Madrimov's plan: outsmart Ortiz or take him out?

Israil Madrimov has been training for the past 50 days before challenging WBC interim junior middleweight champion Vergil Ortiz Jr. on February 22 in Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol 2 in Riyadh. The event can be seen live on DAZN PPV.

Former WBA 154-lb 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 Virgil Jr. (22-0, 21 KOs) ).

Ortiz Jr.'s relentless pressure

Israil lost the fight to Crawford because he was unable to stand in the trenches and throw leather in the last three rounds, from the 10th to the 12th. Terrance's pressure made him look tired and scared, which was odd considering he had the advantage of strength, size, and amateur experience.

Ortiz Jr. he'll probably try to crush Madrimov with pressure like Crawford did in the championship rounds, but he'll do so from the first round. If Madrimov can't fight like that, he will lose a wide decision or he could be knocked out. It all comes down to endurance and courage. If he lacks any of those categories on February 22 in Riyadh, Vergil Jr. it will beat him and make him look bad.

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

Beterbiev vs. Bivolu 2 Card

Daniel DuBois v. Joseph Parker
Carlos Adames Vs. Hamza Shiraz
Virgil Ortiz Jr. vs. Israel Madrimov
Shakur Stevenson vs. Floyd Scofield
Zhilei Zhang vs. Agit Kabayel
Joshua Buati Vs. Calum Smith

DAZN PPV Undercard Debate

Interestingly, the Ortiz vs. Madrimov fight is placed under the Adames-Shiraz fight. Sheeraz is not highly regarded in the US, mainly after he chose not to challenge Janibek Alimkhanuly for his IBF and WBO middleweight titles. Vergil-Madrimov should probably be the co-feature on the Beterbiev vs. Bivol 2 card because it's a better fight than those above them on that card.

Adams is also not well known in the US and is considered the weakest of the champs at 160. As such, this Adams-Sheeraz should be positioned below the Ortiz Jr. vs. Madrimov fight, towards the bottom of the card. Real talent should be near the top, not advertising jobs 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 make the rounds one-sided 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 beat the A-side fighter Vergil by boxing him out.

The level of infighting and activity is in Vergil's favor. In terms of popularity, Ortiz has a big advantage as he has a large fan base on the west coast of the US, especially in the Los Angeles area.

Virgil Jr. has better stamina than Madrimov, who burned out in the later rounds in his loss to Crawford.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐫𝐚𝐦 @IsrailMadrimov is ready for next month 💫#BetterbievBivol2 | #RiyadhSeason | February 22, live on DAZN | @Turki_alalshikh pic.twitter.com/uCbikr0LY7

— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) January 3, 2025