Las Vegas- Super welterweight knock out artists Serhii Bohachuk from Vinitza, Ukraine and Virgil Ortiz from Grand Prairie, Texas waged a 12 round war of attrition that is destined to remain in history books for years to come. And when the final bell rang with the delirious crowd on their feet, Virgil Ortiz(22-0,21KO’S) was announced a majority decision winner. Max Deluca scored the fight 113-113 while the other judges scored the fight 114-112 for Ortiz.
The nonstop action and sheer savagery of the fight, left me breathless and questioning what it is, I like about the sport. The truth is that in spite of being an astute observer of Sweet science for many decades I love the pure violence . Prior to this contest, we reminisced about past memorable battles that took place at Mandalay Bay, one of them being fight of the decade between Diego Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo. Saturday night brawl was on that level. Although it lacked dramatic ending, it produced controversy something that boxing fans love. Serhii Bohachuk scored two official knock downs in a closely contested battle and still lost the fight. His promoter Tom Loeffler was livid:” look at his face ,” he exclaimed pointing at Virgil Ortiz:” and two knockdowns, and they still took it from him!”
Both combatants were taken to a hospital as a precautionary measure . This was mandated by Nevada State athletic commission.
As Virgil Ortiz predicted there would be no feeling out round. They went at it from the opening bell, toe to toe, punch for punch. Ortiz found himself on the canvas in the middle of the very first stanza, but referee Harvey Dock ruled it a slip. It was later reviewed and called a knockdown because the Ukrainian monster landed a right hand on the temple of Virgil Ortiz .
They could have fought the first four rounds in a phone booth. It was beautiful and brutal and while Ortiz had much success landing his hooks to the body, Bohachuk was firing, straight right hands and was giving as good as he was getting. In the eighth, Ortiz slipped on the sign of the canvas,and this time referee called that a knockdown in spite of Virgil’s protests. It only inspired Texas banger to up the aggression if it was even possible. The last four rounds were awe inspiring. Ortiz won both championship rounds on all three judges scorecards and sealed his victory.
This has been what we have been fighting for since I was five years old,” said Vergil Ortiz, Jr. “Straight from school, go to the gym, do my homework and get straight to work. When I went pro, it was all day business – 24/7 boxing and it has finally paid off. The first knockdown, I didn’t feel like it was a true knockdown, I felt like I hit his shoe, but the second one really was one. I feel like I did enough to win this fight. I proved everyone wrong. Everyone was saying that I’m washed, that I can’t fight at 154, or that I can’t go the distance. All of that fueled me. I am the best in the world now.”
His opponent saw it differently.
People saw this fight today, and the real boxing fans who watched this fight know what happened tonight,” said Serhii Bohachuk. “I am feeling great. I knocked him down twice. I want to support my country, Ukraine, I want to say thank you to all the fans for all the support.”
Talks about Ortiz facing Bud Crawford began even before this fight , but in my view this bout deserves a rematch.
Fightmonger 
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