LAS VEGAS — Vergil Ortiz survived two knockdowns to squeak a majority decision win over Serhii Bohachuk and win the WBC interim super welterweight title Saturday at the Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas.
Ortiz came out swinging to start the Bohachuk bout. He looked sharp, landed a big right hand over Bohachuk’s jab, and showed intent to do damage early. Ortiz refused to shake Bohachuk’s hand at a press conference World Boxing News attended Thursday and then told WBN and other reporters “not now” when we asked for comment before storming off stage and out of the venue.
Bohachuk, by contrast, has stayed relatively cool all week — and was forced to keep that same composure in the ring Saturday night as Ortiz engaged him in a throwback war.
But Bohachuk gave as good, if not better, than he got in the first, as his straight right head-shot dropped Ortiz. Though referee Harvey Dock incorrectly adjudged it a slip, it was later, in the fifth, ruled a knockdown via replay.
Ortiz’s signature shot in rounds two to four were left hooks to Bohachuk’s body which he threw with spite he had likely accumulated through a week in which he had always seemed vexed.
They peppered each other with jabs, and tried to form a defense against the uppercuts and looping hands over the top from close quarters.
Though Ortiz seemed to be picking up more rounds than Bohachuk, that got turned on its head in the eighth as a left hook dropped Ortiz. Dock administered a count, yet, in a twist of fate, replay later showed the Texan appeared to go to the floor from a slip rather than the punch.
According to two of the three ringside judges, Ortiz then went on to win all four of the remaining rounds. The other judge scored three of the last four rounds to Ortiz.
That proved crucial as the announcer read two scores of 114-112 for Ortiz, which overturned the 113-113 draw, to hand a majority decision win to Ortiz.
“I’m the best in the world,” Ortiz said in the middle of the ring after his win was confirmed.
Others in Ortiz’s weight class may beg to differ as Terence Crawford, Sebastian Fundora, and Tim Tszyu all campaign at 154 pounds, too.
Tom Loeffler, Bohachuk’s promoter, also begs to differ. He disputed the result when speaking to World Boxing News and other reporters backstage.
“We’re going to go to the hotel and celebrate because [Bohachuk] knows he’s a champion,” said Loeffler. “His value went up tremendously as if he kept his title … and we don’t agree with the decision.”
Bohachuk’s trainer Manny Robles fumed: “I get sick and tired of this s— … these fighters, what they go through to get to this point, these officials, I don’t know what the f— they’re looking at, man.”
Loeffler, meanwhile, said the WBC “could mandate a rematch” — something they’d consider as a team, while assessing options in a thriving super welterweight division.
Neither Bohachuk or Ortiz attended the post-fight press conference as event organizers told WBN that both guys were transported to hospital for precautionary measures.
It was a violent testament to just how grueling and violent the fight was, and something that could only help the case for a rematch as they combined to throw 1,579 punches in a clear-cut Fight of the Year contender.
Alan Dawson is World Boxing News Lead Writer, a 2 x Sports Journalist of the Year finalist, and 5 x BWAA awards winner. Follow Alan @AlanDawsonSport.
