Israil Madrimov needed a full-body tune-up following his February fight and unanimous decision defeat to Vergil Ortiz.

Although Madrimov (10-2-1, 7 KOs), a former 154-pound titleholder ranked No. 4 by The Ring in his division, underwent left knee and left shoulder surgery following the grueling loss, a viral infection from late 2024 still lingers.

“I had knee and shoulder injuries for a long time, and it just got worse with the accumulation of each fight and training camp,” Madrimov told The Ring. “It was finally time that I addressed the issues that I was dealing with. But it's the viral infection that's hurt more than my physical injuries. The most recent blood work indicates that things are improving, and I am recovering. I am still not 100 percent, but luckily, I am healing up.”

Madrimov was looking to get back into the win column after his first career loss to Terence Crawford last August and was supposed to face Serhii Bohachuk on Dec. 21. Amid preparation, however, a Feb. 22 fight against Ortiz also was announced. Two weeks before the Bohachuk bout, Madrimov bowed out, citing acute bronchitis, and officially turned the page to Ortiz.

“I was having a hard time breathing,” said Madrimov. “I was forced to withdraw from the fight because my body would not respond. I took two weeks off, and it didn't make a difference. Since I had this big opportunity, I felt that I needed to push through it. I felt like I could be a superhero even though a doctor told me I should pull out of the Ortiz fight two weeks before. Every day I thought I would be better tomorrow, but it never happened. It affected me psychologically.

“But I have no excuses. Vergil was better and stronger than me that day. I congratulate Vergil and have nothing but respect toward him. Maybe it would be a completely different fight or the same result if I was healthy, but it doesn't matter — Vergil won. I wasn't able to perform that day. Maybe we can have a rematch one day if I can get myself back into that position.”

Madrimov, 30, is recovering at home in Uzbekistan. During the fall, he said he'll get a full body examination in Germany in search of a green light to get back in the ring by December.

He also underwent left shoulder surgery in 2021.