Israil Madrimov bows out of Serhii Bohachuk fight due to illness

Former junior middleweight titleholder Israil Madrimov has pulled out of his December 21 fight against Serhii Bohachuk in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, due to an illness, according to Turki Alalshikh.

Uzbekistan’s Madrimov, 10-1 (7 KOs), who lost a physical battle to Terence Crawford in August, had been scheduled to fight Bohachuk in the co-main event as chief support of the Oleksandr Usyk-Tyson Fury rematch.

“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,” Alalshikh posted on his X social media account on Saturday. “British fighter Ishmael Davis will replace Madrimov who will now rest and recover for his scheduled fight on Feb 22 fight with Vergil Ortiz.”

“Serhii didn’t hesitate to take the Madrimov fight. It’s unfortunate that [Madrimov] got sick,” said Bohachuk’s promoter, Tom Loeffler of 360 Promotions. “He didn’t hesitate to agree to fight Ishmael Davis as a replacement opponent. Serhii wants to continue to prove that he’s the best in the division and is looking forward to fighting in Riyadh and appreciates the support from His Excellency Turki Alalshikh and Riyadh Season.”

Cynics won’t be surprised by the news that Madrimov is out. Speculation had already been rampant around boxing that Madrimov was unlikely to go through with both of his scheduled fights: first Bohachuk, 24-2 (23 KOs) – a very good fighter and a big puncher – and Ortiz on February 22 back in Riyadh.

Ortiz trainer Robert Garcia had been among the skeptical, expressing his doubts to BoxingScene’s Lance Pugmire days ago.

“I’m surprised, I’m confused,” he said of Madrimov being announced as Ortiz’s foe. “If you’ve got a hard fight like Bohachuk Dec. 21 … to fight two months after against a very tough opponent, it’s really hard to believe that’s going to happen. My only guess is [Madrimov] doesn’t fight Dec. 21 and waits until February. Or, if he does fight Bohachuk, we’re going to have to find someone else.”

Davis, 13-1 (6 KOs), a 29-year-old from Leeds, U.K., most recently dropped a majority decision to Josh Kelly in September at London’s Wembley Stadium.