Vergil Ortiz Jr. Outpoints Israil Madrimov to Remain in World Title Contention

Vergil Ortiz Jr. (23-0, 21 KOs) kept himself on the world title track by defeating Israil Madrimov (10-2-1, 7 KOs) via unanimous decision.

Scores were 117-111 and 115-113 (x2) for Ortiz. With the win, he remains on track to challenge for the WBC super welterweight title. The belt is currently held by Sebastian Fundora, who also holds the WBO title.

The fight took place on a Riyadh Season card at the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Boxing fans around the world could catch the action live on DAZN as a pay-per-view (PPV). TNT Sports and Sky Sports also carried the card for those in the United Kingdom. PPV.com were also broadcasting the event.

Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol 2 is part of Riyadh Season, a state-funded entertainment and sports festival. The Saudi Arabian General Entertainment Authority is responsible for its organization.

Vergil Ortiz Jr. Outpoints Israil Madrimov Over 12 Rounds

Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Israil Madrimov Fight Recap

The opening round saw Madrimov on the back foot and constantly on the move, but throwing little. Ortiz pursued his opponent and attempted to close off the ring, but struggled to do so. Due to Madrimov’s movement, few punches were being landed and the Uzbek himself was also not throwing much in the early rounds.

As the fight progressed, Ortiz started to close the distance and have better success landing his punches, in particular the left hook to the body. Madrimov was repeatedly warned for leading with his head, but was never deducted a point for doing so. Ortiz continued to press forward and be the aggressor, allowing him to land more than his opponent.

Madrimov began seeking more toe-to-toe exchanges in the final four rounds of the contest, possibly sensing that he was falling behind. Ortiz was prepared, however, and was able to land the better punches. Madrimov had moments of success, but was generally struggling to land on Ortiz. In the end, the American outworked Madrimov and was able to secure the win on the judges scorecards.

Post-fight Interview

Vergil Ortiz Jr.

“Stay patient, not overthrow,” said Ortiz about how he dealt with Madrimov’s movement. “It’s something I’ve learned over my years in boxing where I just put everything into one punch, but I knew that I was going to have to be smart and pick my punches.”

“Just to stay composed,” he said about how he dealt with having to trade more in the second half of the fight. “Not to get overexcited because I get excited. I love to fight. So, just stay composed and just do what I do best.”