By Sean Jones: In the long-awaited fight, Vergil Ortiz jr will challenge WBA secondary welterweight champion Eimantas Stanionis for his title on April 29th in the main event on DAZN at the College Park Center at The University of Texas at Arlington campus.
The two were initially supposed to fight in March, but the 28-year-old Stanionis (14-0, 9 KOs) needed an emergency appendectomy surgery. Stanionis, a native of Kaunas, Lithuania, is expected to be 100% by April 29th.
The winner of the Stanionis vs. Ortiz Jr fight could be elevated to full WBA 147-lb champion if Errol Spence Jr chooses not to return to the welterweight division after he faces Keith ‘One Time’ Thurman in April at 154. If Spence does come back down, the winner of the Stanionis-Ortiz Jr clash will need to fight him in a WBA consolidation match.
The 24-year-old Golden Boy promoted Vergil (19-0, 19 KOs) will take a big step up in class after seven years of toiling away after fringe-level competition to build an unbeaten record. The Grand Prarie, Texas native Vergil has recent wins over these fighters:
- Michael McKinson
- Egidijus Kavaliauskas
- Maurice Hooker
- Samuel Vargas
- Brad Solomon
- Antonio Orozco
- Mauricio Herrera
“There will be war inside the ring on April 29 as these two dangerous fighters fight,” said Golden Boy boss Oscar De La Hoya.
“Ortiz and Stanionis are elite level fighters who will be unafraid to unleash treacherous power and pressure to be crowned World Champion.”
Ortiz Jr must win this fight because he’s viewed as Golden Boy’s flagship fighter now that Canelo Alvarez is no longer with the promotional company.
Although Ryan Garcia is more popular than Vergil Ortiz, he’s not considered capable of winning a world title. Vergil can win a world title and hold it down if he passes this test against Stanionis.
“I am beyond happy, knowing that we’re finally here, fighting for a world title,” said Vergil Ortiz, Jr. “
“Stanionis is a great fighter with massive power, and I know we will put on a good show for everyone.”
This fight is going to be a war from start to finish. It’s one of those 50-50 fights that is difficult to pick a winner because the two are mirror images of each other. The only difference is Stanionis is four years older.
“Vergil asked for this fight, so here we are,” said Eimantas Stanionis. “Make no mistake, and it will be an absolute war.”
