Vergil Ortiz Jr., an undefeated 27-year-old junior middleweight once regarded as one of boxing’s brightest prospects, faces what could be the biggest fight of his career this Saturday. Ortiz (23-0, 21 KOs) will headline a 12-round interim WBC 154-pound title bout against seasoned contender Eriksson Rubin (27-2, 19 KOs) at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, with the fight airing on DAZN at 8 p.m. ET. A victory here could propel Ortiz toward a highly anticipated 2026 showdown with undefeated former welterweight champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis.
This fight holds extra significance due to Ortiz’s rocky recent career path, marked by illness and missed opportunities to fight top-tier opponents. Despite his talent and quality wins, Ortiz has struggled to secure the breakthrough fights essential for his rise to world champion status.
Ortiz is especially motivated to face the experienced and powerful Rubin, whose only losses came against elite fighters Jermell Charlo and Sebastian Fundora, the latter’s clash with Rubin being named boxing’s best fight of 2022. Ortiz admires Rubin’s intelligence and fighting spirit, recognizing the challenge ahead.
Ortiz’s journey began at 147 pounds, quickly garnering attention for his power and boxing skills, with stoppage wins over notable names like Mauricio Herrera and Maurice Hooker. However, his career was hindered by a severe muscle disease, rhabdomyolysis, which sidelined him for two years and forced a move up to 154 pounds.
Since moving to junior middleweight, Ortiz has impressed with quick knockouts and a tough, comeback win over Serhei Bohachuk in a fight considered a top contender for 2024’s Fight of the Year. His biggest recent win came against former titleholder Israil Madrimov, solidifying his elite status in the division despite lacking a world title.
Ortiz has expressed frustration about missed title shot opportunities early in his career, citing the difficulty of securing bouts with top welterweights like Terrence Crawford and Errol Spence. He also revealed disappointment over a planned fight with Jaron Ennis being postponed, only for Ennis to face a lesser-known opponent.
While Ortiz has not yet faced any current 154-pound champions, including Xander Zayas, Bakram Murtazaliev, Abbas Barau, and Fundora, a win over Rubin would boost him closer to becoming the division’s leading fighter. Ortiz is focused solely on Rubin now, dismissing distractions about future fights.
Ortiz emphasizes his desire to compete against the best, respects all fighters in the ring, and is eager to get back into action after a few months’ layoff. He anticipates an electrifying matchup with Rubin that could define his trajectory in the sport.
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Fan Take: This fight is crucial for Ortiz, who has battled setbacks but now stands on the brink of major recognition in boxing. For fight fans, it promises an intense matchup that could reshape the junior middleweight division and reignite excitement for top-tier bouts in the sport.
