A clash between former 154-lb world champions Israil Madrimov and Serhii Bohachuk is being negotiated for the undercard of the Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk II on December 21 at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
A fight worth watching
Madrimov vs. Bohachuk was previously discussed as a possibility for the Fury-Usyk 2 card, and now it looks like it could happen. This would be an outstanding fight that would liven up the card on PPV.
“I have been informed that a fight between Israil Madrimov and Serhii Bohachuk is being negotiated for December 21st in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, within the Fury-Usyk 2 card,” reports Fernando Sabatini on X.
If the Madrimov-Bohachuk fight happens, it should be an action-packed match with plenty of power punches. Madrimov, 29, may have learned his lesson from his recent loss to Terence Crawford that he needs to let go of his hands and fight aggressively throughout.
He eschewed his usual fighting style by choosing to box Crawford, which played into the Nebraska native’s hands. You never box a boxer. Madrimov was hoping to get a rematch with Crawford, and there was no chance of that happening. Crawford was satisfied with his narrow decision win and is now holding out for a Canelo Alvarez payday. It doesn’t look good either.
If Bohacuk is the best Madrimov can get, he should be satisfied. Madrimov said he wants to fight for a world title right away against one of the champions at 154, but they are all locked up now.
Bohachuk’s justification
Former WBC interim junior middleweight champion Bohachuk (24-2, 23 KOs) is coming off a highly questionable 12-round majority decision against Vergil Ortiz Jr. lost on August 10 at the Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas.
Many boxing fans felt that Bohachuk, 29, should have won as he defeated Vergil Jr. knocked down twice, landed the harder punches and powered the fight in the late stages.
Madrimov (10-1-1, 7 KOs) is coming off a close 12-round unanimous decision loss to Terence Crawford on Aug. 3 in a Riyadh season event at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.
It was a close enough fight for it to go either way, but the judges gave it to Crawford based on him being the aggressor in the last three rounds, 10 to 12.
Once again, Madrimov departed from his usual style by boxing the older, weaker 36-year-old Crawford rather than using his youth and strength advantage to go for the knockout.
