Vergil Ortiz Jr. says he expects his fight against Israil Madrimov to be a “chess match“Next month when they fight in a 12-round match on February 22 in Riyadh.
Ortiz Jr. (22-0, 21 KOs) will defend his WBC interim junior middleweight title that he was lucky enough to get in his last fight against Serhii Bohachuk against former WBA 154-lb champion Madrimov (10-1- 1, 7). OK).
Madrimov’s power vs. Ortiz Jr.’s pace
Former amateur star Madrimov has the skills and power advantage over Ortiz Jr., but doesn’t possess the same punch production or stamina. If Israil is unable to throw more and fight harder in the later turns, Vergil Jr.
As we saw in Madrimov’s recent loss to Terence Crawford, he uses too many feints, and waits too long to throw his shots. When Madrimov throws, it’s always just a single punch. Not a combo puncher. Feint for 30 seconds, then throw a single shot, and then start over. That’s why he lost to Crawford, and why he might lose to Vergil.
“I can’t tell you how it’s going to go. I think it’s going to be a chess match, but it’s going to be fun. It’s going to be fun,” Vergil Ortiz Jr. said. at Queensberry Promotions’ YouTube channel on his title defense against Israil Madrimov on February 22 in Riyadh.
“I think there is a lot of bull s*** with people. “Oh, I see fear,” said Vergil Jr. when asked what he saw during his face with Israil Madrimov. “I’m just here looking at you because I have to do it. Do you know what I mean? I don’t see anything. I’m like, “This is part of the job or whatever,” trying not to laugh. That’s what I think. Try not to laugh or something. It’s just being honest,” Ortiz Jr. said.
Recent Controversies
Both fighters were in recent matches that could have easily gone the other way with the tables turned. Madrimov beat Terence Crawford but was handed a questionable 12-round unanimous decision on August 3 last year. Vergil Jr. he was very fortunate to win a 12-round majority decision over interim 154 lb WBC champion Bohachuk on August 10th.
Ortiz Jr. he was dropped twice, and appeared to lose six of the twelve rounds. Normally, this would mean a loss, but the judges gave it to Vergil, the A-side fighter, and now he is the new interim WBC champion. Obviously, it would have been better if Vergil had cleared the controversy, but he chose not to. That doesn’t help his career because the fans see him as a tainted champion now.
