BoxRec

Madrimov-Soro Rematch Set, Added To July 9 DAZN Show At The O2

Israil Madimov and Michel Soro are ready to resolve unfinished business.

The junior middleweight rematch is set months after being formally ordered by the WBA, as Matchroom Boxing confirmed that it will land on the already announced July 9 DAZN show at The O2 In London. The bout is one of two confirmed rematches on the show, with the main event featuring former heavyweight title challengers Derek Chisora and Kubrat Pulev meeting six years after their first encounter.

Madrimov won the first fight—to which Matchroom won the promotional rights in a purse bid—via controversial ninth-round knockout last December 17 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Madrimov (8-0, 6KOs) was presented with his toughest assignment as a pro, with Soro fighting on even terms through eight-plus rounds.

The WBA title eliminator took a dramatic turn when Madrimov—an Uzbekistan-born contender who trains out of Indio, California—rocked Soro with roughly 20 seconds to go. The action continued well beyond the bell, a situation poorly handled by referee Salvador Salva who stopped the fight upon rendering Soro defenseless at a point when he should have been afforded a one-minute rest period.

The matter was immediately protested by Soro and head trainer Abel Sanchez, with a lengthy delay for naught as the original ruling was upheld.

The WBA got involved, ordering that Madrimov had to once again face Soro before being formally named as its mandatory challenger to the junior middleweight title. The two sides were able to reach terms without the pairing going to a purse bid hearing for a second time.

"I am looking forward to this fight again," said Madrimov. "After the first fight I told my team right away, if the way the fight ended requires a rematch, I am willing to do it.

"I do not want any unanswered questions left. Let the best man win this time honorably and decisively. We are having a good camp and will be ready for July 9."

Soro (35-3-1, 24KOs) now gets one more chance to advance beyond his longtime place as a bubble contender in the loaded junior middleweight division.

The 34-year old Cote d'Ivorie native, now based out of France, has long been at the doorstep of contention but has come up short in his biggest fights. Soro rode a 13-fight unbeaten streak leading into his July 2017 interim WBA interim title fight with then-unbeaten Brian Castano, who claimed a split decision on the road in Evian les Bains, France.

A July 2019 rematch was planned but never saw the light of day.

Soro was left to instead accept two fights in 2019 that were stay-busy affairs on paper but allowed him to advance in the WBA rankings. A fifth-round knockout of Cedric Vitu in November 2019 was his last fight before the pandemic, going more than two years away from the ring leading into the first fight with Madrimov.

A much quicker turnaround is afforded the veteran contender, along with a shot at revenge.

“Madrimov is a great fighter and an exemplary sportsman, a very respectful man,” said Soro. “This fight is crucial for each of us, we are going to war.

"I will be much stronger than in the first fight, I have no right to defeat, I will give everything and I will win.”

The winner will become one of four mandatory challengers awaiting a shot at undisputed junior middleweight champion Jermell Charlo (35-1-1, 19KOs).

What Matchroom card is this in a July in London.

At first i was thinking, "why on earth would you do this rematch, he was up on the cards and won by stoppage"

Then I Remembered this was the fight where Madrivmov landed 4 or 5 punches after the bell, and the ref jumped in to wave it off 3 mins and 3 seconds into the round....

How on earth did that not get changed to a no contest? DQ would be harsh seeing as he didnt hear the bell, But you cant count the knockout win if it happens when the fighter should already be sitting on his stool...

that was a good fight until the stoppage. maybe with maddy leading and also having hurt soro legitmately before the bell to staart that flurry, they felt like he was on the way to winning anyways, so immediate rematch acknowledges maddy having the edge first time (pretty deep into the fight too), but also recognizes the f@ck up and gives soro the 2nd chance

tbh, it's a good thing for soro that screw up happened, as he most likely loses that fight legitimately but gets no 2nd chance had it not happened

Good fight. Really strange it’s on this show though.

Madrimov-Soro Rematch Set, Added To July 9 DAZN Show At The O2

Israil Madimov and Michel Soro are ready to resolve unfinished business.

The junior middleweight rematch is set months after being formally ordered by the WBA, as Matchroom Boxing confirmed that it will land on the already announced July 9 DAZN show at The O2 In London. The bout is one of two confirmed rematches on the show, with the main event featuring former heavyweight title challengers Derek Chisora and Kubrat Pulev meeting six years after their first encounter.

Madrimov won the first fight—to which Matchroom won the promotional rights in a purse bid—via controversial ninth-round knockout last December 17 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Madrimov (8-0, 6KOs) was presented with his toughest assignment as a pro, with Soro fighting on even terms through eight-plus rounds.

The WBA title eliminator took a dramatic turn when Madrimov—an Uzbekistan-born contender who trains out of Indio, California—rocked Soro with roughly 20 seconds to go. The action continued well beyond the bell, a situation poorly handled by referee Salvador Salva who stopped the fight upon rendering Soro defenseless at a point when he should have been afforded a one-minute rest period.

The matter was immediately protested by Soro and head trainer Abel Sanchez, with a lengthy delay for naught as the original ruling was upheld.

The WBA got involved, ordering that Madrimov had to once again face Soro before being formally named as its mandatory challenger to the junior middleweight title. The two sides were able to reach terms without the pairing going to a purse bid hearing for a second time.

"I am looking forward to this fight again," said Madrimov. "After the first fight I told my team right away, if the way the fight ended requires a rematch, I am willing to do it.

"I do not want any unanswered questions left. Let the best man win this time honorably and decisively. We are having a good camp and will be ready for July 9."

Soro (35-3-1, 24KOs) now gets one more chance to advance beyond his longtime place as a bubble contender in the loaded junior middleweight division.

The 34-year old Cote d'Ivorie native, now based out of France, has long been at the doorstep of contention but has come up short in his biggest fights. Soro rode a 13-fight unbeaten streak leading into his July 2017 interim WBA interim title fight with then-unbeaten Brian Castano, who claimed a split decision on the road in Evian les Bains, France.

A July 2019 rematch was planned but never saw the light of day.

Soro was left to instead accept two fights in 2019 that were stay-busy affairs on paper but allowed him to advance in the WBA rankings. A fifth-round knockout of Cedric Vitu in November 2019 was his last fight before the pandemic, going more than two years away from the ring leading into the first fight with Madrimov.

A much quicker turnaround is afforded the veteran contender, along with a shot at revenge.

“Madrimov is a great fighter and an exemplary sportsman, a very respectful man,” said Soro. “This fight is crucial for each of us, we are going to war.

"I will be much stronger than in the first fight, I have no right to defeat, I will give everything and I will win.”

The winner will become one of four mandatory challengers awaiting a shot at undisputed junior middleweight champion Jermell Charlo (35-1-1, 19KOs).

Soro was pretty much done

Fight Week!

Israil Madrimov wants to close the Michel Soro chapter of his career on Saturday

When Israil Madrimov defeated Michel Soro by controversial ninth-round stoppage last December, there were as many questions as there were answers.

The contentious nature of the fight has led to a rematch that is also a WBA junior middleweight title eliminator at the O2 Arena, London on Saturday.

Madrimov, who is ranked No. 8 by The Ring at 154-pounds, is only too happy allay any doubts this time.

“I’m glad that this fight is happening and I want to close this chapter,” Madrimov (8-0, 6 knockouts) told The Ring. “I told my team after the first fight, if there are any issues, I want to do this rematch, it has to happen.

“I’m a fighter and my job is to fight, and I don’t want any controversy in relation to my career, it’s not part of the sport.”

The 27-year-old Uzbek feels he has benefited from sharing the ring with Soro seven-months ago in Tashkent.

“For me, every single fight is a new experience – especially at this level,” he said. “It was the first time being the main event against a very good, top-level opponent.”

Madrimov, who has as usual prepared at Joel Diaz gym in Indio, California, is excited at the prospect of fighting in the UK for the first time and believes his French opponent will give him a tough night’s work.

“I always had a dream to go to the UK and to have the opportunity to fight in front of the British boxing fans,” he said. “Maybe some of the best fans in the world are there. To showcase my skills in front of the UK people is a dream come true.

“In my opinion Soro is one of the best boxers, right now, at 154-pounds without a world title belt. Experience, style, power, his entire resume in my opinion make him one of the best in the division.”

Although Madrimov has just 8 fights and boxed a total of 56 professional rounds, he has moved quickly and is on track to reach the top.

“My goal hasn’t changed since my debut – it is to become a world champion,” he said. “I will be after the titles, no matter who holds them. Right now, Soro is someone I have to defeat to get to my dream, and only one of us will come out victorious and move on. Inshallah “Everything is God’s will.”‘

However, while Madrimov’s manager, Vadim Kornilov, hopes to secure his client a world title shot, he appreciates it may not be next.

“It’s hard to predict right now, but many things change quickly,” said Kornilov, who also manages, amongst others, light heavyweight titleholder Dmitry Bivol and unified junior featherweight titlist Murodjon Akhmadaliev. “If we have to wait or have another fight before we fight for the title, it’s not a problem. It only gives the kid a chance to gain more experience and be better prepared when the moment comes.”

Soro, who is rated No. 9, turned professional in 2008. In the decade-plus since, he has regularly shown his ability, beating the likes of Glen Tapia (TKO 4), Javier Maciel (TKO 3) and Cedric Vitu (TKO 5). The Ivory Coast-born French resident has always given a good account of himself, even when losing to Zaurbek Baysangurov (UD 12), Brian Castano (SD 12) and most recently against Madrimov. Soro enters with a record of (35-3-1, 24 KOs).

The DAZN event will be headlined by Derek Chisora facing Kubrat Pulev. The broadcast will begin at 2 p.m. ET/ 11 a.m. PT and 7 p.m. GMT

Madrimov controlled the first fight. Actually, I don't find that bout very interesting. It was a chess match without any sharpness. The only sharp moment was the stoppage, which obviously was bad. Probably even the ref was shocked by the intensity of that episode after such a calm fight, so that he decided to stop it. In the rematch it'll probably be the same picture, but only with the full distance.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑17 Jun 2022, 06:41 Soro was pretty much done

Tbh Madrimov was looking tired in the 8th and he was easily losing the 9th until the last 10 secs.

Obviously that fight should’ve been changed to a ND as Maddy landed about 60 shots after the bell…

I’ve gone for a Maddy TKO win here but it’s a good fight tbh. Soro was coming off a 2 year layoff and looked the fresher man; you’d think he’d be fresher for this fight because he fought only 6 months ago.

If he can box behind that weapon of a jab and avoid getting hurt (he was buzzed up earlier in the fight I think) then he can deffo outpoint the Uzbek man here. Not easy but Maddy was gassing and fouling a lot with his shoulder in the middle to late rounds.

I just feel ultimately he will hit Soro clean enough to hurt him again at some point, and he’s a good finisher. But hopefully in a non partisan environment Soro gets a fair shake.

Out of interest I had it Maddy 6-3 up after 9; a fair bit wider than most.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑17 Jun 2022, 06:41 Soro was pretty much done

Sorro wasnt in great condition, but at the time of the bell he was not too badly hurt, cards were close and if anything madrimov was the tireder of the two.

Had they stopped at the right time and gone had a 60 second rest who knows how both would of recovered and come out. madrimov would of been a big fav still, but it wasnt all over... (proof that it wasnt all over is soro took 6 clean shots after the bell and his knees didnt even buckle... )

Still the most outragouse result standing iv ever seen. I just cant belive soros team havent lobbyed this to a No contest...

This one is cursed... but Madrimov was looking good before the accident.

I'm sold on Madrimov. Great amateur. I thought he was a couple of rounds away from finishing Soro on Saturday.
Looks ready for a World title shot.

Is Madrimov with Matchroom long term? Shame Smith went to Sky; that’s an interesting fight.

Guessing it’ll be JJ Metcalf in a WBA final eliminator to become mandatory. Cheap, easy to make and gets Matchroom a shot at maybe 4 belts. Both fighters rated highly by them.

Madrimov did show flaws in the first Soro fight. I’m not totally convinced about his engine or defence. Going forward he looks spiteful, strong and dangerous.

maddy would bust jj's up good, but prob be a fun one while it last

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑15 Jul 2022, 16:50 maddy would bust jj's up good, but prob be a fun one while it last

Bang on.

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑15 Jul 2022, 16:50 maddy would bust jj's up good, but prob be a fun one while it last

Easy fight to make though ain’t it.

Wouldn’t be surprised if we get it.