Written by: Sean Crose
“I want to shake somebody's hand,” Virgil Ortiz casually asked on social media Thursday, “after people on other people's teams keep calling me this and that?” I give respect where it is due.” Ortiz was talking about a press conference where he will not shake the hand of Serhii Bohachuk, who he will face tomorrow night in Las Vegas. “Everyone here knows that I am a respectful person. You want me to be unsportsmanlike and switch sides? I really dgaf” [sic]. Ortiz 21-0 DOES care about defeating Bohachuk 24-1. These two men have been saving partners, after all.
Ortiz is nothing if not one of the sport's rising stars. At 26 years old, the undefeated Texan still has a long way to go in the professional fighting ring. Ortiz's last fight was a first-round knockout of veteran Thomas Dulorme in April. Ortiz's last fight, against Fredrick Lawson in February, also didn't make it past the opening round. Indeed, none of Ortiz's fights have gone past the ninth round. That being said, Bohachuk has some serious explosive potential. All but one of his 24 victories ended before the final bell.
However, Ortiz's promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, is so high on his man that he wants Ortiz to face Terence Crawford in a big fight next year. It depends on whether Ortiz can get past the formidable Ortiz. With Bohachuk's WBC interim world super welterweight title on the line, more than just pride is at stake this weekend at the Mandalay Bay Events Centre. A loss may not mean the end of Ortiz's career but it will certainly derail the train he is currently on. A loss to Bohachuk could prove to be very damaging for the LA fighter (in the Ukrainian way).
On the other hand, victory sets great things in store for any person. A world title shot, high competition, things like that can be arranged for the winner. This will be a battle between two hungry fighters which should be an exciting main event on Saturday night in Vegas.
And, if anything, this weekend should prove just how good Ortiz is for the junior middleweight division. This is only his third fight at 154 pounds, which means Ortiz has something to prove. Expect both fighters to enter the ring on Saturday night very motivated.
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