By Chris Williams: Vergil Ortiz Jr. got up in arms on Monday over a comment made by IBF/WBC welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. on social media about how he remembered him as a “crybaby kid” when they were in the amateur ranks.
Spence (26-0, 21 KOs) wasn’t trying to take a shot at the 22-year-old Ortiz (15-0, 15 KOs). He was mostly just complimenting him, but also remembering how he was as a “little kid” earlier in his amateur career.
During an interview on Monday by Premier Boxing Champions on social media, Spence was asked about Ortiz Jr. calling him out, and he responded with a few remarks about his memories of the Dallas native. They had the same coach, and they both were from Texas, so Spence knows Ortiz well.
Spence says he can see Ortiz being ready to fight him in two to three years, but he’s confident that he’ll beat him when the time comes for them to fight.
WBA Gold welterweight champion Ortiz had been scheduled to fight last month against Samuel Vargas (31-5-2, 14 KOs) on March 28 on DAZN at the “Fabulous” Forum in Inglewood, California. Unfortunately, the Ortiz vs. Vargas fight was postponed due to the current issues with the world.
Vergil Ortiz Jr. slams Errol Spence
The only crying I remember was when you didn’t make it out of Dallas in the golden gloves. Don’t be throwing fake jabs at me I’ve been nothing but respectful to you 🤨 @ErrolSpenceJr might have to change your ring name to The Lie after this one
— Vergil Ortiz Jr. (@VergilOrtiz) April 6, 2020
“The Olympics*.”
The last remark by Ortiz towards Spence appears to be a correction of his comment on him not making it out of Dallas in the Golden Gloves. Spence did lose in the Golden Gloves finals in 2008 and 2010 to Nick Brinson and David Grayton.
Neither of those fighters have done as professionals the way that Spence has, so it’s pointless for Ortiz to bring up stuff from the amateur ranks. Spence fought in the Olympics in 2012, and that’s an impressive accomplishment.
In contrast, Ortiz Jr. came in second best at the amateur level in the 2014 U.S. National Junior (Under-17) Championship and 2016 U.S. National Golden Gloves Championships. Ortiz Jr. didn’t finish on top as an amateur before turning professional in 2016.
As a pro, Ortiz has done a lot better, but he still hasn’t faced any quality opposition yet in his four-year career. Ortiz’s promoters at Golden Boy Promotions have been taking it slow with him, and not rushing him into any big fights against top-level fighters.
Spence: Ortiz DID use to cry as a kid
“No disrespect intended my dude..but you did use to cry as a kid damn you was a baby cool it Face with raised eyebrow… and why are talking about Golden Gloves (AI voice). I won the Nationals the next year an everything else it was to win.”
“It shows that they’re hungry, that’s what it’s about,” said Spence to Premier Boxing Champions when asked about his thoughts on Vergil Ortiz Jr. calling him out. “You’ve got to show that you want the top dog, and you want to take his spot. As for me, that keeps me on my toes because a younger guy wants what’s mine. He’s willing to work hard and do whatever it takes to do to get to that point.
“For me, it’s good. Me and Vergil started at the same time,” said Spence. “We had the same coach and everything, and to see him get to that point, you know. It’s good to see. I remember seeing him as a little kid, a crybaby kid. He was crying. But now to see him at this point ready to challenge me in two or three years.
“It’s good to know that in two to three years, he might be ready. I don’t see him beating me, but much respect to him doing his thing and getting to this level. 15-0 with 15 knockouts. Much respect to him for doing his thing and making Dallas look good,” said Spence on Ortiz Jr.
Spence could be right about Ortiz meeting up with him in 2-3 years. Golden Boy Promotions are likely going to follow the same blueprint that they did with Canelo Alvarez in waiting until Gennady Golovkin had turned 35 before letting Ortiz face Spence.
Too soon to see Spence vs. Ortiz Jr.
Right now, Spence is 29 and still in his prime, but that could change in three years. Spence will be 32, and Ortiz would be reaching his prime at 25. It would be the same situation as we saw with Canelo fighting GGG after he was on the downside of his career.
Ideally, it would be nice to see Ortiz Jr. fight Spence right away when boxing restarts this year or in 2021, but that doesn’t seem realistic given what we saw with how Golden Boy took their time putting Canelo in with GGG.
