Oscar De La Hoya predicts his fighter, WBC interim junior middleweight champion Vergil Ortiz Jr, will “steal the present” on the February twenty second card by defeating ‘Little GGG’ Israil Madrimov in Riyadh.
De La Hoya feels that Vergil Jr’s ring smarts will allow him to cope with the ability of former WBA 154-lb champion Madrimov (10-1-1, 7 KOs) of their struggle on the Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol 2 card.
Will Ortiz Jr. Steal The Present?
Oscar says this can be a powerful struggle for Ortiz Jr. (22-0, 21 KOs) to take coming off his grueling battle towards Serhii Bohachuk on August tenth. Vergil Jr, 26, was dropped twice in that struggle, took many heavy pictures, and was fortunate to win.
The punishment that Bohachuk’s final opponent, Ishmael Davis, took towards him final Saturday night time in Riyadh was nothing in comparison with what Ortiz Jr. absorbed final August. That’s why there are query marks about whether or not Vergil Jr. can stand as much as the ability of Madrimov on February twenty second.
Whereas he’s had time to recuperate from the beating he took from Bohachuk, it won’t be sufficient for him to cope with a man that hits simply as arduous, if not tougher, towards ‘Little GGG.’ This isn’t a struggle the place Vergil Jr. can rely on successful by outboxing Madrimov the way in which he did towards Bohachuk within the final three rounds to tug out the victory.
‘Little GGG’: Madrimov’s Energy
“Model-wise, it’s a tricky struggle. Vergil is coming off an amazing win towards [Serhii] Bohachuk,” mentioned Oscar De La Hoya to Struggle Hub TV, speaking about Vergil Ortiz Jr. defending his WBC interim junior middleweight title towards Israil Madrimov subsequent month on February twenty second in Riyadh.
“So, virtually comparable types in a approach. Madrimov has a greater boxing IQ however hits arduous like a mule [kicks], and he comes ahead. It’s going to be a really entertaining struggle. Vergil Ortiz will steal the present that night time.
“Vergil Ortiz is a really good fighter. He is aware of precisely what he has to do contained in the ring. I’m certain he research his opponents. His cornerman and group research their opponents to ensure Vergil is within the optimum circumstances,” mentioned Oscar.
Madrimov is a totally completely different type than Bohachuk, and he’s nowhere close to the identical. De La Hoya has received it flawed, considering they’ve comparable types.
Bohachuk is a relentless, high-volume puncher who by no means stops throwing. In distinction, Madrimov is a low-output boxer with massive energy. Their similarities lie of their wonderful punching energy. Madrimov has higher hand pace than Bohachuk, however not by a lot.
Madrimov misplaced his final struggle to Terence Crawford by an in depth 12 round-unanimous resolution on August third in Los Angeles. It was a winnable one for Madrimov going into the final 4 rounds, however he let Crawford take the victory by outworking him.
He confirmed an excessive amount of respect for Crawford and didn’t assault him relentlessly as he wanted to. Should you may have transplanted Bohachuk’s aggressive type in Madrimov in these final 4 rounds, he would have doubtless knocked out Crawford or, on the very least, put him on the run.
Bouncing Again
Vergil Jr. had large issues towards Bohachuk, getting dropped in rounds one and eight. Ortiz Jr’s 12-round majority resolution win on August tenth was controversial and harm his recognition. What made it worse was not giving Bohachuk a rematch. That cemented followers’ view that Ortiz Jr. knew he misplaced and didn’t wish to struggle Serhii once more, fearing that the judges would get it proper this time.
“Vergil is a really clever younger man who is aware of methods to care for enterprise. He is aware of methods to modify. I believe these changes within the first quarter of the struggle and first half of the struggle are going to be essential,” mentioned De La Hoya.
