Vergil Ortiz stepped into the ring on Saturday against Eriksson Rubin with a clear goal: not just to make a statement, but to finally land the big fight his career has been missing. The bout was over in less than two rounds when Ortiz faced Jaron “Boots” Ennis, setting up what could be a major showdown between these two rising stars in boxing, potentially in 2026.
From the start, Rubin was forced back against the ropes by Ortiz, who initially measured his jab before causing trouble along the ropes. Rubin struggled to establish his jab, always pressured back against the ropes, and in the second round, Ortiz’s relentless attack sealed Rubin’s fate. Ortiz cornered Rubin and landed a powerful series of right hands that shook him badly until the referee, James Green, stopped the fight at 1:30 into the second round.
After the fight, Ortiz’s trainer, Robert Garcia, showed sportsmanship by offering Rubin a chair. Ortiz humbly described the victory, saying he capitalized on Rubin’s mistakes and trusted in himself to secure the win. Watching ringside, Ennis signaled that a fight with Ortiz is inevitable.
Ortiz agrees, calling it a match that has to happen and inviting Ennis to the ring, who immediately accepted and demanded the formal arrangements from promoter Eddie Hearn. Ennis confidently declared this to be the biggest fight in boxing and promised to prove why he is the best in the world, insisting the timing is perfect and that he will respond to critics.
Fan Take: This exciting development signals a thrilling clash on the horizon between two of boxing’s brightest young fighters, Ortiz and Ennis. For fight fans, this matchup could shape the next chapter of the sport, bringing fresh energy and a high-stakes showdown that could redefine the welterweight division.
