Vergil Ortiz Jr passed the toughest test of his career on the Beterbiev-Bivol 2 undercard in Riyadh, grinding out a competitive but clear decision win over Israil Madrimov to retain his interim WBC super welterweight title. The scorecards read 115-113, 115-113 and 117-111, reflecting a fight that was far closer than Ortiz’s usual highlight-reel stoppages.
A different kind of test
Madrimov, moving up from a career built at 154lbs with genuine power and awkward angles, gave Ortiz problems he hadn’t faced before. The Uzbek’s cautious, technical approach neutralised Ortiz’s usual front-foot aggression for long stretches in the opening half of the fight, forcing the previously undefeated knockout artist to actually box and adjust on the fly rather than simply walk through an opponent.
Ortiz responded by increasing his work rate and asserting control of the centre of the ring from around the midpoint, using his jab to close the distance before letting his hands go in combination. It wasn’t the routine blowout fans of his 21-knockout resume have come to expect, but it may prove more valuable in the long run: proof that Ortiz can win rounds on the back of boxing IQ and not just power alone.
Undefeated record intact at 23-0
The win moved Ortiz to 23-0 with 21 knockouts, while Madrimov dropped to 10-2-1. It keeps Ortiz’s interim WBC strap in place and his position as one of the most avoided operators at 154lbs firmly intact, even if this performance will invite more scrutiny of his output against elite-level opposition than his knockout reel ever did.
Ennis next?
The story since has moved beyond Madrimov. Ortiz has continued to build a case for a genuine super-fight at 154lbs, with Jaron “Boots” Ennis emerging as the most dangerous and most discussed live option after their paths crossed post-fight following Ortiz’s subsequent win over Erickson Lubin. Two unbeaten, heavy-handed operators at similar weight, with unification and bragging rights both on the line, would be exactly the kind of fight that turns a good 2025-26 into a genuinely historic one for whichever man comes out on top.