Check out the round-by-round highlights from the Fight of the Year contender Vergil Ortiz vs. Serhii Bohachuk in Las Vegas.
Vergil Ortiz vs. Serhii Bohachuk was one of the best boxing fights of the year.
Saturday at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, Ortiz (22-0) challenged interim WBC super welterweight (154 lbs.) titleholder Bohachuk (24-2) in an all-action bout that went all 12 rounds.
The undefeated Ortiz briefly touched the canvas twice in flash knockdowns in Rounds 1 and 8, but immediately sought to return fire on Bohachuk, making for incredible moments in the back-and-forth bout. The knockdowns were the first of Ortiz’s career.
The fight went to the scorecards, with judges turning in scores of 113-113, 114-112 and 114-112 in favor of Ortiz by majority decision in a Fight of the Year contender.
You can watch round-by-round highlights of the fight in the video above, which aired live on DAZN.
Weekend Review: Jaron Ennis: A special fighter delivered a special performance on Saturday in Atlantic City.
A critical look at the past week in boxing
BIGGEST WINNER
Jaron Ennis
We won’t know with certainty how good Jaron Ennis is until he graduates to top-level opposition but no one scores higher on the eye test. “Boots” looked like a perfect fighter against a solid, durable but hopelessly overmatched opponent in Roiman Villa on Saturday night in Atlantic City, dominating the Venezuelan before scoring a brutal knockout in the 10th round. Natural gifts? No one has his combination of speed, athleticism and power. No one. Skill set? Jab, power shot(s), movement, repeat. His ability to follow that formula rendered Villa (26-2, 24 KOs) helpless. And he’s a perfectionist, meaning he’s only going to get better. Power? He couldn’t take Villa out with one shot – he had to break him down – but that had more to do with the victim’s chin than Ennis’ punching power. He’s a true knockout artist. Durability? Villa, a big puncher himself, landed some hard shots and Ennis (31-0, 28 KOs) was never fazed. Great chin. And he’s learning not to stand in front of his opponent, meaning he should take fewer and fewer punches going forward. Intangibles? He carries himself like he’s the best fighter in the world. And he might be. I don’t see a path one could take to beat him. Again, though, we’ll see when he faces the best possible opponents in this division and beyond. I have a feeling it won’t go well for them.
BIGGEST LOSER
Vergil Ortiz
Ortiz seemed to be a in good place after overcoming a blood disorder and long COVID, which has limited his activity over the past few years. He told Boxing Junkie going into his scheduled fight with fellow 147-pound contender Eimantas Stanionis on Saturday in San Antonio that he was as healthy as he has been in years. Then disaster struck again. He had to pull out of the fight only two days beforehand reportedly because of dehydration and fatigue in a failed attempt to make the 147-pound weight limit. That leaves him with only one fight under his belt in two years and nothing scheduled, which once again puts the gifted boxer-puncher’s career in a holding pattern. The good news for him is that he should be able to bounce back quickly if his inability to make weight was the only issue. He almost certainly will move on from Stanionis and come back at 154 pounds, which should eliminate problems making weight and present a new group of potential opponents (Tim Tszyu, Brian Mendoza, Erickson Lubin and Sebastian Fundora, among others). And he has one more thing going for him: time. He’s only 25 years old. Ortiz (19-0, 19 KOs) has all the ability in the world. Once he finally gets past this series of frustrating challenges he has a good chance of realizing his vast potential.
RABBIT PUNCHES
One must feel for Stanionis, who had a big fight snatched out from under him after a long, hard training camp atter enduring two previous postponements. Let’s hope he gets a compelling opponent in the next month or so. Ennis called him out after his victory but he wouldn’t be ready to go again until late in the year, which might not work for Stanionis. Something has to break the 28-year-old Lithuanian’s way, doesn’t it? … News item: Anthony Joshua (25-3, 22 KOs) and Dillian Whyte (29-3, 19 KOs) will meet on Aug. 12 in London. I wouldn’t like the matchup if it were a stand-alone event. Joshua has already knocked out Whyte, who has demonstrated that he can’t win big fights. However, the fight makes sense for Joshua. No. 1, it will do well businesswise in the U.K. No. 2, it gives him a second fight under new trainer Derrick James, which leads directly to No. 3: Joshua reportedly intends to meet Deontay Wilder late in the year. He’ll need all the work he can get in for that showdown which is one of the most-compelling possible matchups at any weight. This is a big year for the former heavyweight champion from England.
Weekend Review: Jaron Ennis: A special fighter delivered a special performance on Saturday in Atlantic City.
A critical look at the past week in boxing
BIGGEST WINNER
Jaron Ennis
We won’t know with certainty how good Jaron Ennis is until he graduates to top-level opposition but no one scores higher on the eye test. “Boots” looked like a perfect fighter against a solid, durable but hopelessly overmatched opponent in Roiman Villa on Saturday night in Atlantic City, dominating the Venezuelan before scoring a brutal knockout in the 10th round. Natural gifts? No one has his combination of speed, athleticism and power. No one. Skill set? Jab, power shot(s), movement, repeat. His ability to follow that formula rendered Villa (26-2, 24 KOs) helpless. And he’s a perfectionist, meaning he’s only going to get better. Power? He couldn’t take Villa out with one shot – he had to break him down – but that had more to do with the victim’s chin than Ennis’ punching power. He’s a true knockout artist. Durability? Villa, a big puncher himself, landed some hard shots and Ennis (31-0, 28 KOs) was never fazed. Great chin. And he’s learning not to stand in front of his opponent, meaning he should take fewer and fewer punches going forward. Intangibles? He carries himself like he’s the best fighter in the world. And he might be. I don’t see a path one could take to beat him. Again, though, we’ll see when he faces the best possible opponents in this division and beyond. I have a feeling it won’t go well for them.
BIGGEST LOSER
Vergil Ortiz
Ortiz seemed to be a in good place after overcoming a blood disorder and long COVID, which has limited his activity over the past few years. He told Boxing Junkie going into his scheduled fight with fellow 147-pound contender Eimantas Stanionis on Saturday in San Antonio that he was as healthy as he has been in years. Then disaster struck again. He had to pull out of the fight only two days beforehand reportedly because of dehydration and fatigue in a failed attempt to make the 147-pound weight limit. That leaves him with only one fight under his belt in two years and nothing scheduled, which once again puts the gifted boxer-puncher’s career in a holding pattern. The good news for him is that he should be able to bounce back quickly if his inability to make weight was the only issue. He almost certainly will move on from Stanionis and come back at 154 pounds, which should eliminate problems making weight and present a new group of potential opponents (Tim Tszyu, Brian Mendoza, Erickson Lubin and Sebastian Fundora, among others). And he has one more thing going for him: time. He’s only 25 years old. Ortiz (19-0, 19 KOs) has all the ability in the world. Once he finally gets past this series of frustrating challenges he has a good chance of realizing his vast potential.
RABBIT PUNCHES
One must feel for Stanionis, who had a big fight snatched out from under him after a long, hard training camp atter enduring two previous postponements. Let’s hope he gets a compelling opponent in the next month or so. Ennis called him out after his victory but he wouldn’t be ready to go again until late in the year, which might not work for Stanionis. Something has to break the 28-year-old Lithuanian’s way, doesn’t it? … News item: Anthony Joshua (25-3, 22 KOs) and Dillian Whyte (29-3, 19 KOs) will meet on Aug. 12 in London. I wouldn’t like the matchup if it were a stand-alone event. Joshua has already knocked out Whyte, who has demonstrated that he can’t win big fights. However, the fight makes sense for Joshua. No. 1, it will do well businesswise in the U.K. No. 2, it gives him a second fight under new trainer Derrick James, which leads directly to No. 3: Joshua reportedly intends to meet Deontay Wilder late in the year. He’ll need all the work he can get in for that showdown which is one of the most-compelling possible matchups at any weight. This is a big year for the former heavyweight champion from England.
Vergil Ortiz has pulled out of his fight with Eimantas Stanionis on Saturday in San Antonio.
Editor’s note: This article was updated to reflect Vergil Ortiz’s condition.
***
The fight between 147-pound contenders Vergil Ortiz and Eimantas Stanionis scheduled for Saturday in San Antonio (DAZN) was postponed after Ortiz reportedly was taken to a hospital after passing out.
Oscar De La Hoya, Ortiz’s promoter, said the fighter suffered from fatigue and dehydration because of his efforts to make weight, which probably means he’ll move up to 154.
No other information above Ortiz’s condition or the status of the matchup was made available.
This is the third time the fight has been pushed back. It was scheduled for March but was postponed when Eimantas underwent an emergency appendectomy. Then, after it was reset for April, it was pushed back again when a blood disorder sidelined Ortiz.
The rest of the event on Saturday will go on as scheduled, with lightweight prospect Floyd Schofield (14-0, 11 KOs) facing Haskell Rhodes (28-4-1, 13 KOs) in the main event.
“Nothing is more important than the safety of our fighters, and we of course support Vergil’s decision 100 percent,” his promoter, Golden Boy, said in a formal statement. “This unfortunate event does however open the door for one of Golden Boy’s top prospects, Floyd Schofield, to accelerate his profile by headlining in his home state of Texas.
“We will, as always, put on a high-action card from top to bottom on July 8 and look forward to showcasing all of our fighters both in San Antonio and on DAZN.”
Ortiz (19-0, 19 KOs), who has battled both the blood disorder (rhabdomyolysis) and long COVID, told Boxing Junkie last week that he felt 100% healthy for the first time in years.
He last fought this past August, when he knocked out Michael McKinson in nine rounds. That was his only fight over the past two years.
Stanionis (14-0, 9 KOs) is coming off a split-decision victory over Radzhab Butaev in April.
Vergil Ortiz has pulled out of his fight with Eimantas Stanionis on Saturday in San Antonio.
Editor’s note: This article was updated to reflect Vergil Ortiz’s condition.
***
The fight between 147-pound contenders Vergil Ortiz and Eimantas Stanionis scheduled for Saturday in San Antonio (DAZN) was postponed after Ortiz reportedly was taken to a hospital after passing out.
Oscar De La Hoya, Ortiz’s promoter, said the fighter suffered from fatigue and dehydration because of his efforts to make weight, which probably means he’ll move up to 154.
No other information above Ortiz’s condition or the status of the matchup was made available.
This is the third time the fight has been pushed back. It was scheduled for March but was postponed when Eimantas underwent an emergency appendectomy. Then, after it was reset for April, it was pushed back again when a blood disorder sidelined Ortiz.
The rest of the event on Saturday will go on as scheduled, with lightweight prospect Floyd Schofield (14-0, 11 KOs) facing Haskell Rhodes (28-4-1, 13 KOs) in the main event.
“Nothing is more important than the safety of our fighters, and we of course support Vergil’s decision 100 percent,” his promoter, Golden Boy, said in a formal statement. “This unfortunate event does however open the door for one of Golden Boy’s top prospects, Floyd Schofield, to accelerate his profile by headlining in his home state of Texas.
“We will, as always, put on a high-action card from top to bottom on July 8 and look forward to showcasing all of our fighters both in San Antonio and on DAZN.”
Ortiz (19-0, 19 KOs), who has battled both the blood disorder (rhabdomyolysis) and long COVID, told Boxing Junkie last week that he felt 100% healthy for the first time in years.
He last fought this past August, when he knocked out Michael McKinson in nine rounds. That was his only fight over the past two years.
Stanionis (14-0, 9 KOs) is coming off a split-decision victory over Radzhab Butaev in April.
Odds: Oritz 4-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Also on the card: Marlen Esparza vs. Gabriela Alaniz, flyweights (for Esparaza’s WBA and WBC titles); Floyd Schofield vs. Haskell Rhodes, lightweights; Joseph Diaz Jr. vs. Jerry Perez, lightweights
Prediction: Ortiz UD
Background: Ortiz and Stanionis will face their toughest tests to date when they meet Saturday in San Antonio. Ortiz, a hard-punching 25-year-old from Dallas, has stopped all 19 of his opponents but has struggled to lure top welterweights into the ring until now. And he hasn’t been particularly active because of health issues, having entered the ring only four times since 2019. He last fought this past August, stopping previously unbeaten Michael McKinson in nine rounds. Ortiz told Boxing Junkie that he’s 100% healthy for the first time in years. Stanionis is a well-schooled, rugged 28-year-old from Lithuania. He competed in the 2016 Olympics, getting eliminated in the second round. He also has been perfect as a professional, although he has relied more on his ability and resilience than his punching power. He’s coming off a hard-fought split-decision victory over previously unbeaten Radzhab Butaev in April of last year. That means he will have been out of the ring for almost 15 months. The fight on Saturday is for the WBA’s secondary “world” title, which Boxing Junkie doesn’t recognize.
Odds: Oritz 4-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Also on the card: Marlen Esparza vs. Gabriela Alaniz, flyweights (for Esparaza’s WBA and WBC titles); Floyd Schofield vs. Haskell Rhodes, lightweights; Joseph Diaz Jr. vs. Jerry Perez, lightweights
Prediction: Ortiz UD
Background: Ortiz and Stanionis will face their toughest tests to date when they meet Saturday in San Antonio. Ortiz, a hard-punching 25-year-old from Dallas, has stopped all 19 of his opponents but has struggled to lure top welterweights into the ring until now. And he hasn’t been particularly active because of health issues, having entered the ring only four times since 2019. He last fought this past August, stopping previously unbeaten Michael McKinson in nine rounds. Ortiz told Boxing Junkie that he’s 100% healthy for the first time in years. Stanionis is a well-schooled, rugged 28-year-old from Lithuania. He competed in the 2016 Olympics, getting eliminated in the second round. He also has been perfect as a professional, although he has relied more on his ability and resilience than his punching power. He’s coming off a hard-fought split-decision victory over previously unbeaten Radzhab Butaev in April of last year. That means he will have been out of the ring for almost 15 months. The fight on Saturday is for the WBA’s secondary “world” title, which Boxing Junkie doesn’t recognize.
Vergil Oritz, finally healthy, is focused on next opponent Eimantas Stanionis and even bigger opportunities if he wins.
There was a time about a year ago that Vergil Ortiz had difficulty getting out of bed or climbing into a tub.
The 25-year-old welterweight contender’s problems were symptoms of the blood disorder rhabdomyolysis and a bout with long COVID that left his muscles weakened and interrupted his career, although he recuperated enough to stop Michael McKinson in August.
“Imagine me having trouble doing everyday stuff,” Ortiz told Boxing Junkie.
Well, Ortiz (19-0, 19 KOs) is finally 100% healthy – for the first time in around three years, he said – and ready to resume his pursuit of the top 147-pounders and a place among the best fighters pound-for-pound.
That starts with arguably the biggest fight of his career, a meeting with unbeaten secondary titleholder Eimantas Stanionis of Lithuania on Saturday night at AT&T Center in San Antonio (DAZN).
“I haven’t felt this good in a very long time. Hopefully this is the start of a new era of feeling good,” Ortiz said.
Ortiz pointed out that all fighters deal with aches and pains in their training camps. That’s an inevitable challenge in the roughest of sports, one that they must push through if they hope to succeed.
However, when you’re dealing with something like rhabdomyolysis, which causes unusual muscle soreness and fatigue, and long COVID, which attacks the respiratory system, it can be devastating for a boxer.
He now appreciates how good health makes training easier.
“You know what? It does feel that way,” he said. “I can breathe better, I can just get through it easier. It feels good doing it. … I have a different perspective now. It’s like when you go to a different country and you realize how good you have it when you go home.
“I’m not a different fighter, I’m the same guy. I just see a big difference [being healthy].”
Ortiz had better be at his best against Stanionis (14-0, 9 KOs).
The 28-year-old former Olympic doesn’t have the firepower of a knockout artist like Ortiz but he’s a well-schooled boxer and seems to be unusually strong and durable. He’s perceived as a handful for any opponent.
And Ortiz said he’d have it no other way. He wants to face a genuine challenge, not a pushover, for the WBA’s secondary “world” title, which Boxing Junkie doesn’t recognize.
“It’s definitely a huge fight,” he said. “My first world title fight. And I have a strong, tough opponent. That’s how I want it to be if I win the title. I don’t want to put anyone down but if it was someone not exactly up there, I wouldn’t feel I’ve earned it.”
If things go well, the next step would be a shot at a major title.
Of course, he’s paying close attention to the Terence Crawford-Errol Spence Jr. superfight for the undisputed 147-pound championship on July 29. Ortiz would be a prime candidate to face whomever has his hand raised.
And if that’s not in the cards immediately, he’d have other good options. The division is deep.
Ortiz doesn’t want to get ahead of himself, though. As he put it: “I gotta get past this guy first.”
Vergil Oritz, finally healthy, is focused on next opponent Eimantas Stanionis and even bigger opportunities if he wins.
There was a time about a year ago that Vergil Ortiz had difficulty getting out of bed or climbing into a tub.
The 25-year-old welterweight contender’s problems were symptoms of the blood disorder rhabdomyolysis and a bout with long COVID that left his muscles weakened and interrupted his career, although he recuperated enough to stop Michael McKinson in August.
“Imagine me having trouble doing everyday stuff,” Ortiz told Boxing Junkie.
Well, Ortiz (19-0, 19 KOs) is finally 100% healthy – for the first time in around three years, he said – and ready to resume his pursuit of the top 147-pounders and a place among the best fighters pound-for-pound.
That starts with arguably the biggest fight of his career, a meeting with unbeaten secondary titleholder Eimantas Stanionis of Lithuania on Saturday night at AT&T Center in San Antonio (DAZN).
“I haven’t felt this good in a very long time. Hopefully this is the start of a new era of feeling good,” Ortiz said.
Ortiz pointed out that all fighters deal with aches and pains in their training camps. That’s an inevitable challenge in the roughest of sports, one that they must push through if they hope to succeed.
However, when you’re dealing with something like rhabdomyolysis, which causes unusual muscle soreness and fatigue, and long COVID, which attacks the respiratory system, it can be devastating for a boxer.
He now appreciates how good health makes training easier.
“You know what? It does feel that way,” he said. “I can breathe better, I can just get through it easier. It feels good doing it. … I have a different perspective now. It’s like when you go to a different country and you realize how good you have it when you go home.
“I’m not a different fighter, I’m the same guy. I just see a big difference [being healthy].”
Ortiz had better be at his best against Stanionis (14-0, 9 KOs).
The 28-year-old former Olympic doesn’t have the firepower of a knockout artist like Ortiz but he’s a well-schooled boxer and seems to be unusually strong and durable. He’s perceived as a handful for any opponent.
And Ortiz said he’d have it no other way. He wants to face a genuine challenge, not a pushover, for the WBA’s secondary “world” title, which Boxing Junkie doesn’t recognize.
“It’s definitely a huge fight,” he said. “My first world title fight. And I have a strong, tough opponent. That’s how I want it to be if I win the title. I don’t want to put anyone down but if it was someone not exactly up there, I wouldn’t feel I’ve earned it.”
If things go well, the next step would be a shot at a major title.
Of course, he’s paying close attention to the Terence Crawford-Errol Spence Jr. superfight for the undisputed 147-pound championship on July 29. Ortiz would be a prime candidate to face whomever has his hand raised.
And if that’s not in the cards immediately, he’d have other good options. The division is deep.
Ortiz doesn’t want to get ahead of himself, though. As he put it: “I gotta get past this guy first.”
Odds: Oritz 4-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Also on the card: Marlen Esparza vs. Gabriela Alaniz, flyweights (for Esparaza’s WBA and WBC titles); Floyd Schofield vs. Haskell Rhodes, lightweights; Joseph Diaz Jr. vs. Jerry Perez, lightweights
Prediction: Ortiz UD
Background: Ortiz and Stanionis will face their toughest tests to date when they meet Saturday in San Antonio. Ortiz, a hard-punching 25-year-old from Dallas, has stopped all 19 of his opponents but has struggled to lure top welterweights into the ring until now. And he hasn’t been particularly active because of health issues, having entered the ring only four times since 2019. He last fought this past August, stopping previously unbeaten Michael McKinson in nine rounds. Ortiz told Boxing Junkie that he’s 100% healthy for the first time in years. Stanionis is a well-schooled, rugged 28-year-old from Lithuania. He competed in the 2016 Olympics, getting eliminated in the second round. He also has been perfect as a professional, although he has relied more on his ability and resilience than his punching power. He’s coming off a hard-fought split-decision victory over previously unbeaten Radzhab Butaev in April of last year. That means he will have been out of the ring for almost 15 months. The fight on Saturday is for the WBA’s secondary “world” title, which Boxing Junkie doesn’t recognize.
JARON ENNIS (30-0, 27 KOs)
VS. ROIMAN VILLA (26-1, 24 KOs)
Date: Saturday, July 8
Time: 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey
TV/Stream: Showtime
Division: Welterweight (147 pounds)
At stake: No major titles
Odds: Ennis 8-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Also on the card: Edwin De Los Santos vs. Joseph Adorno, lightweights; Yoelvis Gomez vs. Marquis Taylor, junior middleweights
Prediction: Ennis KO 8
Background: The gifted Ennis is a pound-for-pound star in the making, in the opinion of many observers. He’s just waiting for his big opportunity. In the meantime he must get past solid opponents like Villa. Ennis reminds some of Roy Jones Jr., with a combination of speed and punching power that is off the charts. Ennis saw a knockout streak end at 19 fights (not counting a no-contest) in his most recent outing, a shutout decision over clever, but survival-minded Karen Chukhadzhian in January. The 26-year-old from Philadelphia believes he’s ready to take on the best in the division – including the Terence Crawford-Errol Spence Jr. winner – but he has no time table. He said he’ll be ready when the time comes. Villa is known primarily as a big puncher but he’s a good all-around fighter, as he proved by putting previously unbeaten contender Rashidi Ellis down twice in the final round and winning a majority decision in January. The break-through victory earned him a chance to face Ennis in the main event of nationally televised card, which is a major step for any fighter. He has won seven consecutive fights since losing a split decision to Marcos Villasana at 135 pounds in 2019, after which he moved up in weight.
ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK
FRIDAY
Diego Pacheco vs. Manuel Gallegos, super middleweights, Monterrey, Mexico (DAZN)
SATURDAY
Luis Nery vs. Froilan Saludar, junior featherweights, Metepec, Mexico (ESPN+)
