Promoter Oscar De La Hoya has come to the defense of his fighter, Vergil Ortiz Jr., following the controversial victory against WBC interim junior middleweight champion Serhii Bohachuk last Saturday night.
De La Hoya took to social media to address the backlash, tagging Ortiz Jr. in a post where he angrily defended the decision and criticized the CompuBox stats that painted a less-than-favorable picture of the fight for Ortiz Jr.
The CompuBox statistics seemed to confirm what some fans had witnessed during the fight: that Bohachuk had outperformed Ortiz Jr., but the Nevada judges awarded the victory to Ortiz Jr. De La Hoya’s frustration was evident in his post, where he lashed out at CompuBox, although his criticism of the stats seemed misplaced, as they merely reflected the data from the fight, showing Bohachuk as the more effective fighter.
The controversy has sparked debate in the boxing community, with some questioning the legitimacy of the win and the impact it may have on Ortiz Jr.'s career moving forward. De La Hoya and Ortiz Jr.'s trainer, Robert Garcia, have expressed interest in a potential bout against Terence Crawford next, but there are concerns that the controversial decision against Bohachuk could dampen the excitement and sales for a Crawford-Ortiz Jr. fight.
Instead of focusing on the CompuBox stats, critics argue that De La Hoya should prioritize organizing a rematch between Ortiz Jr. and Bohachuk to resolve any doubts about the legitimacy of Ortiz Jr.’s victory. Such a move would not only clear the controversy but also solidify Ortiz Jr.'s standing in the division. Without a rematch, Ortiz Jr. risks being labeled as a fighter who relies on questionable decisions.
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Image Credit: Golden Boy Promotions