By Jeff Aronow: Unbeaten #2 WBO welterweight contender Vergil Ortiz Jr could be a possibility for a world title shot against champion Terence Crawford in 2021 if he defeats Maurice Hooker on March 20th.
Ortiz’s promoter Oscar De La Hoya of Golden Boy met with Crawford’spromoter Bob Arum last week to discuss putting fights together between the two companies.
According to Lance Pugmire, one of the fights that were discussed is a match between WBO 147-lb champion Crawford (37-0, 28 KOs) and the highly ranked Vergil Ortiz (16-0, 16 KOs), who is knocking on the door and ready o challenge for his title.
Unlike #1 WBO Shawn Porter, who has failed to go the mandatory route to a fight against Crawford, Ortiz Jr wants that fight.
Currently, Crawford, 33, doesn’t have an opponent for his next fight, making it ideal for Ortiz Jr to take the spot as his next challenger quickly.
Arum would like to ideally put together a fight between Crawford and IBF/WBC welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr, but that doesn’t look like it’s going to happen. Both fighters want to be the A-side, and that’s unrealistic.
Crawford last fought in November, stopping former IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook in the fourth round in an exciting fight in Las Vegas, Nevada.
That was a real shoot ’em up a fight from start to finish. If Crawford vs. Ortiz Jr is anything like it, boxing fans would be in for a spectacular match.
“Told by Bob Arum that he invited Oscar DeLa Hoya and @makeawar [Golden Boy president Eric Gomez] to his home for a visit that ‘was more social than business.’ During the talk, some potential cross-promoted fights were mentioned including Terence Crawford vs. Vergil Ortiz,” said Lance Pugmire of The Athletic on Twitter.
De La Hoya believes that Ortiz is ready to take on the best at 147, including pound-for-pound star Crawford.
What we’ve seen from Crawford in his last two fights is some signs of slippage occurring, with him getting hit a lot in his fights against Kell Brook and Egidijus Kavaliauskas.
Although Crawford won both fights, it’s clear that he’s starting to show his age as he nears 34. Ortiz arguably hits harder than both Brook and Kavaliauskas, and he puts his punches together.
Crawford is a classic counter puncher, but he’s vulnerable when he’s attacked by heavy-handed fighters that throw combinations.
“When you think about Vergil Ortiz, he has to be the best fighter out there at 147 or in any weight class for that matter,” said Golden Boy Promotions CEO Oscar De La Hoya at last Friday’s news conference for the Ortiz Jr vs. Maurice Hooker fight.
“Vergil Ortiz will beat anyone at 147 right now. I believe Vergil Ortiz is on the verge of becoming a superstar. Vergil is on the verge of breaking through. I believe Vergil is right there ready to dismantle anyone at 147,” said De La Hoya
Ortiz, 22, still needs to defeated former WBO light welterweight champion “Mighty Mo” Hooker (27-1-3, 19 KOs) in their contest next month on March 20th in the headliner on DAZN at the Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.
The two powerful welterweights will be battling for the WBO International Welterweight Championship.
This title will help the winner of the Ortiz vs. Hooker fight rise the rankings to the #1 spot with the World Boxing Organization, especially if the current #1 contender Shawn Porter chooses not to fight for the title.
Porter is mandatory for the WBC title held by champion Errol Spence. It’s believed that’s the title that Porter will be looking to fight for rather than challenge Crawford.
Ortiz’s punching power, youth, and his ability to throw a lot of shots in combination could prove to be too much for the aging Crawford, who hasn’t faced anyone of real quality since moving up to 147 in 2018.
Though Crawford has held the WBO welterweight title for the last three years, his opposition has been largely pedestrian level at best.
Crawford’s opposition since moving up to 147 in 2018:
- Jeff Horn
- Jose Benavidez Jr
- Amir Khan
- Egidijus Kavaliauskas
- Kell Brook