Promoter Oscar De La Hoya believes Vergil Ortiz Jr. will likely be a lot aggressive at a better weight class.
Ortiz, the extremely regarded welterweight contender from Grand Prairie, Texas, is seeking to rebound from a collection of significant well being points up to now a number of years which have sophisticated his profession.
The undefeated energy puncher was speculated to battle fellow prime contender Eimantas Stanionis earlier this yr, however their bout was postponed thrice, two of which stemmed from Ortiz’s repeated battle with rhabdomyolysis, a life-threatening situation through which the breakdown of muscle can probably inflict irreparable hurt to the kidneys. Some have speculated {that a} mixture of chopping weight and strenuous exercises may be the trigger behind Ortiz’s battle with rhabdomyolysis.
Ortiz (19-0, 19 KOs) suffered from the identical situation in 2022, forward of his battle with England’s Michael McKinson. The 2 ultimately fought in August of that yr, with Ortiz successful by ninth-round stoppage. Ortiz has not fought since that point.
In line with his promoter, Oscar De La Hoya of Golden Boy, Ortiz may return to the ring in December. One factor seems to be for certain, Ortiz will battle at a better weight class, though it’s not clear if it is going to be at 154 or 160.
“Certain, ’54, ’60, no matter weight division he and his father really feel sturdy and able to go,” De La Hoya advised FightHubTV. “We’re nonetheless nailing down the date for December, however that’s the plan. Early December, and get him that win so he can really feel good and so he can get his thoughts proper and so he can get again on prime and get again on observe. Well being is—you need to handle your self and you need to put that first. We’ve taken the mandatory steps to be sure that he’s 100% come December.”
De La Hoya made it clear he has no solutions concerning Ortiz’s medical situation,however he appeared assured that preventing at a better weight class is an answer.
“I actually don’t know,” De La Hoya mentioned. “I’m not a health care provider. I don’t know precisely what occurred. All I do know is that he’s a tough employee. He’s a health club rat….that’s what it takes to grow to be a world champion. I don’t know precisely what occurred. However we’re shifting ahead. He’ll battle at a special weight division and he’ll be again on prime of the world.”
“If you happen to haven’t seen Vergil in particular person, he’s a giant child,” De La Hoya continued. “He can simply carry the load. It’s gonna be no drawback. Plus he has punching energy, like no different battle in that division, so 154, 160 goes to be no drawback.
De La Hoya recommended that massive fights may very well be in retailer for Ortiz at 154 and 160. The promoter named a slew of fighters, equivalent to undisputed welterweight champion Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr., however famous that lots of the compelling fights he has in thoughts are with fighters (like Crawford and Spence) who’re aligned along with his sworn enterprise rival, Al Haymon of Premier Boxing Champions. Crawford and Spence have each recommended they’re eager on shifting as much as the 154-pound division sooner slightly than later. Crawford and Spence are heading right into a rematch later this yr, however it’s not clear precisely what weight class it is going to be contested at.
“We’re wanting ahead to the alternatives towards Crawford, towards Spence, towards —I hate naming PBC fighters, as a result of Al Haymon has all of them protected, yeah, the likes of Crawford,” De La Hoya mentioned. “You wish to go after these prime guys and Vergil’s gonna be ready in line, ready for that chance to grow to be world champion.”
Sean Nam is the creator of Homicide on Federal Avenue: Tyrone Everett, the Black Mafia, and the Final Golden Age of Philadelphia Boxing.