By: Sean Crose
“Ya’ll need me to shake somebody’s hand,” Virgil Ortiz requested rhetorically on social media Thursday, “after individuals on mentioned individual’s staff has been calling me unprofessional this and that? I give respect the place it’s due.” Ortiz was referring to a press convention the place he wouldn’t shake the hand of Serhii Bohachuk, who he’ll be going through tomorrow evening in Las Vegas. “Everybody right here is aware of I’m a respectful individual. You wanna say I’m unsportsmanlike and change sides? I actually dgaf” [sic]. What the 21-0 Ortiz DOES care about is besting the 24-1 Bohachuk. The 2 males have been sparing companions, in any case.
Ortiz is nothing if not one of many rising stars of the game. At 26 years of age, the undefeated Texan has but to go the gap within the skilled struggle ring. Ortiz’ final struggle was a primary spherical destruction of veteran Thomas Dulorme again in April. Ortiz earlier struggle, which was in opposition to Fredrick Lawson in February, additionally didn’t get previous the opening spherical. Certainly, no Ortiz struggle has made it previous the ninth spherical. With that being mentioned, Bohachuk has some severe firepower of his personal. All however certainly one of his 24 victories have ended earlier than the ultimate bell.
Nonetheless, Ortiz’ promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, is so excessive on his man that he needs Ortiz to face Terence Crawford in a brilliant struggle subsequent 12 months. Supplied, in fact, that Ortiz can get previous the fearsome Ortiz. With Bohachuk’s WBC interim world tremendous welterweight title on the road, there’s greater than bragging rights at stake this this weekend on the Mandalay Bay Occasions Heart. A loss won’t spell the top of Ortiz’ profession however it will definitely derail the prepare he’s at the moment racing throughout the panorama on. A loss for Bohachuk may show much more damaging for the L.A. (by the use of Ukraine) fighter.
A win, alternatively, units both man up for giant issues. World title photographs, high competitors, such issues might be all be lined up for the winner. That is going to be a crossroads struggle between two hungry energy punchers which implies it needs to be an fascinating predominant occasion Saturday evening in Vegas.
And, if something, this weekend ought to present how properly suited Ortiz is for the junior middleweight division. That is solely his third struggle at 154 kilos, which implies Ortiz has one thing to show. Count on each fighters to enter the ring Saturday evening intensely motivated.
