LAS VEGAS – Vergil Ortiz overcame two knockdowns to defeat Serhii Bohachuk by 12-round majority decision in an all-action fight before a partisan crowd at the Michelob Ultra Arena inside the Mandalay Bay Resort.

One judge scored the bout 113-113, while the other two judges scored the bout 114-112 for Ortiz, who improved to 22-0, 21 knockouts and won the interim WBC 154-pound title.

Both fighters were in the pocket from the opening bell, standing and trading mostly in the center of the ring. Midway through the round, a right hand dropped Ortiz to the canvas. Replays confirmed the punch landing, but referee Harvey Dock ruled it a slip

Later in the round, Ortiz attacked the body, while Bohachuk scored with uppercuts. Bohachuk mixed in left hooks to the body and head but was momentarily stunned by a left hook from Ortiz right before the end of the round.

The pace of the fight slowed during the second round as both traded jabs, hoping to connect with right hands or hooks. Ortiz landed a left hook to the body and followed up with a straight right to the head as the bell sounded.

Ortiz continued to focus his attack to the body, but he was able to avoid getting countered by Bohachuk as he utilized lateral movement and mixed his attack as well. Bohachuk stuck out repeated jabs, hoping to connect with a straight right to the head, but that tactic was not very effective.

Both fighters had their moments in round six. Bohachuk found openings in Ortiz’s guard, landing straight right hands to the head. Ortiz continued to dig to the body but would finish with left-right combinations to the head of Bohachuk.

Ortiz connects with a power jab. Photo by Adam DelGiudice

Bohachuk was able to land a series of right uppercuts to the head during rounds seven and eight. Midway through round eight, Bohachuk scored a knockdown as a left hook to the head resulted in Ortiz’s gloves touching the canvas to break his fall. Replays showed Ortiz slipping on the logo in the center of the ring after Bohachuk connected with the punch.

Moments later, Ortiz roared back, throwing and landing vicious hooks and crosses to the head of Bohachuk that brought the crowd to their feet.

Both fighters stood in the pocket during round nine, landing their share of hooks and combinations. Ortiz landed the more-telling punches during the close round. Bohachuk rallied in Round 10, landing a series of straight right hands to the head.

A right-left combination momentarily stunned Bohachuk early in Round 11, again bringing the crowd to its feet. Not to be outdone, Bohachuk connected with a straight right hand that snapped back the head of Ortiz towards the end of the round.

Bohachuk connects with a big right cross. Photo Adam DelGiudice

With the fight likely in the balance, both fighters went at it during the final round. Midway through the round, the action paused as tape was falling off the left glove of Ortiz. Bohachuk continued to score with lead and counter straight right hands to the head, but Ortiz dug deep, doing enough by connecting equally to both the head and body.

Ortiz boxed and fought well, going the distance for the first time. The grueling nature of the fight could be seen on the cuts and marks on his face. Ortiz did not attend the post-fight press conference, going to the hospital as a precaution (mandated by the NSAC; Bohachuk also went to the hospital for a precautionary CT scan). Trainer Robert Garcia told media that Ortiz was fine. And now he’s a major player in the junior middlweight division.

There is talk of Ortiz facing Terence Crawford, but nobody would complain if he and Bohachuk ran it back.

The 26-year-old returned to the ring on January 6 after 17 months out of the ring due to health issues, stopping Fredrick Lawson in the opening round. Ortiz scored another opening-round knockout win in his last bout on April 27, dropping Thomas Dulorme with a vicious left hook to the body.

Ortiz has been promoted by Golden Boy since making his pro debut in July 2016.

Bohachuk, who is originally from Vinitza, Ukraine and now lives and trains in Los Angeles, falls to 24-2, 23 KOs. In his previous fight on March 30, Bohachuk, The Ring’s No. 5-rated junior middleweight, defeated Brian Mendoza by unanimous decision.

The 29-year-old had won his previous six fights since suffering a knockout loss to Brandon Adams in March 2021, a fight he was comfortably ahead on the scorecards. Bohachuk is promoted by Tom Loeffler’s 360 Promotions.

Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October 2013 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He can be reached at [email protected]

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