Super welterweight Vergil Ortiz Jr. of Grand Prairie, Texas (23-0, 21 KOs) played against type and played it smart in his fight against Israil Madrimov of Uzbekistan (10-2, 7 KOs) to win a close decision. Ortiz Jr. retains his WBC interim super welterweight title.
Scorecards were 117-111, and 115-113 twice.
Vergil Ortiz Jr. celebrates his win with his father, Vergil Sr. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing Vergil Ortiz Jr. celebrates his win with his father, Vergil Sr. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing “I knew that I was a better fighter,” said Ortiz Jr. after his win. “We knew what kind of fight it was going to be. He’s a tough opponent. He was there to win, to prove himself after a loss against one of the best in the world. And we just want to show that we’re the best at 154 and we say yes to everybody.”
Balanced Performance by Vergil Ortiz Jr. Although he loves to fight, Vergil Ortiz Jr. was defensively smart against Israil Madrimov. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing Although he loves to fight, Vergil Ortiz Jr. was defensively smart against Israil Madrimov. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing Ortiz Jr. is a throwback, seek-and-destroy fighter. He says to anyone who will listen that he loves to fight. But he and trainer Robert Garcia knew they had an elusive, tricky opponent in Madrimov who relies on footwork and angles to stay out of harm’s way. So, instead of roaring forward and trading power shots as he did in a tough fight against Serhii Bohachuk, Ortiz Jr. was patient and disciplined. He applied equal attention to his defense while prompting Madrimov to come after him.
Ortiz Jr. agreed his job was to stay composed and not get over-excited. “Stay patient, you know, no, not overthrow. You know, it’s something I’ve learned over my years in boxing where I just, I put everything in one punch, but I knew that I was gonna have to be smart and pick my punches.”
Vergil Ortiz Jr. nearly scored a knockdown with a hard body shot followed by an uppercut in round nine. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing Vergil Ortiz Jr. nearly scored a knockdown with a hard body shot followed by an uppercut in round nine. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing Ortiz Jr. invested in the body of Madrimov early, not looking to score a knockdown but to “chop down the tree,” as old-school boxing heads say. It forced Madrimov to drop his elbows to protect himself, leaving him open for the hooks and uppercuts. It also slowed him down. Madrimov showed less movement in the ring against Ortiz Jr. than he did in a much better performance against Terence Crawford.
In the ninth round, Ortiz Jr. put everything he had into a single body shot, knocking the wind out of Madrimov. He stayed on his feet, but just barely. It was near the end of the round, and Ortiz Jr. couldn’t capitalize with a knockdown or stoppage.
But as he returned to the corner, trainer Robert Garcia said, “You got him now!” He admonished Ortiz Jr. not to let Madrimov steal any of the championship rounds.
Vergil Ortiz Jr. kept up the pressure against Israil Madrimov. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing Vergil Ortiz Jr. kept up the pressure against Israil Madrimov. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing Madrimov had to try and swing for the fences, and it’s simply not his style. He couldn’t land anything hard enough to change the narrative of the fight. Madrimov repeatedly pushed Ortiz Jr.’s head down throughout the fight, and in the final round, he narrowly avoided having a point taken away, escaping with his third warning.
Ortiz Jr. may not be the destroyer of his youth at 147 pounds. But he is a far more well-rounded fighter. He learned a lot from the war with Bohachuk and understands how to use all the tools in his toolkit to win.
Ortiz Jr. is now in position for the title fight he’s been denied. “I just want to fight the best. And everyone who Turkey gives me, I say yes, you can ask him himself. I’ve never ducked anybody, no matter what anybody says.”
