The main event of the Golden Boy Promotions card at the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas lived up to the fans’ expectations of a war. American Vergil Ortiz Jr. (22-0-0, 21 KOs) narrowly defeated the indomitable Ukrainian Serhii Bohachuk (24-2-0, 23 KOs) by Majority Decision, capturing the Interim WBC super welterweight title. The judges’ scores of 113-113, 114-112, and 114-112 leave room for doubt. Ortiz is now likely to secure a super fight against Terence Crawford.
As anticipated, there was no feeling-out process in this fight. From the opening bell, both fighters met in the center of the ring, exchanging brutal punches. Ortiz’s speed initially gave him an edge, but Bohachuk quickly raised the pace, leading to a controversial moment.
A right hand from the Ukrainian, seemingly not overly powerful, struck Ortiz on the temple, causing him to lose his balance and touch the canvas. Referee Harvey Dock chose not to administer a count, judging the punch irrelevant to the fall. However, as per WBC rules, the incident was reviewed at ringside, and at the end of the fourth round, it was ruled a knockdown, leading to revised scorecards.
Ortiz, the pre-fight favorite, responded with a surge of intensity, delivering outstanding performances in the second and third rounds, showcasing a champion’s rhythm, variety, and counter-punching. However, despite his best efforts, Ortiz couldn’t deter Bohachuk, who continued to press forward with relentless determination.
From the fourth round onward, Ortiz was forced to lower his intensity, leading to more balanced rounds. Bohachuk’s relentless pressure and high volume of punches were met by Ortiz’s superior accuracy and explosiveness, occasionally seeing Ortiz adapt as an outfighter.
At the midpoint, seemingly behind on the cards, Bohachuk took control. Increasing his pressure in the latter half of the seventh round, he scored a brilliant knockdown in the eighth with a perfectly timed left hook to Ortiz’s chin, forcing the American to touch the canvas. Despite Ortiz’s protests, there was no doubt about the legitimacy of the count this time.
Energized by the knockdown, Bohachuk pressed on in the following rounds, with tactical plans abandoned on both sides, turning the bout into a fierce battle. Despite the alternating dynamics, with Bohachuk’s higher work rate and Ortiz’s sudden brilliant actions, it seemed Bohachuk was gaining the upper hand and heading towards victory.
However, just as the fight appeared to be slipping away, Ortiz dug deep, delivering a dominant performance in the championship rounds. Ortiz overwhelmed Bohachuk in the eleventh, landing a barrage of powerful shots, and in the final round, after weathering two dangerous right hands, he finished strong, making the judges’ decision extremely difficult.
This writer had Bohachuk ahead by two points at the final bell, considering the knockdowns. However, given the number of close rounds, Ortiz’s narrow victory is not outrageous and falls within acceptable interpretations. Nonetheless, it’s hard not to suspect that the plans already expressed by Turki Alalshikh to organize a fight between Ortiz and Terence Crawford, combined with the significant interests of Golden Boy Promotions, who have Ortiz as their top fighter, might have swayed the judges slightly in Ortiz’s favor.
Regardless of opinions on the scoring, the fight was incredibly intense, spectacular, and thrilling. It would be great to see both fighters earn prestigious opportunities in the near future, potentially leading to an exciting rematch down the line.