Vergil Ortiz Jr vs Israil Madrimov Predictions: No quarter asked and none given

Unbeaten phenom Vergil Ortiz Jr. puts his WBC interim super welterweight title on the line against Israil Madrimov this Saturday, February 22. The bout takes place at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh as part of the Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol II undercard. Sky Sports Box Office, TNT Sports Box Office and DAZN PPV will televise.

Here are my Ortiz Jr. vs Madrimov predictions ahead of this high-quality contest.

Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs Israil Madrimov Odds

Madrimov is 1/1 to pull off the mild upset here while Ortiz is marginally in front at 10/11. The draw is marketed at 14/1.

Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs Israil Madrimov Fight Preview

Ortiz comes into this one at a comparative lowpoint. Having knocked out his first 21 opponents, most in spectacular fashion, last time out he met a problem he couldn’t punch away. Ukrainian hardman Serhii Bohachuk not only took Ortiz the distance last August, but he also knocked Ortiz down in rounds one and eight.

Suddenly, the star without a ceiling came mightily close to cascading off of one. Ortiz had looked largely untroubled in amassing his formidable record. Despite deservedly winning in the Bohachuk war, pounding the challenger with some sickening body shots, there was still vulnerabilities we had never seen before. 

Bizarrely, Madrimov was originally set to face both halves of that Fight of the Year contender within two months. With Saturday’s fight with Ortiz already on the docket, ‘The Dream’ initially had a date with Bohachuk pencilled in for the Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury II undercard last December.

That fight was cancelled, perhaps quite rightly, and now Madrimov faces Bohachuk’s conqueror. Like the Ukrainian, Madrimov’s reputation was greatly enhanced by his performance in a recent defeat.

Madrimov pushed Terence Crawford to the absolute limit, defending his WBA super welterweight belt against ‘Bud’ last year. It was Crawford’s debut at the weight and he suffered at the hands of the relentless Uzbekistani fighter. The pound-for-pound icon emerged as a deserving, but dishevelled, points victor.

That fight saw Madrimov become the first man to take Crawford 12 rounds since 2016. No small feat. But now he steps up to prove that he is about more than brave defeats. Winning that WBA strap and knocking out Magomed Kurbanov in the process was no mirage. Russia’s ‘Black Lion’ had never lost. But Madrimov took him out and took the belt.

Ortiz deserves applause for taking this fight. As Madrimov demonstrated against Crawford, he can make the best fighters look average. It is up to the Texan not to get dragged into that vortex. At a time when he probably needed a confidence-builder, Ortiz has instead chosen to face one of the division’s true danger men.

This fight has an intoxicating mix of ingredients. Both are come-forward, pressure-fighters. Each will look to lead this cruel and brutal dance. When fighters of this ilk clash, something has to give. Usually backward steps are not taken willingly. Any ground gained is forcibly taken. That is usually a concoction for a classic fight. I feel like that is exactly what we will get in Riyadh.

Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs Israil Madrimov Full Card

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Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs Israil Madrimov Prediction

This is a tricky one. This is the sort of fight that can turn on one mistake or one punch. One moment of ingenuity or one of despair. But I think I know which way the wind is blowing.

I like Ortiz in this one. The confidence of never having lost. The new experience of emerging from deep waters against Bohachuk. The realisation he can win even if his man is standing at the bell. I like Ortiz to get this job done.

But Madrimov is built to last and last I believe he will. I’m taking Ortiz on points at 15/8.

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