Vergil Ortiz Jr. is gearing up for a challenging defense of his WBC interim junior middleweight title against former champion Israil Madrimov. Ortiz made waves by edging the always-tough Serhii Bohachuk last time out and initially aimed to welcome welterweight ace Jaron "Boots" Ennis to 154. When that matchup fell apart, he wasted no time agreeing to take on Madrimov.
Ortiz admits he’s been hungry for big-name foes for a while. He told BoxingScene he's tired of critics claiming he's not fighting elite opposition. He says he’s more than willing to face whoever’s at the top, recalling how potential showdowns with Keith Thurman and others never materialized. With Madrimov fresh off a razor-thin decision loss to one of the sport’s pound-for-pound best, Terence Crawford, Ortiz knows he’s in for a significant test and is thrilled at the chance to prove he’s the real deal.
Watch the open workouts highlights: Watch
This isn’t the first time Ortiz and Madrimov have shared the ring. They sparred in 2021 while Ortiz was preparing for Egidijus Kavaliauskas, and Ortiz remembers those sessions being both intense and illuminating. He predicts fireworks on Saturday, believing fans will see two of the most aggressive, high-level fighters at 154 showcase why the junior middleweight division is currently among boxing’s most loaded.
A victory this weekend could vault Ortiz into a full-on title fight against WBA champion Crawford, Sebastian Fundora, or Bakhram Murtazaliev. Ortiz makes it clear he’d prefer a showdown with Crawford - if the four-division champion doesn’t retire after his rumored bout with Canelo Alvarez. Still, Ortiz would happily embrace a match with either Fundora or Murtazaliev if Crawford steps away. For now, though, the Texan’s immediate focus remains on Madrimov, a man many felt deserved the nod in his battle with Crawford.
Vote for the best fighter here.
Image Credit: Matchroom Boxing