Israel Madrimov is putting himself through the final 50 days of preparation before challenging interim WBC junior middleweight champion Virgil Ortiz Jr. on February 22, on the Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol 2 card in Riyadh. The event can be watched 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 against Terence Crawford to take down the popular Virgil Jr. (22-0, 21 KOs).
Ortiz Jr.'s relentless pressure
Israel lost the Crawford fight because he failed to stand in the trenches and throw hides in the final three rounds, tenth through twelfth. Terrence's pressure made him look tired and afraid, which was strange considering he had the advantage of strength, size and amateur experience.
Ortiz Jr. will likely try to overpower Madrimov with pressure like Crawford did in the championship rounds, but he will do so from the first round. If Madrimov can't fight like this, he will lose a wide decision, or he could be knocked out. It's about endurance and courage. If he lacks in either of those categories on February 22 in Riyadh, Virgil Jr. will beat him and make him look bad.
Madrimov, 29, has superior boxing skills to win a decision against Ortiz Jr., 26, but that may not be enough for him to pick up the win.
Beterbiev vs. Bivol 2 card
Daniel DuBois vs. Joseph Parker
Carlos Adams vs. Hamza Shiraz
Virgil Ortiz Jr. vs. Israel Madrimov
Shakur Stevenson vs. Floyd Scofield
Chili Zhang vs. I came from tribes
Joshua Bowie vs. Callum Smith
Discuss DAZN PPV Undercard
Interestingly enough, the Ortiz vs. Madrimov fight was placed under the Adams vs. Shiraz fight. Shiraz doesn't get much attention in the United States, especially after he chose not to challenge Janibek Alimkhanuli for his IBF and WBO middleweight titles. Vergil-Madrimov should arguably be the co-advantage on the Beterbiev vs. Bivol 2 because it's a better fight than the one above them on this card.
Adames is not well known in the United States either and is viewed as the weak link among the champions at 160. As such, Adames-Sheeraz should be placed below the Ortiz Jr. fight. Against Madrimov, towards the bottom of the card. Real talent should be near the top rather than hype jobs and paper champions.
In Virgil Jr.'s controversial 12-round decision win over Serhiy Bohachuk on August 10, we saw that Madrimov may need to make the rounds one-sided or score a knockout.
Fighting on the outside gives Madrimov the advantage if he can do that throughout the fight, but again, it's questionable whether he can defeat the top-sided fighter Virgil by boxing him.
The level of combat and indoor activity favors Virgil. In terms of popularity, Ortiz has a huge advantage, as he has a large fan base on the West Coast of the United States, especially in the Los Angeles area.
Virgil Jr. has better stamina than Madrimov, who was gassed in the later rounds in his loss to Crawford.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 @IsrailMadrimov Ready for next month 💫#betterbievbeful2 | #Riyadh Season | February 22, live on DAZN | @Turki_alalshikh pic.twitter.com/uCbikr0LY7
– DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) January 3, 2025
