Vergil Ortiz Jr. scored a majority decision win over Serhii Bohachuk last weekend in the toughest fight of his career. It was for the first time that the 26-year-old had to go the distance. And even that didn’t come easy. His Ukrainian opponent knocked him down twice, once in the first round and again in the eighth. However, Ortiz Jr. responded with a surge of volume punches and came alive in the championship rounds, ultimately turning the fight in his favor.

Despite heavy exchanges throughout the fight and the two knockdowns Bohachuk scored, Ortiz Jr. seemed like the winner even if it was by a razor-thin margin. But Bohachuk’s trainer, Manny Robles, felt his boxer had done enough to defend his WBC interim super welterweight title. This culminated in an outburst during the post-fight interview against the officials, which was later backed up by former cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew on social media. 

Robles torches the judges for Serhii Bohachuk decision

Speaking to a horde of reporters after the fight had ended, Robles suggested he didn’t want to get in trouble with the officials and the sanctioning bodies, but added, “I get sick and tired of this s**t. Time and time again how unfair they could be to these fighters like tonight”. Highlighting how boxers put their lives on the line and train for years to get to this point, just for the judges to deliver unfair decisions. 

The worst part for Robles, “Nobody holds [the judges] accountable”. He pointed out that during and after the fight, from fighters to promoters to their trainers, everybody is interviewed, “except the judges”, which he believes is the ultimate mistake of the sport. Frustrated, believing his fighter was robbed of a win, Robles questioned why the judges got to go home without explaining their decision. 

So, he boldly announced, “I believe that’s got to stop. I believe they should be held accountable”. While it’s highly likely Robles was swayed by his boxer’s loss, his point about the judges being interviewed isn’t too inconsequential. There isn’t a lack of bad decisions in the recent past of the sport, which is why even Tony Bellew joined the conversation today, supporting Robles’ case.

The former world champion turned to X, sharing Robles’ post-fight interview clip, and claimed that he has been advocating for the judges to be interviewed for years, to no avail. “Fighters, promoters, pundits and managers all answer questions post fight! Why can’t [the] judges?? Louder please Mr Robles”, Bellew added. Regardless, after the fight concluded, Ortiz Jr. refuted the knockdowns. 

Vergil Ortiz Jr. proved everyone wrong

After Bohachuk’s left hook in the eighth round forced Ortiz Jr. to take to the canvas a second time, it was immediately ruled an official knockdown. However, Ortiz Jr. vehemently protested against it and used it as fuel to unload a left hook of his own in the eleventh, which left the Ukrainian boxers wobbling on his feet. Regardless, during the post-fight interview, Ortiz Jr. continued to refute the knockdowns. He said, “I don’t think those should have been knockdowns. The second one, for sure [shouldn’t have been]”

Suggesting he had done enough to win, Ortiz Jr. added, “I proved everyone wrong that said I’m washed, I can’t fight at 154, I can’t go the distance. All of that fueled me”. Meanwhile, when Bohachuk was given the mic, powered by his two knockdowns, said, “People saw this fight today and who understand boxing know what happened today”.

Having said that, even though Serhii Bohachuk proved to be an absolute monster, the fight was ultimately Ortiz’s. However, the points Bohachuk’s trainer made about the judges not being held accountable is undoubtedly a problem boxing needs to address. What do you think? Do the judges need to be pulled into the limelight?