The fight between former WBA junior middleweight champion Israel Madrimov and former WBC 154-lb interim champion Serhii Bohachuk will be at the top of the 12-rounder next month in 29 days on December 21 at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh.
Potential Fight of the Night Contender
Madrimov-Bohachuk will meet in a feature on the Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk 2. There is a very good chance that Madrimov and Bohachuk could steal the show in the main event. That won’t be hard to do because the previous Fury-Usyk clash earlier this year on May 18 wasn’t that exciting.
It is surprising that Madrimov (10-1-1, 7 KOs) and Bohachuk (24-2, 23 KOs) are willing to fight a tough fight after losing their previous fights. Both are in a position where they cannot afford to lose again now if they want to remain options for other big fights.
Madrimov is seen by many as the favorite to win on December 21 due to his 12-round unanimous decision loss to Terence Crawford on August 3 in Los Angeles. ‘Little GGG’ Madrimov lost by scores of 115-113, 116-112 and 115-113.
Bohachuk lost to Vergil Ortiz Jr. by 12-round majority decision on August 10 in Las Vegas. The scores were 113-113, 114-112 and 114-112.
Madrimov-Bohachuk Taking a Big Risk
“These guys are taking a huge risk by jumping back into another big fight,” Chris Algieri said on Probox TV about the match between Israel Madrimov and Serhii Bohachuk on December 21.
Considering the bleak alternative they can face, it’s not that big of a risk. If Madrimov and Bohachuk weren’t willing to take on this dangerous match, it would be a long time before they got another big fight. There is no popular guy in the US, and they will need to beat some tough guys like Erickson Lubin, Charles Conwell, and Tim Tszyu to have a chance at winning the title.
“Two losses in the back, which is really difficult to come back from. “As long as these guys sing and put on a good show, I think we’ll see both guys,” said Algieri. “This division is deep, but these guys are really good, and they’re in the top five if you’re talking about 154 pounds.”
Madrimov disappointed some fans with his failure to fight hard in the championship round against the 37-year-old Crawford. Despite having the size, strength, youth, and experience at 154 more than Crawford, Madrimov didn’t let his hands fight hard in the last four rounds from the ninth to the twelfth.
“Maybe it’s because they are from Eastern Europe. Maybe it’s because a guy like Madrimov is trailblazing because of his uneducated background. “Bohachuk took a lot earlier in his career from Brandon Adams,” Algieri said.
“Both of them should fight, especially Bohachuk. ‘I have to follow it now, or hang up.’ How does this happen? Turki Alalshikh shelling out money to let these guys take chances. They will lead and have a big platform.”
Without the money Bohachuk and Madrimov are earning, perhaps they would have chosen to play it safe against a weaker opponent instead of taking this risky game. On paper, both of them look brave to take on this fight, but what fans don’t realize is that they are leading the way. The undercard of Fury-Usyk 2 is not good, so at least one good fight needs to be added to it.
“I like to change what we see that you don’t have to have an O to be on one of these big cards,” said Algieri.
“I am ready for Madrimov. He has carried himself like a champion. He lost his hair [to Terence Crawford]. I believe that he believes that he won that battle. I rate Madrimov behind Crawford as the best player in the division.”
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