What an evening of boxing followers had final night time, in two areas. In Las Vegas, we would simply have witnessed the 2024 Battle of the Yr, this as Vergil Ortiz and Serhii Bohachuk engaged in an absolute slugfest over 12 thrilling rounds.
Sadly, we can also have seen essentially the most controversial resolution of the 12 months, as loads of individuals are screaming the ‘R’ phrase proper now, saying 5/1 underdog (in some locations) Bohachuk was denied a victory he earned by means of a theft.
The clamour for these two 154 pounders to run it again and do it once more, in a direct rematch, not one someplace down the highway, is big proper now. Each Bohachuk, who misplaced his WBC interim belt and is now 24-2(23), and Ortiz, who’s now 22-0(21), went to the hospital after their 12 spherical battle.
The motion was spellbinding, and the addition of immediate replay performed a component within the scoring of the struggle. The flash knockdown Bohachuk scored within the opening spherical was initially missed, however immediate replay noticed that issues had been put proper. Bohachuk scored one other knockdown in spherical eight, and this, his group argue, ought to have made certain he obtained the choice.
As an alternative, Ortiz obtained the win by way of majority resolution, the scores being 114-112, 114-114, and 113-113. Each warriors gave their all in a fantastic struggle – once more a real FOTY candidate right here in August – and a rematch makes a lot sense, on all ranges. T
right here was discuss earlier than final night time’s struggle of Ortiz, if he gained, going right into a struggle with Terence Crawford. That struggle will doubtless have to attend now. Turki Alalshikh himself has stated he needs to see Ortiz and Bohachuk struggle a rematch earlier than they struggle anyone else.
Over in Albuquerque, New Mexico, former 122 pound champ Angelo Leo might properly have scored the KO of the Yr, whereas on the similar time pulling off the Upset of the Yr. Leo starched defending IBF featherweight champ Luis Alberto Lopez with a depraved left hook to the pinnacle in spherical 10 of their forwards and backwards struggle. The left hook dropped Lopez closely onto his again and he had no probability of beating the ten depend.
Now 25-1(12), Leo units himself up for some large fights. Lopez, now 30-3(17) had been speaking earlier than final night time’s struggle of his need to welcome Naoya Inoue to the 126 pound ranks sooner or later, and of his confidence of with the ability to defeat “The Monster” if and when the struggle befell. Now, courtesy of probably the greatest, the sweetest left hooks you will notice this 12 months, these plans have vanished.
All in all, a really dramatic, thrilling, and unpredictable night time of boxing. With, in fact, some controversy thrown in for good measure.
