LAS VEGAS — Vergil Ortiz returns to the ring Saturday for an interim WBC tremendous welterweight title struggle in opposition to Serhii Bohachuk on the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
Ought to he win, he could possibly be thrust into huge struggle after huge struggle, as Golden Boy Promotions founder Oscar De La Hoya instructed World Boxing Information and different reporters this week that he’s planning to field Ortiz in opposition to Tim Tszyu, and Terence Crawford in upcoming fights.
The 26-year-old Ortiz has lengthy been touted for achievement at Golden Boy and is on the cusp of changing into the face of De La Hoya’s roster, largely because of his knockout streak.
Golden Boy have proven lately a want to hunt out the largest, and, typically hardest fights for his or her athletes, having booked Ryan Garcia into the Gervonta Davis mega-event final 12 months, and Jaime Munguia in opposition to Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez earlier this 12 months. Ought to Ortiz preserve successful, a giant 154-pound battle in opposition to Crawford could possibly be as significant for boxing as these two pay-per-view occasions.
“I believe Crawford and Vergil within the first quarter of subsequent 12 months shall be a brilliant struggle,” De La Hoya instructed WBN after making a $20,000 donation to Las Vegas educators on Wednesday.
A dominant power at light-weight, tremendous light-weight, and welterweight, a division by which he scored an all-time nice win over long-time rival Errol Spence Jr., ‘Bud’ Crawford moved to 154 for a title struggle in opposition to Israil Madrimov that WBN attended August 3 in Los Angeles.
Although he beat Madrimov by determination, Crawford didn’t look as devastating as he has lately.
De La Hoya instructed us that’s to be anticipated typically when a fighter strikes up a division and fights a top-tier man.
“Typically you’re not going to look as you probably did in earlier fights, preventing smaller guys. And it’s okay, he stated. “It’s a studying course of. He has to ascertain himself at 154.”
Earlier than Ortiz and Crawford struggle, de la Hoya wish to see his fighter compete in opposition to Tszyu.
Ortiz and Tszyu had been speculated to struggle on the principle card of the Crawford vs Madrimov occasion, however Tszyu withdrew resulting from a head damage.
A supply at Golden Boy Promotions instructed us Thursday that this labored out internally as they regarded Ortiz as a headliner relatively than a essential card fighter, significantly if he was to compete in opposition to a fighter like Bohachuk, whom he containers this weekend on DAZN.
Although Bohachuk, like Madrimov, is a tricky champion, if Ortiz wins, then it’s possible that the Tszyu struggle shall be rearranged.
De la Hoya stated as a lot Thursday, when he once more addressed WBN and different reporters at a press convention to speak about his occasion, and what’s in retailer for Ortiz within the close to future.
“I’ll pursue Tim Tszyu earlier than we get to Crawford,” he stated.
The tremendous welterweight panorama has three distinct champions.
Sebastian Fundora has the WBO and WBC belts wrapped round his waist, whereas Bakhram Murtazaliev and Crawford are the IBF and WBA champs, respectively.
For Golden Boy, it looks as if one of the simplest ways to construct up a super-fight at tremendous welterweight is to have Ortiz, ought to he beat Bohachuk, struggle the winner of the Murtazaliev vs Tszyu struggle later this 12 months, after which put the titles on the road in opposition to Fundora for a unification match.
The final man standing, on this situation, could be ideally positioned to struggle Crawford.
“That’s what boxing’s all about,” De La Hoya stated.
Alan Dawson is World Boxing Information Lead Author, a 2 x Sports activities Journalist of the 12 months finalist, and 5 x BWAA awards winner. Comply with Alan @AlanDawsonSport.
