IT WAS expected to be a Fight of the Year contender and it delivered. Super-welterweight Vergil Ortiz Jr and Serhii Bohachuk traded huge shots for 12 rounds at the Mandalay Bay leaving fans enthralled but the losing side angered at the judges’ verdicts. Eric Armit looks back at how the fight unfolded while delivering his own scorecard.
Round 1
No study time as both began snapping out jabs and firing rights. Ortiz was quicker than Bohachuk and slotted home his jab. Bohachuk kept tracking Ortiz and connected with a right that landed behind Ortiz’s right ear that didn’t look heavy but Ortiz went down on one knee. He was up immediately with the referee waving his hands to indicate it was not a knockdown and not applying a count. There was then some great two-way action as they both stood in the pocket trading hooks and uppercuts.
**Rounds two to four faced an ongoing review ruled when Ortiz went down in the first. It was a knockdown so a 10-8 round for Bohachuk. I changed my scoring**
Score: 10-9 Ortiz
Score: 10-8 Bohachuk**
Round 2
It was toe-to-toe again in the second. Ortiz had more variety landing hard to head and body with Bohachuk landing straight lefts but head hunting. Ortiz kept spearing Bohachuk with jabs and getting through with uppercuts. Both did some good work with their jab late in the round. Ortiz had a cut on his nose.
Score: 10-9 Ortiz Bohachuk 19-18
Round 3
Bohachuk was again jabbing strongly and firing straight rights. Ortiz was focusing on the body digging in left hooks and throwing a lot more leather. They went toe-to-toe again with Ortiz outscoring Bohachuk but also having to take some hard hooks. They ended the round with a vicious exchange of punches.
Score: 10-9 Ortiz TIED 28-28
Round 4
Bohachuk worked well with his jab and then put together a nice mix of straight shots and hooks. He was covering well and outworking Ortiz. He used his jab and rights hands to keep Ortiz on the back foot. Ortiz bulled Bohachuk to the ropes but Bohachuk fought his way off and started using uppercuts which had not been there in the earlier rounds. The referee and fighters were advised of the decision to recognise the first round knockdown.
Score: 10-9 Bohachuk Bohachuk 38-37
Round 5
Bohachuk was again jabbing strongly but Ortiz swarmed forward showering his opponent with shots to the body forcing Bohachuk to the ropes and continuing to connect with short punches inside. The Ukrainian tried to step back to get some punching room but Ortiz stayed on top of him nullifying Bohachuk’s jab and pounding him with body shots. Bohachuk was most effective when he was able to fully extend his jab and rights but Ortiz was on top of him working inside and was winning the exchanges.
Score: 10-9 Ortiz TIED 47-47
Round 6
Bohachuk tried to create some punching room by jabbing furiously and instead of moving in Ortiz also stuck to jabs. Much of the round was fought at a distance allowing Bohachuk to score with right crosses with Ortiz strangely subdued. Bohachuk ended the round piercing Ortiz’s guard with jabs and cuffing hooks.
Score: 10-9 Bohachuk Bohachuk 57-56
Round 7
Looking to build on the last round Bohachuk was again coming forward behind his jab and firing straight rights. Ortiz was on the back foot not trying to get inside where he’d been bossing the action. He wasn’t closing Bohachuk down and not letting his punches go. Bohachuk was able to circle Ortiz scoring with jabs and hooks. Ortiz came to life late in the round but was short with his jabs not putting Bohachuk under any pressure.
Score: 10-9 Bohachuk Bohachuk 67-65
Round 8
It was a battle of jabs again and that suited Bohachuk. As Ortiz came forward Bohachuk caught him with a left hook that knocked Ortiz off balance and he put both gloves on the floor to steady himself resulting in an eight count. Ortiz strongly protested the count. The earlier Ortiz was back again as he marched forward landing strong jabs and scoring with shots from both hands then came inside and outslugged Bohachuk but that one punch made it a big round for Bohachuk
Score: 10-8 Bohachuk Bohachuk 77-73
Round 9
Again, Bohachuk started the round with plenty of stiff jabs and right crosses. Ortiz began to drive forward forcing Bohachuk to the ropes and banging to the body and landing rights to the head. Bohachuk was countering Ortiz on the way in but Ortiz was doing the scoring before backing off and allowing Bohachuk to use his jabs and rights. A close round but Ortiz just had the edge.
Score: 10-9 Ortiz Bohachuk 86-83
Round 10
Initially Ortiz was on the back foot letting Bohachuk come forward spearing him with jabs and rights. Bohachuk was getting through with lefts but Ortiz was using his quicker hands to pierce Bohachuk’s guard. He then moved inside and was backing Bohachuk up as they went head-to-heads each trying to force the other back. Ortiz broke off and then circled Bohachuk spearing him with jabs with Bohachuk unable to cut off the ring or land counters. Ortiz ended the round connecting with a burst of lefts and rights.
Score: 10-9 Ortiz Bohachuk 95-93
Round 11
They were both working with their jab at the start of the round with Ortiz just a bit quicker. He went onto the back foot shifting angles and slotting punches through Bohachuk’s guard. Ortiz then dropped his hands and fired a series of punches from hip level again on target. He then attacked Bohachuk firing punches to head and body as he came forward and again finished the round with a strong attack.
Score: 10-9 Ortiz Bohachuk 104-103
Round 12
Ortiz danced around Bohachuk spearing him with jabs and the occasional right. Bohachuk was just too slow to get close and Ortiz was landing shots from both hands with Bohachuk struggling to get his punches off. Ortiz began to drive Bohachuk back with lefts and rights and won the round.
Score:10-9 Ortiz TIED 113-113
Official Scores: Judge Max Deluca Tied 113-113, Judge David Sutherland 114-112 Ortiz, Judge Steve Weisfeld 114-112 Ortiz.
Analysis
As a fight it was excellent entertainment but solves nothing. Sebastian Fundora is WBC champion, Jermell Charlo is champion in recess and Ortiz is the interim titlist so a normal situation in the sanctioning body world. There is talk of a rematch but that also will solve nothing. Errol Spence is ranked number one with the WBC and with Ortiz as interim Charles Conwell could move up to number two unless Bohachuk drops down to two. This fight was worthy of a meaningful title but it just has to be enjoyed as a great fight with or without a belt.