Madrimov’s plan: Outsmart Ortiz or knock him out?

Israil Madrimov is spending the last 50 days of preparation before challenging WBC interim junior middleweight champion Vergil Ortiz Jr. on February 22, the Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol 2 card in Riyadh. The event can be seen live on DAZN PPV.

Former WBA 154-pound champion Madrimov (10-1-1, 7 KOs) will use what he learned from his recent 12-round unanimous decision loss to Terence Crawford to defeat popular Vergil Jr. (22-0, 21 KOs). ).

Ortiz Jr.’s relentless pressure

Israil lost the Crawford fight because he couldn’t stand in the trenches and throw leather in the last three rounds, 10 to 12. Terence’s pressure made him look tired and scared, which was strange considering he had the advantage of power, size and amateur experience.

Ortiz Jr. he’ll probably try to overwhelm Madrimov with the pressure like Crawford did in the championship rounds, but he’ll do it from the first round. If Madrimov can’t fight like that, he’ll lose a wide decision, or he could get knocked out. It comes down to endurance and courage. If he is missing in any of these categories on February 22 in Riyadh, Vergil Jr. it will win him over and make him look bad.

Madrimov, 29, has the superior boxing skills to win a decision against Ortiz Jr., 26, but that may not be enough for him to prevail.

Beterbiev vs Bivol 2 Card

Daniel Dubois v. Joseph Parker
Carlos Adames vs. Hamzah Sheeraz
Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Israel Madrimov
Shakur Stevenson vs. Floyd Schofield
Zhilei Zhang vs. Agit Kabayel
Joshua Buathi vs. Callum Smith

DAZN PPV Undercard Debate

Interestingly, the Ortiz vs. Madrimov fight has been placed under the Adames-Sheeraz fight. Sheeraz is not highly regarded in the US, especially after he chose not to challenge Janibek Alimkhanuly for his IBF and WBO middleweight titles. Vergil-Madrimov should definitely be the co-feature of the Beterbiev vs. card. Bivol 2 because it’s a better fight than the ones above this card.

Adames is also not well known in the United States and is seen as the weakest link between the champions at 160. As such, this Adames-Sheeraz should rank below the Ortiz Jr. fight. vs. Madrimov, towards the end of the letter. Real talents should be at the top instead of becoming publicists and paper champions.

In Vergil Jr’s highly controversial 12-round majority decision win over Serhii Bohachuk on August 10, we saw that Madrimov may have to go the one-sided rounds or score a knockout.

Fighting on the outside gives Madrimov the edge if he can do it for the entire fight, but again, it’s questionable if he can take down the A-face fighter Vergil by boxing him out.

The level of fighting and inner activity favors Vergil. In terms of popularity, Ortiz has a huge advantage as he has a huge fan base on the West Coast of the US, especially in the Los Angeles area.

Vergil Jr. he has better stamina than Madrimov, who lost in the later rounds in his loss to Crawford.

The Dream @IsrailMadrimov it’s ready for next month 💫#BetterbievBivol2 | #Riyadh season | February 22, live on DAZN | @Turki_alalshikh pic.twitter.com/uCbikr0LY7

— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) January 3, 2025