Ortiz Jr Defeats Bohachuk in FIREFIGHT OF THE YEAR Candidate

Photos by Lina Baker

Vergil Ortiz Jr. (22-0, 21 KOs) got up from and overcame two knockdowns, to defeat interim 154-pound champion Serhii Bohachuk (24-2, 23 KOs) in a fight fire with fire incandescent confrontation, which fashioned tempered greatness.

Bohachuk dropped Vergil in the first and eighth rounds. The give and take war of the ring, was unremittingly intense and utterly thrilling, with both fighters unleashing eye watering cluster bombs from their powder keg arsenals.

It was swings and round abouts, a see saw alternating carousel, vying for dominance, where no blow was left unanswered. Your turn, my turn… to unleash a star turn, plus a touch of class in the midst of this maelstrom mega clash.

Vergil pushed all the harder, ever harder and even harder, during the later rounds trying to keep the pressure on, turning the screw with lightning bolts, taking Serhii to the ropes.

The so hard fought victory, came via majority decision after 12 rounds of pure volcanic, molten action at the Michelob Ultra Arena in the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas.

After an epic fight on a thunderously stormy night, Ortiz came through the ordeal of fire, to improve his record to 22-0, 21 KOs, while Bohachuk left the ring with a record of 24-2 with 23 KOs. Both deserve praise and plaudits as they passionately fought as true no quarter asked, and none given warriors.

“I proved everyone wrong when they said I was finished, that I couldn’t fight at 154 pounds, that I couldn’t go all the way. I’m the best in the world right now and I’m going to keep proving it,” said Ortiz Jr. after the battle.

Surely destiny has ordered a second helping after this succulent first course?