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Vergil Ortiz Jr. takes on the B-side role in his match against Serhiy Bohachuk on Saturday

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Image: 13 Days Until Ortiz vs. Bohachuk: Junior Middleweight Fight on DAZN

Vergil Ortiz Jr. says he’s taking on the B-side role in the main event against interim WBC junior middleweight champion Serhiy Bohachuk this Saturday, August 10, at Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas. Both fighters will fight live on DAZN, with the winner potentially fighting for a world title.

Moving away from careful pairing

For Vergil Jr., fighting a fighter as talented as Bohachuk is a huge step forward, as he has only faced second-division opponents to improve his record, and fighting someone who is truly talented is a huge change for him.

Ortiz Jr. (21-0, 21 KOs) was spoiled by his promoters at Golden Boy, where he was matched with top fighters throughout his seven-year career and was always the clear favorite against his opponents.

Vergil Jr. will be the B-side on Saturday, challenging Bohachuk (24-1, 23 KOs), and the outcome is not as clear-cut. Vergil Jr. could lose, which would undo all the challenging work Golden Boy has put into carefully selecting the pairings throughout his career.

They went a little overboard with the grooming and probably should have thrown Ortiz into the deep end three years ago to see if he could swim with sharks.

A stepping stone to bigger fights

“I wouldn’t say it’s a dream fight. It’s a tough test that we have to pass to open the door to bigger fights,” Vergil Ortiz Jr. said. Golden Boy Boxing about his clash with interim WBC junior middleweight world champion Serhiy Bohachuk on Saturday night.

Ortiz, 26, sees the fight with Bohachuk as a stepping stone to a fight with the winner of WBC junior middleweight champion Sebastian Fundora vs. Errol Spence.

If the opportunity to fight Terence Crawford presents itself, Vergil Jr. wouldn’t say no, because it would pay off well for him and put him in a position to become a star. Crawford didn’t look good in his 154-pound debut last weekend, and age could be getting to the Nebraska native. If given the chance, Vergil Jr. could take advantage of it.

“It’s a huge test. No,” Vergil Jr. said when asked if he’s looking past Bohachuk to the 154-weight champions. “That’s what I want,” Ortiz said of Bohachuk meeting him in the middle of the ring for a fight Saturday. “I’m confident and I know I’m going to be the champion on Aug. 10.”

Potential setback for Golden Boy prospects

A loss to Vergil Jr. would be a huge setback for him, as it took him so long to get to this point. Golden Boy would have to rebuild him after the loss to Bohachuk, and there’s no telling how long that would take.

If this is a three-year job, Ortiz Jr. will miss out on some of the biggest money fights at 154, and the landscape of the division could look very different than it does today. If all the top guys move up to 160, Vergil Jr. will be fighting a no-name opponent once Golden Boy’s rebuild is complete.

“It’s kind of motivating. It puts it in perspective. I’m the B side. I accept that,” Ortiz Jr. said of being the “opponent” in this fight with Bohachuk, not the A side guy who’s going to face some random guy who’s been matched up with him, which has been true throughout his career, when he’s always been the favorite.

Vergil Jr. needs to get used to being the B-side, because if he wins this fight, he’ll be in that role against the Fundora-Spence winner or fighting Crawford. He hasn’t done enough in his career to be seen as a star in those fights.

“I have to show that I am stronger and that I am the best boxer in this division,” Bohachuk said.

Trading with Ortiz Jr. in the middle of the ring would be a bold move for Bohachuk, as he is not equipped with the power to win that kind of fight. A better strategy would be to try to outbox Vergil Jr. if he is confident the judges will make a decision.

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Boxing

BrianNorman Jr. prepares his father for a shocking comeback after 14 years

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Norman vs Hackett

Undefeated twenty-four-year-old welterweight world champion Brian Norman Jr. he has been coached by his father, Brian Norman Sr., since he was seven years elderly. They changed course and Junior is now training Senior for his February 15 boxing match against Greg Hackett in Atlanta, Georgia.

The long-running feud between Brian Sr. and Hackett came to a head in November when the two participated on Coach Malachi’s Tru Media podcast. Things got heated when Norman told Hackett, “As an opponent, you were getting $400 to basically lose. You lose for a living.

Shortly thereafter, it was decided that they would lace them up and settle them in the ring. The event will be broadcast live on BLK Prime PPV.

Norman (17-11, 5 KO) from Atlanta and Greg Hackett (3-23) from Philadelphia will decide the result in a six-round lightweight heavyweight fight.

“I’m trained by a world champion who I trained to become that world champion,” Brian Sr. said. “He has the knowledge that I gave him. Now he can see this vision of what he is telling me, which is the same thing I was telling him. At the same time, he can visualize himself through me, observing how I respond to instructions. Ultimately, he helps himself as much, if not more, than he helps me.”

So, Junior, you’re getting him back after everything Dad’s been through all these years?

“Has it been a wonderful journey so far,” Brian Norman Jr. said. “I see a lot of similarities between me and him, mainly the drive for self-determination and the desire. It was a wonderful experience to witness. There were a few times when Dad got tired and wanted to stop and I shouted “no, two more rounds.” I have to push him, you know? We don’t like to lose – we’re both very competitive and I see that in him all day long.

“I like the way this fight turned out and it’s good for boxing,” Hackett said. “There’s no animosity here, but I’m going to hate him for eighteen minutes of our fight. There are many people who say they don’t want to go there, but we will go there. I’ve been training since the day it happened. It’s going to be a good fight. I think he’ll push it because he’s a bigger guy, but skill-wise I’m the better player. I just have to be prepared for whatever he brings to the table and make him pay for his mistakes. I will win this fight, whether by knockout or decision. I will win this fight.”

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Boxing

Deontay Wilder: Warning against throwing in the towel on the fat suit myth

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Deontay Wilder is preparing to return to boxing this year and will face an opponent who has lost eleven times in Curtis Harper.

Wilder is on a losing streak, winning just once in his last five fights. The first of these four defeats remains a huge bone of contention. Wilder exploded with emotion after a one-sided rematch in February 2020 at the MGM Grand.

The “Brown Bomber” blamed everyone but himself for what happened when Fury beat him and put him through seven painful rounds. WBN witnessed the fight in the smoke-filled Garden Arena. Despite the sight, it was clear that Fury was the much better fighter that night.

Fury brought Steward SugarHill into his corner to make him more aggressive. The tactic paid off brilliantly as he regained the world heavyweight title. However, this was not what became the story of the event. Unfortunately, Deontay Wilder took that away from the “Gypsy King” with his post-fight accusations.

Wilder’s main target under his deal was Mark Breland. His longtime coach threw in the towel when the Tuscaloosa player came under massive fire and stared at his feet. But that’s not where Breland went wrong. Wilder’s problem was that the 1984 Olympic gold medalist ignored his previous instructions and never used a towel to end one of his fights.

That’s why Wilder was so irate, as he later told Brian Custer in “The Last Stand.”

“I have been preaching for five years. Never give up on Deontay Wilder,” said the former WBC champion.

The 36-year-old believed he could detonate on Fury at any time due to his one-punch KO skills.

“Deontay Wilder is never out until this is all over, because of my heart, my will and the strength I have. And yes, I really feel like he was part of it and it’s not my place to explain that to anyone. I said my peace and let out my emotions. I said it. People can believe what they want.”

Another story that got out of hand was the massive suit excuse. Wilder pointed out that he only mentioned something behind the scenes and someone in the media blew it up.

“They actually overheard something in the locker room,” Wilder explained. “I’m not justifying the costume. The costume was a bit massive. But it wasn’t enough to make me feel the way I felt in the ring. It wasn’t enough that I had no legs.

Strangely, however, Wilder blamed this part on someone who potentially gave him a demanding time. He will strive to ensure that the decision never falls on Malik Scott, who replaced Breland as coach.

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Ryan Rozicki is waiting for Badou Jack’s consent to mandatory cooperation with the WBC

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Badou Jack Rozicki Mikaelian WBC

The World Boxing Council (WBC) ordered world cruiserweight champion Badou “The Ripper” Jack (20-1-1, 19 KO) to make a mandatory title defense against Ryan “The Bruiser” Rozicki (20-1), number 1 in the WBC ranking – 1, 19 KOs).

If both camps fail to successfully negotiate an agreement, the WBC will organize a tender on February 4, followed by the Jack vs. Rozicki. Rozicki’s promoter, Three Lions Promotions, immediately sent Team Jacek an offer to promote the fight in Canada last week.

“We are waiting for their counteroffer,” explained promoter Dan Otter of Three Lions Promotions. “Boxing has had a huge resurgence in Canada and Ryan is leading the way. He is one of the most electrifying and hardest-hitting fighters in boxing, definitely in the cruiserweight division. He wants the WBC green belt and ultimately the unification of the division. Ryan will fight Jack anywhere for the belt.”

29-year-old Rozicki, born in Sydney (Nova Scotia) and living in Hamilton (Ontario), fought 22 professional fights against 21 different opponents (twice against Yamil Alberto Peralta), stopping 19 of the 20 opponents he defeated. an eye-opening 95-KO percentage.

Jack, 41, was a 2008 Olympian representing his native Sweden. He is a three-division world champion, as well as the WBC super middleweight and World Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight heavyweight title holder. Jack has a record of 5-0-2 (2 KO) in world championship fights.

“We respect Jack and I don’t want to sound disrespectful,” Otter added, “but he’s over 40 years vintage and has been relatively inactive for two years (only one fight). He brings a lot of experience and respect to the ring, but he will fight a newborn defender with a lot of power. Jack is going to struggle and honestly, I don’t think he’ll make it past the first few rounds.”

Ryan Rozicki is on a mission to become the first Canadian cruiserweight world champion.

The next move is Badou Jack’s.

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