Turkish Alalshikh reports that Israil Madrimov has been pulled from his fight against Serhii Bohachuk due to acute bronchitis for the December 21st Riyadh Season card.
Madrimov Fight Canceled
The former WBC interim junior middleweight champion Bohachuk (24-2, 23 KOs) will remain on the card, facing replacement opponent Ishmael Davis (13-1, 6 KOs) in the co-feature spo. The two are fighting on the undercard of Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk 2 rematch at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh.
Madrimov (10-1-1, 7 KOs) is still scheduled to face WBC interim 154-lb champion Vergil Ortiz Jr. on the February 22nd card. Skipping what would have been a grueling fight against Bohachuk will make it easier for Madrimov to fight Vergil. It would have been difficult for Madrimov to get through the Bohachuk match with a victory and injury-free to return 63 days later to face Ortiz Jr.
The former WBA 154-lb champion Madrimov is coming off a narrow 12-round unanimous decision loss to Terence Crawford on August 3rd in Los Angeles.
It was confirmed by doctors this evening that Israil Madrimov is suffering from acute bronchitis and has to withdraw from the Dec 21 fight with Bohachuk. British fighter Ishmael Davis will replace Madrimov who will now rest and recover for his scheduled fight on Feb 22 fight with… pic.twitter.com/NZs6CCfOuW
— TURKI ALALSHIKH (@Turki_alalshikh) December 7, 2024
Madrimov’s Withdrawal Questioned
Boxing fans are naturally skeptical, believing that Madrimov, 29, pulled out of the fight with Bohachuk due to the massive risk involved. The chances of the former WBA 154-lb getting injured, worn down, or losing to the former WBC interim junior middleweight champ Bohachuk would have been high.
Madrimov’s fight with WBC interim 154-lb champion Vergil Ortiz Jr. on February 22nd will pay well, and it’s understandable why he would want to pull out of this risky bout against Bohachuk.
That fight would be difficult, even if Madrimov had six to eight months of recovery. But for him to take this risky match with only 63 days of rest between the Vergil Jr. clash, it would have been insane.
Madrimov’s acute bronchitis illness seems a little too convenient for the boxing public to buy into, and they don’t believe it. Judging by the reaction from fans on social media, I’d say only a few people believe he’s ill. Of course, this is just about money; who cares what fans think? Madrimov will take the fight with Ortiz and make a bundle, and if he wins, he gets the last laugh.