Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs Israil Madrimov vs Preview Feb. 22nd, 2025
Unbeaten WBC Interim Junior Middleweight Title Champion Vergil Ortiz Jr of Dallas, Texas meets Israil Madrimov of Uzbekistan in a 12-rounder this Saturday, Feb. 22nd. The fight takes place in Saudi Arabia and can be seen live on pay-per-view in most nations. Ortiz beat Serhii Bohachuk via a controversial majority decision in August to win the interim belt despite being knocked down in the first and eighth rounds of a slugfest. Madrimov last fought in August as well when he dropped a close unanimous decision to Terence Crawford in a shot at the WBO Interim Junior Middleweight Crown for his lone pro defeat.
Ortiz Jr. vs Madrimov Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Israil Madrimov +100
- Vergil Ortiz -130
My Pick
Madrimov is a 29-year-old who boxes out of Indio, California and makes the ring walk with a fine mark of 10-1-1 with 7 Ko’s and has quite a bit of power in his arsenal as 70 per cent of his wins have been by stoppage. However four of his past seven fights have gone the distance and he also had a three-round technical draw with Michael Soro in July, 2022 when Soro’s eye was cut badly from an accidental clash of heads.
Madrimov made his pro debut in 2018 and has 86 rounds of experience under his belt. He won the vacant WBA Inter-Continental Super Welterweight Title in his second pro outing with a second-round stoppage of Frank Rojas and has also beaten Vladimir Hernandez,Norberto Gonzalez, Alejandro Barrera, Charlie Navarro, Eric Walker, Emmany Kalombo and Michael Soro in their first meeting. Madrimov stands just over 5-feet-8-inches tall with a 68.5-inch reach so isn’t a big for the 154 lb division by any stretch of the imagination.
He enjoyed a fine amateur career and captured a silver medal in the welterweight division at the 2014 Asian Games and a gold medal as a middleweight at the 2018 Asian Games. He also took gold at the 2017 Asian Championships and silver at the 2011 Junior World Championships and 2013 Asian Youth Championships. Madrimov won the 2013 and 2016 Uzbekistan National Championships and took silver in 2014 and also competed in the World Series of Boxing as an amateur.
The 26-year-old Ortiz Jr is one of the hottest prospects in boxing right now as he owns a perfect record of 22-0 and can even do better than Madrimov when it comes to power 21 of his 22 wins have come by stoppage for a knockout ratio of 95.4 per cent. He’s fought just four times since September, 2021 though due to medical issues. His knockout record means he’s a feared puncher with excellent power but he was dropped twice by Bohachuk in his last fight but recovered well. Ortiz turned pro in 2016 and has boxed just 83 rounds since because of that power.
Before that he also enjoyed a fine amateur career by winning National Silver Gloves Titles from 2012 to 2014. Ortiz also won a National Under-17 Crown in 2013 and placed second a year later. In addition, he placed second at the 2016 National Golden Gloves Championships. As a pro, Ortiz has captured the vacant NABF Junior Super Lightweight Title, the WBO International Welterweight Title and something called the World Boxing Association Gold World Welter Title.
His biggest wins have been against Bohachuk, Thomas Dulorme, Fredrick Lawson, Michael McKinson, Egidijus Kavaliauskas, Maurice Hooker, Samuel Vargas, Brad Solomon, Antonio Orozco and Mauricio Herrera and he was the first man to stop Herrera. Ortiz has also beaten the likes of Jesus Alvarez Rodriguez, Juan Carlos Salgado, Roberto Ortiz and Jesus A Valdez Barrayan. Ortiz, who trains with Robert Garcia, stands 5-feet-10-inches tall and owns a 70-inch reach so has a 1.5-inch edge in both height and reach against Madrimov.
Prediction…
Madrimov and Ortiz both have power but Madrimov didn’t let his hands go nearly enough in his loss to Crawford last year. On the other hand, Ortiz let the leather fly in his fight-of-the-year contender against Bohachuk. This could start out as a bit of a chess match if Madrimov doesn’t want to open up. This is a tossup so it’s going to come down to their chins and will to win. Ortiz is naturally more aggressive and if he takes the fight to Madrimov with non-stop punching I give him the slight edge.
A pick-em fight with Ortiz being more aggressive.
Play Ortiz -325 @ BetOnline.ag
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Israil Madrimov betting • Vergil Ortiz Jr betting