilities are endless. These fights can happen smoothly.” However, without the financial incentive, it’s unlikely Crawford will risk facing Ortiz Jr. Especially after a lucrative fight with Canelo Alvarez, Crawford seems inclined to preserve his win-based earnings streak, making such a match-up with Ortiz Jr. improbable unless it guarantees a substantial paycheck. Essentially, Crawford will be calculating who he faces based on both risk and reward, sidestepping bouts that don’t align with those criteria.
