LAS VEGAS — One in every of boxing financier Turki Alalshikh’s greatest needs proper now could not really align with what’s finest for Vergil Ortiz.
World Boxing Information attended Riyadh Season’s US debut in Los Angeles on August 3, which featured Terence Crawford’s choice win over Israil Madrimov at tremendous welterweight, in addition to the August 10 occasion Golden Boy Promotions held in Las Vegas.
All through each weeks we heard how Alalshikh was envisioning large fights for Crawford.
At first, Alalshikh’s most well-liked Crawford opponent was Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, however after boxing’s common prizefighter rejected the Saudi advisor’s advances, he moved his focus to Crawford vs Ortiz, as an alternative.
Alalshikh even stated on stage with Golden Boy Promotions founder Oscar de la Hoya that they had been cooking up a double-header that includes Crawford towards Ortiz, and Shakur Stevenson vs William Zepeda.
“We’ll give Crawford [a] large provide to do that,” Alalshikh stated throughout the occasion World Boxing Information attended on the Michelob Extremely Area at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas.
Regardless of his unbeaten file, Vergil Ortiz is probably not prepared for Crawford simply but.
He survived two knockdowns to beat Bohachuk by a slim margin Saturday in a bruising and brutal Struggle of the Yr epic.
After going life-and-death with Bohachuk in a slug-fest, a Crawford struggle in his very subsequent bout — if he’s to observe Alalshikh’s grand plan — may see him undergo a nasty beatdown.
There are different choices for Ortiz that, if he had been to achieve, may put him in a greater place to at the least compete with Crawford, who turns 38 on the finish of subsequent 12 months. Not solely would Ortiz be extra skilled by that time, however Crawford can be older and nearer to 40.
Ortiz’s different choices embody a Bohachuk rematch, a unification towards Sebastian Fundora, a potential struggle with Tim Tszyu, and a struggle with Charles Conwell.
Rising tremendous welterweight contender Conwell made his Golden Boy debut on the Bohachuk-Ortiz occasion, and beat Khiary Grey within the co-main because of a speculator second-round knockout.
“Give me all the large names,” he stated within the ring after his win.
Properly, a type of names is Vergil Ortiz.
Golden Boy co-founder Bernard Hopkins even advised World Boxing Information and different reporters that such a struggle may occur sooner, relatively than later.
Although Ortiz was transported to an ambulance after the struggle as a precautionary measure, he could return for a 3rd struggle this 12 months.
Hopkins even stated he’d wish to see Ortiz vs Conwell earlier than the tip of 2024.
Ortiz’s coach Robert Garcia, in the meantime, advised World Boxing Information and different reporters that his fighter is “going to should relaxation” over “the subsequent few months” to get well from the brutal, sensible, barnburner.
On whether or not he’s okay with Ortiz combating Crawford, Garcia stated: “It’s one thing we have now to speak about, and think about. However, sure, I’m okay with the struggle. Clearly, with sufficient time … Vergil can have a while off. He earned it.”
Concerning a do-over with Bohachuk, Garcia stated: “A rematch can also be one thing we’d think about.”
“It was an incredible struggle, an in depth struggle,” he added. “So, positively, if the provide is there and Crawford just isn’t obtainable, why not [book] a rematch. Serhii deserves the rematch.”
Alan Dawson is World Boxing Information Lead Author, a 2 x Sports activities Journalist of the Yr finalist, and 5 x BWAA awards winner. Comply with Alan @AlanDawsonSport.
