WBC interim junior middleweight champion Vergil Ortiz (23-0, 21 KOs) overcame a slow start to rally in the second half to defeat Israil Madrimov (10-2-1, 7 KOs) by a 12-round unanimous decision on Turki Alalshikh’s card on Saturday night at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
(Credit: Mark Robinson)
Madrimov outboxed Vergil Jr. in the first six rounds, making him miss and catching him repeatedly with sharp, accurate punches to the head that puffed up both of his eyes.
In the second half of the fight, Ortiz Jr’s pressure got to Madrimov, who was tired from all the useless movement he’d done earlier. Madrimov still landed the better shots and looked like he’d done enough to win two of the final six rounds. However, the judges felt that Vergil Jr. was the better guy.
At the end of the fight, both of Vergil Jr’s eyes were severely swollen, showing the effects of the harder punches that Madrimov was landing in the fight. Vergil Jr. looked like he’d been through pure hell, taking big shots and walking forward. It was fortunate to get the decision because it didn’t look like he’d done enough to win.
A rematch would make sense, but Vergil Jr. likely wants a title shot against WBC champion Sebastian Fundora.
The Scores
117-111
115-113
115-113
Last Updated on 02/22/2025