By Robert Segal: Oscar De La Hoya says that he’d be interested in matching unbeaten, highly ranked Vergil Ortiz Jr against Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis.
De La Hoya feels that Ortiz (19-0, 19 KOs) is a top three or four-ranked welterweight in the 147-lb division, and he states that he’d be open to matching him against Boots Ennis or Keith ‘One Time’ Thurman.
It would be interesting if De La Hoya and Golden Boy Promotions were willing to put Vergil Ortiz Jr in with Boots Ennis (29-0, 27 KOs) because that would show the boxing world that he’s for real should he win.
The way De La Hoya changed the subject immediately when asked if he’d be willing to put Ortiz in with Boots, suggests that he’s not really interested in making that fight.
With the way that Vergil was badly hurt by Egidijus Kavaliauskas last year, it would be a bad idea to let him anywhere near Boots Ennis.
Ortiz has fought just once in 2022, beating Michael McKinson by a ninth round knockout last August. Considering that Vergil doesn’t have any fights scheduled, it appears that he’s done for the year and will only be fighting once in 2022. What a waste.
“We have to force everyone to fight Vergil,” said Oscar De La Hoya to Fight Hub TV. “I think Vergil is top three or top four welterweights out there, and he’s going to have his chance very soon.
“Absolutely, why not?” said De La Hoya when asked about matching Ortiz against Boots Ennis. “I feel there are a lot of great fights to be made at 147.”
As you can see, De La Hoya chose not to pursue the subject of matching Vergil against Boots when asked. De La Hoya merely said, “Absolutely, why not?” If there were true interest, De La Hoya would have continued talking about matching Ortiz against Boots.
“I’ll fight anybody. I don’t care if it’s Boots, I don’t care if it’s Thurman,” said Vergil Ortiz.
Given how inactive the 33-year-old Thurman (30-1, 22 KOs) has been in the last five years, he would be the ideal opponent for the 24-year-old Vergil to fight at this time.
Years ago, Thurman was seen as the #1 fighter at 147, but he’s only fought three times in the last five years, and he’s wrecked his career with inactivity and weight problems.
