Vergil Ortiz Jr. is preparing to defend his WBC interim super-welterweight title when he takes on Israil Madrimov at Riyadh Season's The Last Crescendo , live on DAZN Pay-Per-View this Saturday ( February 22).
Ortiz Jr. faces off against the Uzbek fighter as a part of a sensational undercard that will be headlined by the mouthwatering undisputed light-heavyweight rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol .
The American is eyeing a potential blockbuster bout for the top title in the division, but first he must negotiate past a foe who is looking to bounce back from his loss to Terence Crawford.
Here is everything you need to know ahead of Vergil Ortiz Jr vs Israil Madrimov.
When is Vergil Ortiz Jr vs Israil Madrimov?
- Date : Saturday, February 22
- Time : 7:00pm KSA; 4:00pm GMT; 11:00am ET; 8:00am PT.
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Carlos Adames vs Hamzah Sheeraz ringwalks (approx) : 9:40pm KSA; 6:40pm GMT; 1:40pm ET; 10:40am PT.
The main fight card and DAZN broadcast will begin at 7:00pm KSA; 4:00pm GMT; 11:00am ET; 8:00am PT.
Otiz Jr. and Madrimov go toe-to-toe at 9:40pm KSA; 6:40pm GMT; 1:40pm ET; 10:40am PT.
What has been said?
Madrimov is putting pressure on Crawford, and Crawford is waiting for an opening. He just got caught with a right band, though,” said Vergil Ortiz Jr. to DAZN Boxing, re-watching Israil Madrimov’s last fight against Terence Crawford from August 3rd last year."
“Madrimov is doing a good job defensively. He’s not getting hit a lot. It didn’t. I thought Crawford was going to win more decisively, but Madrimov did a really good job of taking away what Crawford does best. He had a lot of good feints. He was throwing a lot. I know Crawford was respecting his power because he [Madrimov] does hit a little hard.
"I haven’t yet, but I will,” said Vergil Jr. when asked if he’d studied this fight between Madrimov and Crawford to get ready for his clash. “The thing is, me and Crawford are two completely different fighters. Of course, I can study it but the thing is even if me and Crawford fought the same, he’s [Madrimov] going to go about it differently."
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