A number one contender in the 154 division is annoyed at not getting his shot at the world champion, Israil Madrimov.
Boxing politics can make the sport hard to understand for both fans and fighters and the rules of each sanctioning body are not always strictly adhered to, especially when it comes to big-money bouts.
Pound-for-pound superstar Terence Crawford will be fighting for the first time at super-welterweight on August 3 when he steps up from 147 to take on WBA 154 Champion Israel Madrimov despite there already being a number one contender in place.
That man is Vergil Ortiz, who told FightHubTV that he thinks he should be getting the shot. He has won all 21 of his bouts so far and has a 100% knockout ratio.
“I’m suppose to be fighting Madrimov. I’m the number 1 contender for the WBA. Once a boxer becomes the champion they have to fight the mandatory, I’m the mandatory. If they’re going to skip over me that’s f**ked up.”
The WBA released a statement on April 24 confirming the fight, which was requested on behalf of Madrimov by his promoter Matchroom Boxing. The sanctioning body highlighted Crawford’s ‘boxing quality backed by his great professional career’ when approving the voluntary defence.
Ortiz did recognise Crawford – who is also being linked with fights with Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis – versus Madrimov is a good fight but expressed irritation at the contest.
“Is that a good fight? Yeah. But I’m the one supposed to be fighting Madrimov. When I heard the news I was like what the f**k? That’s supposed to be me. A lot of fans are like why don’t you fight this guy? Well s**t, I’m trying to fight the best but it’s not under my control, if it was under my control I would have fought the champions at 140, 147. It feels f**ked up. I feel like I’m kinda on the sideline at this point. People are getting mad at me for not fighting the best but I’m not getting the opportunity.”
Oritz gets a shot at the WBA interim world title on August 10 when he takes on Serhii Bohachuk.
