Erickson ‘The Hammer’ Lubin says he’ll “be replacing” WBC interim junior middleweight champion Vergil Ortiz Jr. by beating him in their headliner in 11 days on November 8, 2025, at the Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.
Ortiz Jr. (23-0, 21 KOs) is poised to challenge Sebastian Fundora for his WBC 154-lb title. He also has a potentially lucrative fight against Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis that could happen in early 2026 if he and his promoters at Golden Boy Promotions choose to take that risky match.
Wear and Tear on Vergil
Before either of those fights can happen, Vergil Jr. will need to defeat #4 WBC Lubin (27-2, 19 KOs) in their 12-round headliner on DAZN on November 8th. It’s the third consecutive tough fight that Ortiz Jr. has had since 2024.
In his last two fights, he’s beaten Israil Madrimov and Serhii Bohachuk by a pair of 12-round decisions in grueling contests. Vergil Jr. absorbed as much punishment as he dished out. He survived those fights more than won them. They were both razor close, and his face looked beat up afterward.
Lubin, 30, could take advantage of the situation if Vergil Jr. isn’t 100% after those two wars. He’s not had a tough fight since his ninth-round stoppage loss to Fundora on April 9, 2022.
The Replacement Plan
“Beating somebody like Vergil, I’d basically be replacing him,” said Erickson Lubin to Golden Boy Boxing about his fight against Vergil Ortiz Jr. on November 8th. “I’m one of the top dogs in this division. I feel like a lot of dudes tend to duck me or overlook me. I’m just happy that Vergil took the fight like this.”
Lubin would be replacing Ortiz Jr. in the slot to challenge Fundora for his WBC 154-lb title. It’s doubtful that Erickson will be eager to face ‘Boots’ Ennis, given how risky that fight would be for him. Unless the money is worthwhile, he’ll wait for his rematch with ‘The Towering Inferno’ Fundora.
“There’s a list of names that he could have fought. Respect for him,” said Lubin about Ortiz Jr. “We’re both in our primes. We’re not waiting for somebody to get old or not ducking each other because the money is not right. It’s going to be one of those real historical matchups.”
If Ortiz Jr. didn’t fight Lubin, his options would have been slim in terms of notable opposition. Ennis didn’t want to face Vergil Jr. in his debut at 154. It would have been someone like Callum Walsh or Brandon Adams. Neither of those would have been as interesting as Lubin.
“I’ll probably stop him or win a decision. It doesn’t matter to me. Go home with a W. After this fight, they won’t be talking about Vergil. They’re going to be talking about the hammer.
