IBF junior middleweight champion Bakhram Murtazaliev might be the only option for Vergil Ortiz Jr. to fight for him to get a world title shot in 2025. Vergil Jr. would need a whole new style change to have a chance at beating Murtazaliev, but he’s not going to outslug this guy.
Murtazaliev’s power
Bakhram’s third-round knockout win over former WBO 154-lb champion Tim Tszyu on October 19th last year may have scared away Vergil Ortiz Jr. and the other fighters in the division. Terence Crawford had initially talked about wanting to become the undisputed champion at junior middleweight. Still, after Murtazaliev’s knockout of Tszyu, he went quiet and said he only wanted to get the big fights.
Golden Boy Promotions would have to give the green light for Vergil Jr. to face Bakhram (23-0, 17 KOs), and it’s doubtful that they would. Even Ortiz Jr doesn’t mention wanting to fight him. He wants to challenge for a world title but knows his limitations.
He barely beat his last two opponents, Israil Madrimov and Serhii Bohachuk. The undefeated Vergil Jr, 26, took a beating in both fights, and his face looked like it had been run over by a Mac truck. If that’s what Madrimov and Bokhachuk could do to Ortiz Jr, you can only imagine what Bakhram Murtazaliev would do.
Ortiz Jr. (23-0, 21 KOs) said last Saturday night he’s ready to challenge any of the champions at 154 that are willing to give him the opportunity after his narrow 12-round unanimous decision win over Israil Madrimov at The Venue in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
No Takers
Vergil Jr. called out WBA 154-lb champion Terence Crawford and WBC and WBO champ Sebastian Fundora immediately after his fight with Madrimov. However, Crawford is already scheduled to face Canelo Alvarez on September 13th, and Fundora isn’t interested in fighting him.
Earlier today, when asked who he wants to fight next after his March 22nd title defense against Chordale Booker, Fundora said, “Errol Spence or Terence Crawford fights are always open.”
For Vergil Ortiz Jr. to have a chance of beating a powerful puncher like Murtazaliev, he’ll need to adopt the style of Dmitry Bivol by becoming a runner and clincher. If he can move around for 12 rounds like Bivol does, he’d have a chance, but even then, Murtazaliev hits so hard that he might do a job on him like he did Tim Tszyu on October 19th last year.
Last Updated on 02/25/2025