By Dan Ambrose: Vergil Ortiz Jr looking forward to his fight with recently ordered WBA ‘regular’ welterweight champion Eimantas Stanionis.
The winner of the fight will be the mandatory for WBA champion Errol Spence Jr as part of the World Boxing Association’s move to reduce the number of titles their organization has.
Ortiz (19-0, 19 KOs) isn’t sure when or where his fight with Stanionis (14-0, 9 KOs) will be taking place. The only thing he knows is the fight will take place in the first half of next year, and the winner will take on Spence or whoever holds the WBA belt.
Spence hasn’t revealed who he’ll be fighting next, but it could be Keith Thurman or even Terence Crawford.
“It says a lot. It means they have a lot of trust and high hopes in my career and that they’re willing to back me up with it,” said Vergil Ortiz Jr to Fighthype about his promoters at Golden Boy Promotions winning the purse bid of his fight with WBA ‘regular’ welterweight champion Eimantas Stanionis.
“I don’t know [the date]. My manager posted something about March, but it’s just speculation at this point. First, we’ve got to make the fight. We’ve got to sign and stuff. There are things we have to watch out for, like with every opponent.
“I think he’ll be my toughest opponent to date,” Ortiz Jr said about Stanionis. “It just comes with. I feel he’s really smart with his defense. He’s really strong and really tight, if that makes sense, with his punches and stuff.
“Without hyping him up too much. I think he’s a good fighter. I honestly, can’t take nothing away from him. I don’t think we’re doing it for the sport or for the fans. I think we want to prove ourselves to ourselves and not to anyone else. I think that’s where it matters the most.
“I really don’t know [where the location will be], but I would love to fight in LA for sure. The last time I fought in LA was in 2018. It’s been way too long. I definitely feel the love. They love watching my fights. I love having them support me.
“I believe we have a similar style,” said Vergil about him and Stanionis. “We have a high guard; we fight inside, both strong. I think it’s a very fan-friendly style fight.
“I’ve never seen him in person before. I seen the most recent one when he fought Radzhab Butaev. I’ve seen a few more, but I can’t name the opponent.
“That’s what I’m hoping for, but in boxing, we don’t know,” said Ortiz when asked if he’ll get a title shot if he defeats Stanionis.
“I don’t think either of them are scared. They both want the fight. For whatever reason, it’s just not happening,” said Vergil about the ErrolS Spence Jr vs. Terence Crawford fight.
“It could be possible. That’s a definite possibility. So we’ll have to wait and see,” said Vergil bout him getting the Spence fight before Crawford does.
“I’ve worked my a** off for this. I feel I’ve earned my fair share. I would never price myself out. I think I’m entitled to my own fair share. Basically, I’m not going to fight for free,” said Ortiz Jr.