Ortiz Edges Bohachuk in a Brutal Battle plus Other Results from Mandalay Bay

LAS VEGAS-Vergil Ortiz Jr. survived two flash knockdowns and a savage bloody slugfest to emerge the winner by majority decision over Ukraine’s Serhii Bohachuk on Saturday.

It was brutal.

Texas tough Ortiz (22-0, 21 KOs) lost his knockout streak but overcame two knockdowns against Bohachuk (24-2, 23 KOs) to become the new interim WBC titlist in front of more than 6,000 fans at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.

Can anyone say Fight of the Year?

Bohachuk warned fans about putting too much emphasis on sparring. He warned that real fights are different and that despite Ortiz and him sparring before, it would not provide clear insight.

From the opening bell both former gym mates clobbered each other like those circus piledriver hammer displays.

Ortiz quickly showed his ability to box and move from the outside while connecting with big shots from long range. It seemed the Texan was in control when suddenly Bohachuk connected with a left hook and down went Ortiz. He quickly got up and the referee judged it a slip. The two continued to clobber each other.

A replay showed that a punch was delivered and landed by Bohachuk.

Ortiz returned the next round with jabs in volumes and followed that in the third round by going in close to battle nose-to-nose. Though both connected, Ortiz was slightly busier.

The fourth round saw Ortiz slowing the tempo and that allowed Bohachuk an opening to attack with his usual volume punching. The Ukrainian fighter known as “Flaco” was the busier fighter.

Just as the fifth round began the fight was stopped and the referee informed Ortiz’s corner that a replay substantiated the knockdown in the first round. That information seemed to inflame Ortiz who opened up his attack. And then resorted to a more measured and strategic style.

Bohachuk took advantage.

Early in the eighth round, Ortiz opened up with a combination and was countered by a left hook from Bohachuk and down went the Texan once again. And once again it looked like a slip but a punch was thrown and connected. Ortiz rallied furiously with an assault that seemed to wobble the taller Ukrainian fighter. But now he had suffered two knockdowns.

Ortiz was urged by his corner that those two knockdowns put him in a hole on the score cards. He rallied with a savage assault but every time it seemed the Ukrainian fighter was about to fall, Bohachuk would connect with one of those long right crosses.

Right cross after right cross seemed to catch Ortiz’s chin time and time again.

After 12 rounds one judge scored it 113-113 a draw, with two others scoring 114-112 for Ortiz who becomes the new interim champion.

The mostly pro-Ortiz crowd erupted in cheers.

“I feel like I did enough,” said Ortiz.

Bohachuk was sad, but blunt.

“He knows what happened,” Bohachuk said.

Both promoters declared it will be voted Fight of the Year.

“Lots of credit to Virgil Ortiz to show he’s a true champion for going 12 rounds,” said Tom Loeffler of 360 Promotions. “You have got to give both fighters credit for Fight of the Year.”

Other Bouts

One of the best secrets in boxing Charles Conwell continued his reign of terror in the super welterweight division with a knockout win over Khiary Gray.

Fans may not know Conwell but other super welterweights do.

Cleveland’s Conwell (20-0, 15 KOs) needed less than two rounds to find Gray’s weak spot with two left body shots in the second round. At 2:32 of the second round Gray could not get off the floor after absorbing a left to the liver.

“For sure I belong with the best in the division,” said Conwell.

Super lightweight contender Kenneth Sims Jr. (21-2-1, 7 KOs) defeated former world champion Jonathan “Momo” Romero (35-5, 19 KOs) by technical knockout at the end of the fifth round. It was a lively back-and-forth slugfest until Sims unloaded a few gut-wrenching blows to the Colombian fighter.

Cecilia Braekhus Wins WBC Title

Norway’s boxing great Cecilia Braekhus needed a few rounds to shake off the rust against a determined Maricela Cornejo and walk away with the interim WBC super welterweight world title.

“It feels amazing to get the belt back,” said Braekhus.

After a year away Braekhus (38-2-1, 9 KOs) started slowly and looked sluggish against Cornejo (19-7, 7 KOs), but after a few rounds the muscle memory heated up.

During the fourth round Cornejo was firing strong punches when Braekhus seemed to snap the webs from her arms. Counter blows erupted from the former undisputed welterweight world champion. Suddenly, the old Braekhus arrived. A left-right combination delivered Cornejo to the floor.

After 10 hard-fought rounds all three judges scored it 96-93 for Braekhus.

IBF Title Defense

Southern California’s Gabriela Fundora successfully defended the IBF flyweight title by unanimous decision over Chile’s Daniela Asenjo.

Using her height and reach to perfection Fundora (14-0, 6 KOs) out-fought Asenjo (16-4-3, 2 KOs) every round despite some explosive return shots by the fighter from South America.

“Asenjo was a good fighter,” said Fundora. I got her with some good shots and she was able to last the 10 rounds with me.”

No knockdowns were scored in the fight. All three judges scored the fight 100-90 for Fundora.

It was Fundora’s second title defense.

Photo credit: Al Applerose

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