By Elliot Raines: Promoter Oscar De La Hoya says his fighter, Vergil Ortiz Jr., is the “golden ticket” for all different boxers from 147 to 154 to struggle for them to be a part of a “mega-fight” in entrance of a full Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
(Credit score: Golden Boy Promotions / Cris Esqueda)
Ortiz (23-0, 21 KOs) is dealing with a serious take a look at in opposition to Erickson Lubin (27-2, 19 KOs) this Saturday, November eighth, that can have an effect on whether or not he turns into the star that De La Hoya predicts.
Cowboys Stadium Dream
Vergil Jr. remains to be largely unproven at 27, and he’s not precisely appeared like gold in his final two fights at 154 since being matched in opposition to the strong B-level fighters, Israil Madrimov and Serhii Bohachuk. Lubin, one other B-level fighter, may show to be an excessive amount of for Ortiz Jr., which might foil Oscar’s imaginative and prescient.
If WBC interim junior middleweight champion Ortiz Jr. loses this struggle, it could put De La Hoya in a tricky spot of getting to clarify what occurred and confront the reality about his fighter. He’s inferior to he thinks he’s.
“Ennis goes to inform Eddie, ‘I don’t need Vergil subsequent. Give me one other tune-up struggle.’ Vergil Ortiz proper now could be so hungry to win a world title,” stated De La Hoya to the media on Thursday, speaking about Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis and his promoter, Eddie Hearn. They plan on being ringside for Ortiz Jr’s struggle in opposition to Lubin.
The imaginative and prescient factor that De La Hoya dreamed up received’t materialize if he chooses to not match Ortiz Jr. in opposition to Ennis subsequent. A struggle in opposition to WBC junior middleweight champion Sebastian Fundora received’t be large enough to fill the Cowboys Stadium or usher in a large variety of PPV buys on DAZN.
Vergil Jr. wants ‘Boots’ Ennis for that as a result of he’s arguably the preferred fighter now that Terence Crawford has deserted the 154-lb division, transferring as much as 168.
“Him profitable on Saturday night time and him preventing ‘Boots.’ He has one other factor comin’ as a result of Vergil is coming with every little thing,” stated De La Hoya.
Golden Ticket Imaginative and prescient
“Vergil Ortiz, no matter weight class he’s in, everybody follows as a result of everybody is aware of that wherever he’s at, that he’s the golden ticket. He’s the one one who is aware of that he’s going to have the ability to replenish the Cowboys Stadium,” stated De La Hoya.
Ortiz Jr. must look nice in opposition to Erickson on Saturday and never wrestle the best way he did in opposition to Madrimov and Bohachuk. He didn’t appear to be anybody’s ‘golden ticket” in these fighters. However even when he’s excellent, he’ll want one in every of these fighters to promote out Cowboys Stadium:
Jaron Ennis
Ryan Garcia
Devin Haney
Not one of the different 154-lb fighters apart from Ennis can deliver within the numbers. The 160-lb division is devoid of names. Ortiz’s guess is Ennis, and the 147-pounders Ryan and Haney.
“Identical to he informed Jerry Jones when he was a child developing, ‘I’m going to fill that stadium for you,’ and I imagine it now. However he’s the one one who can do it. With out Vergil Ortiz, nobody can do it now. If we make Vergil in opposition to anybody in his subsequent struggle, it’s going to be a mega-event
Elliot Raines has lined British and European boxing since 2010. Identified for his sharp pen and low tolerance for hype, Raines dissects the game’s politics, promoters, and paper champions with dry precision.
Boxing Information 24 » – An Analyst’s Perspective » Oscar De La Hoya Declares Vergil Ortiz Jr. the “Golden Ticket” of Boxing: Says Solely Ortiz Can Fill Cowboys Stadium and Ship the Subsequent Mega-Battle
Final Up to date on 11/07/2025
