Can Vergil Ortiz Jr. solve Riyadh’s Madrimov puzzle?

Vergil Ortiz Jr. has a complicated puzzle to solve this Saturday in a battle with the former WBA junior middleweight champion on Riyadh’s Turki Al-Sheikh card this Saturday. Madrimov (10-1-1, 7 Kos) has gained much experience from his recent battle with Terrence Crawford, pushing an aging fighter to his physical limits in Los Angeles with a razor defeat. Ta.

(Credit: Melina Pizzano/Matchroom)

Is Madrimov skilled?

Ortiz Jr. (22-0, 21 Kos) must show more skill if he wants to win the WBC tentative 154 pound title against the more technically talented and powerful Madrimov . Working for 26-year-old Vergil JR, he is away from the tough battle with Serhii Bohachuk on August 10th last year, and is now diving straight into an even more challenging match with Madrimov. .

I saw Vergil Jr. quickly understand and destroy smooth British boxer Michael McKinson in 2022, but Madrimov is on a different level than the guy. He has size, skills and Golovkin-like powermakes him a scary opponent.

Ortiz Jr. cannot walk in a lightly pounding “Little Ggg” Madrimov. If he fights Madrimov like that, he will be dropped repeatedly, as he did in his suspicious 12-round majority decision victory over Bohafuk. Let’s be honest. That was a loss In the case of Vergil Ortiz Jr., however, he was awarded a decision by a Nevada judge. He was dropped twice by Bohachuk and appeared to have lost seven rounds, so it should be a clear victory for the Ukrainians.

What made the big mistake even worse was Ortiz Jr.’s choice not to give him a rematch. It said a lot about him. With the Battle of Ortiz Madrimov on Saturday being staged in Riyadh, Virgil Jr. can’t count on saving the judge if the fight is approaching. He needs to fight much better than he did against Bohachuk, and he faces a fierce fighter with better single punch power.

Ortiz Jr. needs a plan b

If you see what Madrimov did on Crawford’s face, you know that if he fights like normal, you know that a hot-hearted Virgil Jr. will absorb a lot of punishment in this contest . The primitive style that Ortiz Jr. separated during his career makes him an easy prey for Madrimov, whom he controls these types of fighters.

Vergil Jr. would have been forced to change his style long ago if he had fought better opposition and had competed at 154 from the beginning of his career. Ortiz Jr. will follow his old playbook trying to punch Madrimov, but if that doesn’t work, a Plan B strategy will be required.

🔸🔸🔶Isleirmadrimov🔶🔸🔸

Madrimov was a former WBA JMW champion and it was nothing but Bud Crawford to lose his only loss/strap.

Entering that fight, Crawford was on one TKO/KO streak, and Madrimov managed to make his 12th RDS with Bud.

Ortiz,… https://t.co/nbj9onpnfo pic.twitter.com/fjrvwpssk0

– About that life (@aboutthatlifeko) February 16, 2025