First-round stoppage victories over Fredrick Lawson and Thomas Dulorme across a three-month span kicked off an eventful calendar year for Vergil Ortiz Jr in 2024, campaigning in a new weight division and looking to replicate his exciting welterweight success against elite junior middleweight opposition.

His absorbing 12-round battle with Serhii Bohachuk on August 10 was rightly given some Fight of the Year acclaim and before another tough assignment in former WBA titlist Israil Madrimov (13-1-1, 10 KOs) in Riyadh next month, it's easy to see why the 26-year-old was sorely missed during a disruptive 17-month absence prompting his move up a weight class.

"I thought I did pretty good, the only disappointing thing was the two knockdowns - not arguing their validity - I wasn't hurt but that took away from the performance. I did more than enough to win, had two points deducted [losing 10-8 rounds] and still won, only one of us was hurt and it wasn't me," the Texan told The Ring when reflecting upon his last outing.

That's why a prospective matchup with then unbeaten WBO champion Tim Tszyu was so eagerly anticipated, their styles set to clash in a fan-friendly way not often seen in the 154-pound division.

Tszyu's brave stubbornness and a failing duty of care from his corner saw the Australian fight impaired with a nasty freak cut and suffer a jarring first pro defeat by short-notice opponent Sebastian Fundora, while the cut sustained hadn't sufficiently healed enough to box Ortiz (22-0, 21 KOs) on the Terence Crawford vs. Israil Madrimov undercard on August 3.

Instead, he was straight back into the world title mix and returned against a new champion in IBF titleholder Bakhram Murtazaliev (23-0, 17 KOs) two months later. The Russian reeled off four knockdowns in three rounds en route to a statement stoppage victory, leaving many questioning where the 30-year-old can go next after consecutive defeats.

During his Gold Coast trip for IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia's latest title defence earlier this month, Matchroom chief Eddie Hearn questioned whether Tszyu is an elite-level boxer in a division increasingly packed with world-class talent.

Ortiz, who won vacant WBC interim world honours against Bohachuk, knows a successful defence against Madrimov should set him up with full champion Fundora, currently without an opponent after his proposed Errol Spence Jr showdown for March 29 in Las Vegas broke down last week.

He sympathises with Tszyu's situation and rejects any notion of a decline, instead suggesting technical tweaks defensively will help in a way he too might be wise to heed against a 'physically gifted, high-IQ fighter' as Madrimov will look for a return to winning ways.

"We were all hyped because he reconnected with his father [Kostya], I was very happy for him, then he lost to Bakhram and now I just feel for him. As someone who also trains with his dad, I can connect to him. No-one knew who Bakhram was, of course they'll say Tszyu isn't good enough but the reality is, he boxed a world champion.

You can't take anything away from him, sometimes s--- happens. People were saying he boxed with his hands down, he didn't, they were up but just a little too far back, it's a game of inches that separates the good from the greats. He can come back."