Coach Robert Garcia says Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis shouldn’t be solely the largest combat at 154, however the “greatest combat in boxing” that received’t have any belts at stake, other than two interim titles.
The Toll of Again-to-Again Wars
WBC interim Vergil Jr. (23-0, 21 KOs) nonetheless must win his combat in opposition to Erickson Lubin (27-2, 19 KOs) on November 8, 2025, on the Dickies Area, Fort Value, Texas. It will be a mistake for coach Robert Garcia to imagine that Ortiz Jr., 27, goes to win, given how shut his final two fights had been in opposition to Israil Madrimov and Serhii Bohachuk.
Vergil Jr. took a pounding in each of these fights, and he bodily appeared just like the loser as a result of bruising and swelling that was inflicted on him. It wouldn’t be an enormous shock if he loses to Erickson on November eighth.
Vergil took a profession’s value of punishment in back-to-back fights and arguably was crushed by Bohachuk of their combat on August 10, 2024. Ortiz Jr. was dropped twice in that combat and gifted a choice. Then walked away with out giving Bohachuk a rematch.
No Belts, Simply Bragging Rights
“That’s the largest combat in boxing with no belts,” stated coach Robert Garcia to Struggle Hub TV about Jaron Ennis vs. Vergil Ortiz Jr. “I used to be requested, ‘Why received’t you’re taking a combat in opposition to Bakhram [Murtazaliev]?’ I instructed them, ‘Vergil has had well being points previously, and everyone is aware of it. So, he can’t do the 10-lb the following day. Vergil, it’s unattainable,” stated Robert about why Ortiz Jr. can’t combat IBF 154-lb champion Bakhram Murtazaliev.
Jeepers’ Viewpoint: The Actual Superfight
Ennis-Ortiz Jr. is an efficient combat, however hardly the “greatest” within the sport. A much bigger combat at 154 can be ‘Boots’ vs. Sebastian Fundora. That might crossover, attracting followers nationwide. Fundora is half Mexican. His father is Cuban, and his mom is Mexican.
‘The Towering Inferno’ Fundora is preventing at a a lot greater stage than Vergil Jr. proper now. A match between him and ‘Boots’ Ennis would herald quite a lot of PPV buys on DAZN.
“If we attempt to do it the place we power him, we might really harm him [Vergil]. So, we exit for the largest combat on the market. It’s ‘Boots.’ They don’t need to have a belt. They’ll combat for the interim titles, and it’s an enormous combat,” stated Robert about Ennis and Vergil Jr., each of whom are interim champions at 154.
Jeepers Isaac has been masking boxing since 2020, bringing readers sharp ringside insights and well timed evaluation on the game’s greatest moments.
