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Vergil Ortiz Jr.

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Terence Crawford vs. Jaron Ennis is a fight that fans have wanted for a long time.

A typical hard-hitting challenger ready to topple the technically gifted champion. But the fans never got the fight. The challenger became a champion, and the potential fight was buried for good. But it seems there is a slight chance of making it happen.

Crawford, 37, relinquished his titles at 147 and moved up to 154 earlier this year, and the whole endeavor resulted in him winning the WBA light middleweight title after defeating Israil Madrimov in August. Interestingly, there were concrete talks of Ennis, 27, making a similar switch, but against Vergil Ortiz Jr.

Terence Crawford Didn't Hesitate When Asked If He Is Now Interested In A Jaron  Ennis Fight - Seconds Out

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A fight had been offered and accepted, and it eventually collapsed, with ‘Boot’s staying at 147 and solidifying his career at welterweight. If he had made a successful switch, maybe a fight with ‘Bud’ would have been possible.

It’s the same picture that Crawford, at 41-0, painted when he appeared in an interview with Boxing Social. He said, “We’re in two different weight classes. As you see, he just turned down a fight with Vergil [Ortiz Jr.] to move up to 154. Because he’s staying at 147. I think Boots is going to do tremendous things in the sport of boxing.”

The WBA champion also entertained the possibility of a fight with Ennis, at 34-0, if the latter wiped out the 147-pound division and moved up. He continued, “I think he’s potentially going to clean out the 147-lb division, and when he moves up, who knows? We shall see.”

However, Crawford is currently tending to an injury and is out until next year, May or June, as disclosed by HE Turki Alalshikh. So, the question is, who will he take on upon return? Will Ennis climb up by then? That’s not a possibility as of now. So, what about Canelo Alvarez? A fight that he wants desperately to close off his career with a legacy fight?

In the same conversation, the two-time undisputed champion disclosed his chances of a fight with Alvarez, 34. He admitted he was not chasing a fight with the Mexican champion but was willing to fight the best fighter of his generation. He declared, “I wouldn’t say I’m ‘chasing’ Canelo. I just want to have the opportunity to fight the best fighter of my generation.”

The Omaha native continued, “I just want to fight another great boxer. That’s all. If the fight does happen, I think it will be the biggest fight in modern boxing.” Alvarez, at 62-2-2, has remained uninterested in the fight because of the weight class differences between the two. However, HE Turki Alalshikh has expressed his desire to make it happen. It remains to be seen whether it happens or not.

Vergil Ortiz Jr. Advised to “Stay Far Away” From Terence Crawford as Fans Throw in Next Opponent Suggestions Including Boots, Charlo

Early this year, Vergil Ortiz Jr. returned to the ring after a break of 17 months. He wasn’t going to settle for anything short of a triumphant comeback. The Grand Prairie-born boxer did just that by the third bout of the year. Serhii Bohachuk forced him to walk the whole distance. Nonetheless, Ortiz Jr. secured a victory that elevated him to world championship status. Now he could call out the opponents to make some great fights, both for fans and himself.

Despite a swollen face, he confirmed an interest in pursuing Terence Crawford. Just a week before his victory in Los Angeles, Crawford had won his fourth title against Israil Madrimov. He has been talking about a fight with Canelo Alvarez. Many even felt the move up a division might have been a step in that direction. Unfortunately, on the fight, a divergence of opinions surfaced between His Excellency Turki Alalshikh and Canelo Alvarez. Thus the light welterweight division tentatively opened to new equations. Talks have been rife about a potential match between Ortiz Jr. and Crawford. Now WBC’s new interim light welterweight shared a message where he revealed the fights he would love to purse. It didn’t take much time before fans too joined, sharing their thoughts.

Vergil Ortiz Jr. Terence Crawford

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While expressing his respect and admiration, Vergil Ortiz J. revealed that he wants to establish a legacy that will narrate a story—him taking on some of the best. Hence, the “Top 3 fighters who I would love the chance to run it against” included Terence Crawford, Errol Spence Jr., and Sebastian Fundora.

In the lead-up to the Bohachuk clash, Oscar De La Hoya joined HE Alalshikh at the venue. The head of Riyadh Season said, “Ortiz, if he do the job today, we want to see him against Crawford.” De la Hoya soon added Tim Tszyu‘s name as one another alternate.

Earlier, while talking to a bunch of reporters, Vergil Ortiz Jr. himself stated how it had been one of his dreams to purse a fight against one of the big names, such as Errol Spence Jr., at the Cowboy Stadium. “I think the fight that makes that happen is the Spence fight. If he gets through Fundora and he’s healthy… we can run it at Cowboy Stadium,” he had opined.

Nevertheless, not all fans agreed with his list. A few added some names they felt would be better options for a matchup against Ortiz Jr. Let’s check what some of them had to say.

This fan had a word of caution for Ortiz Jr. Considering some of the fans and critics held that on the August 10 fight, it was Serhii Bohachuk who deserved the win, this fan suggested that Ortiz Jr. might not be ready to face a boxer of Terence Crawford’s caliber. “After losing to @SBohachuk, I advise you to stay far away from @terencecrawford Vergil,” said this fan.

Taking a step ahead, the next fan rather had all the outcomes of the suggested matchups laid out. So Ortiz Jr. would lose a tightly contested battle against ‘Bud’ Crawford. He might score a victory over Spence Jr., but over Fundora, he has an assured victory. “My prediction: 1. You lose a dog fight to Bud. 2. You beat Spence by decision 3. You annihilate Fundora.

The next fan expressed excitement over the names Ortiz Jr. suggested. Nevertheless, they seem to wonder why he doesn’t show any interest in pursuing a fight with Tim Tszyu. An earlier planned fight between them eventually caved in. The fan said, “Love to see it! But also no appetite for Tszyu considering the fight was cancelled? That would be great.

Likewise, the next fan wanted to know why Jermell Charlo‘s name wasn’t mentioned. According to the fan, the ‘Iron Man’ still lords over the 154-pound weight class. “Why no, @TwinCharlo, he still 👑 of 154 didn’t lose his belts in the ring??” Said the fan.

One fan wondered why Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis‘ name wasn’t mentioned: “Where’s Boots Ennis?” Then, according to another, Israil Madrimov also makes for a competent alternative: “If none of these guys are available, Madrimov would be a good substitute, champ 🫡🔥.”

Considering the fact that Spence Jr. is the number one ranked contender in the WBC rankings, a fight with Ortiz Jr. makes the most logical sense.

Undoubtedly, a fight between Vergil Ortiz Jr. and Terry Crawford makes for a memorable blockbuster. However, on understandable grounds, the Nebraskan might be looking for that huge payday that he deserves as he progresses into the twilight years of his glorious career. Hence, in that scenario, a fight for Sebastian Fundora’s world title could be the next option. An attempt at title unification might put him on the crossroads against the heavy-hitting Russian Bakhram Murtazaliev. Nevertheless, if Ortiz Jr. dreams of the undisputed glory, then he will have to go through the Crawford wall.

Terence Crawford has vacated his WBO Welterweight Title, making Brian Norman Jr. the full champion. 

The news comes just as Crawford became a four-division champion after beating Israil Madrimov in his first fight at junior middleweight. The win made him the WBA champion, solidifying his future at 154 pounds. This means that Crawford only has the WBA belt at 147, having become the first Undisputed Welterweight Champion when he stopped Errol Spence Jr. last year.

Jaron Ennis is now one of the leading contenders to box Norman Jr. for the WBO belt in a unification since he holds the IBF belt. That would allow Ennis to pursue his goal of becoming undisputed rather than moving up to 154 to chase Crawford, who is unlikely to take the fight since Boots offers no belts.

Terence Crawford defeats Shawn Porter to keep WBO title - Los Angeles Times

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“WBO President Paco Valcarcel received official communication from… Crawford confirming his decision that he will no longer stay in the welterweight division/ Brian Norman, Jr., is elevated from “Interim Champion” to “Full Champion” status in the WBO Welterweight Division with the rights conferred by such designation,” Luis Batista-Salas (WBO Championship Committee chairman)

Crawford can now focus on his next steps. He had been chasing the Canelo Alvarez fight, even calling out the Mexican after his win over Madrimov. However, that fight appears unlikely. Canelo has distanced himself from it.

He was contacted by the Saudis, who wanted to make the fight happen. However, it did not go down well, as Canelo felt it was disrespectful to talk about that fight while preparing for Berlanga. He also made it clear that he had no intention of fighting Crawford, as it does nothing for his legacy.

Crawford can now pursue a unification at 154 pounds against Sebastian Fundora. But that will not be next after reports that Fundora will box Errol Spence Jr. next, meaning there could be a Spence rematch if the results pan out the right way. Bud has been linked with the Vergil Ortiz Jr. fight.

Ortiz called him out after defeating Serhii Bohachuk in a controversial majority decision. Despite getting dropped twice, Ortiz rallied late on to secure the win. The Saudis are reportedly working on that fight, with Shakur Stevenson vs. William Zepeda being a possible chief support fight. Oscar De La Hoya is keen to make that fight happen next.

“We just discussed it with His Excellency, and if that’s what Vergil wants, then that’s what we’re going to get him. Everything is up in the air. Vergil is in the hospital. Bohachuk is in the hospital. Let’s respect that. Once they get better, we’ll discuss it again and make something happen. He’s [Ortiz] okay. They’re both okay. They’re hurt. It’s literally like the Rocky movie. Apollo Creed and Sylvester Stallone in the hospital. It was a tough fight. Let’s let them rest, and then we’ll reconvene,” De La Hoya said 

The fight could appeal to Crawford as Ortiz is an undefeated KO artist who has stopped everyone except Bohachuk. Ortiz is also the WBC Interim Junior Middleweight Champion, thus making Crawford mandatory for Fundora if he wins. Based on Ortiz’s performances, Bud will fancy his chances.

Although he had to walk the whole distance, Vergil Ortiz Jr. finally did it! The Grand Prairie-born boxer remains unbeaten. At the Michelob Ultra Arena, Ortiz Jr. defeated Serheii Bohachuk by a majority decision to become the new WBC (interim) light middleweight champion.

The triumph might have caused a dent in his 100% KO record; nevertheless, it has also opened new pathways for the 26-year-old, who has been striving for his share of boxing glory for quite some time. Thus, making his next move on the board, during the post-fight in-ring interview, he called out Terence Crawford.

With the much-sought-after fight between Crawford and Canelo Alvarez falling off the radar, roads appear open for a potential showdown between Vergil Ortiz Jr. and ‘Bud’ Crawford. It’s a matchup that has even caught the attention of His Excellency Turki Alalshikh. Ortiz Jr. returned to boxing after a break that lasted nearly 17 months. He announced his arrival with a quick dispatch of Frederick Lawson and Thomas Dulorme in the year’s first half. Needless to say, several renowned names from the boxing world took to their keyboards to pen their thoughts; some of them deemed the fight a modern-day classic!

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Perhaps both Vergil Ortiz Jr. and Serhii Bohachuk, who had previously sparred with each other, had decided on not giving either any quarter. Both went after each other. Round after round, crowds in the arena witness a slugfest, which is sure to enter this year’s fight of the year’s contention.

 

For the first time in his eight-year-old career, Ortiz Jr. suffered two knockdowns. but as rounds proceeded, he got busier, working his way up through precision body shots that slowed down his Ukrainian opponent. Full credit goes to Bohachuk for the fight he gave that eventually witnessed one of the judges going neutral with a 113-113 scroecard. However, for the remaining two, Ortiz Jr. had worked sufficiently to deserve a win: 114-112, 114-112.

The Grand Prairie-born boxer’s feat followed ‘Bud’ Crawford’s light middleweight debut on August 3. The Nebrskan defeated Israil Madrimov to secure the WBA and WBO (interim) titles. Though he has always expressed interest in a fight with Canelo Alvarez, the Mexican icon, it appears he isn’t too keen on the matchup. His price quote for the Crawford fight eventually saw HE Alalshikh release a statement on parting with the project. So what could be next for ‘Bud’ Now that there are two new champions in the 154-pound weight class, a title unification seems like a logical move.

As far as the outcome of the fight is concerned, views fall on either side of the fence. While a few felt the fight could have been a draw, others don’t seem eager about Ortiz Jr.’s future moves, especially the Crawford duel. Let’s check what a few of them had to say.

 

 

 

 

 

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