Vergil Ortiz Jr. Set for Title Defense
Vergil Ortiz Jr., boasting a record of 23 wins and 21 knockouts, is set to step back into the ring on November 8 for a title defense of his WBC interim junior middleweight championship. The highly anticipated bout will transpire at the Dickies Center in Fort Worth, Texas, as confirmed by Golden Boy Promotions on Thursday. Fans worldwide can catch the action live on DAZN.
Matchup Against Erickson Lubin
The matchup against Erickson Lubin is particularly significant for Ortiz, 27, who recently showcased his skills with a convincing decision victory over Israil Madrimov back in February.
“I’m always happy to be a part of the fights that fans want to see,”
he remarked, though reports suggest this fight wasn’t his first choice.
Initially, Ortiz had set his sights on facing WBO champion Xander Zayas, engaging in a heated exchange on social media. An offer was presented to Zayas’ promoter, Top Rank, which went unanswered by the set deadline last Friday. As negotiations fell through, Ortiz’s management acted quickly to align a fight with Lubin instead. Speculation about a potential match against Jaron “Boots” Ennis in the future also surfaced, though Ortiz’s team has dismissed those talks as unconfirmed.
Manager’s Frustration
Rick Mirigan, Ortiz’s manager, expressed frustration over the matchmaking process, stating to ESPN,
“Golden Boy literally tried every single major opponent out there for us and no one would fight Vergil. Even His Excellency, Turki Alalshikh, attempted to sway ‘Boots’ with life-changing money for a tune-up fight, and he declined. Vergil Ortiz is the most feared man in boxing. Credit to Lubin for stepping up when others would not.”
Erickson Lubin’s Comeback
Meanwhile, Lubin, holding a professional record of 27 wins and 19 knockouts, currently ranks as the IBF’s No. 1 contender in the junior middleweight division. The 29-year-old has rebounded strongly with three consecutive victories after suffering a defeat against current WBC champion Sebastian Fundora in a thrilling matchup in April 2022. Lubin, who has notable victories over fighters like Jeison Rosario and Jesus Ramos, looks for redemption after his only other loss came in 2017 against Jermell Charlo.
“This is the moment I’ve been waiting for,”
Lubin stated, emphasizing his desire for redemption as he aims to secure what could be the most significant win of his career on November 8.
