Former welterweight contender Vergil Ortiz Jr. says he’s not expecting to have an impressive performance when he returns to the ring this Saturday, January 6th, in his first fight at 154 against Fredrick Lawson (30-3, 22 KOs).
Ortiz (19-0, 19 KOs) has been inactive because of his health problems, and he doesn’t think he’ll show the same form that he had before his issues. He’s had repeated cases of COVID, and rhabdomyolysis, which has limited him to just one fight since 2021.
Vergil, 25, says that once he gets through this clash against Lawson, he wants to take on the best fighters in the junior middleweight division. He doesn’t feel he’ll need to take additional tune-ups before he’s ready to fight for a world title.
Ortiz vs. Lawson are headlining in a twelve round fight at The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas on DAZN.
In the chief support, Ohara Davies (25-2, 18 KOs) takes on Ismael Barroso (24-4-2, 22 KOs) in a twelve round contest.
“I expect not to have as impressive performance, but a complete domination. Maybe not like a Mauricio Herrera or something like that, but getting there,” said Vergil Ortiz Jr. to K.O. Artist Sports on what type of performance he expects to have against Fredrick Lawson this Saturday night on January 6th.
“I think we’re going to be good enough to look good but not to my standard. That’s what I’m trying to say. I’m not going to look as good as I want to look, but I’m still going to look good.
Plotting at 154lbs ⏳@VergilOrtiz | Jan 6 | DAZN | #OrtizLawson pic.twitter.com/uKdWJS8Wq0
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) January 4, 2024
“I’m a critic of myself, and I haven’t fought in over a year, and before that, I hadn’t fought in a year. Of course, I spar, and I train and all that stuff, but I know I’m not going to look as good as I want to look.
“I might have to cut myself a little bit of slack, but, of course, ultimately, I know that I want to be the best. So, in order to do that, I just have to keep myself on my toes. Other than that, what I’m trying to say is I’m going to keep getting better. I’m being realistic to myself, and I’m just going to get better.
“A complete fighter,” said Vergil Jr. on what the move to 154 would do for him. “I don’t think the weight is going to help with my skills or anything. It’s going to make me feel better. It’s going to help me feel how I once was. Do you get me? Like dominant in the ring and all that stuff.
“After this fight, I want to fight the best. I don’t want to take any detours or anything like that. If we can get the big fights happening, then I will, but at the same time, I’m not going to wait for anybody. I’m going to continue my schedule as it is.
“We did enough waiting. We were waiting for a lot of opponents these last two years, and that was the reason why some of these fights didn’t happen, and that was the reason I got sick.
“I was overtraining, and then the fights got pushed back or weren’t happening, and we wanted to stick with the same opponent,” said Ortiz Jr.
