From the perch of his ringside seat Saturday night, unbeaten former welterweight champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis can formally decide if he wants to step into the ring next with the favored unbeaten junior-middleweight Vergil Ortiz Jnr.
Even though Ennis, 35-0 (31 KOs), has put in the effort to travel to Fort Worth, Texas, from Philadelphia to watch the bout, Ortiz trainer Robert Garcia casts some doubt on Ennis’ intentions.
“I still believe ‘Boots’ and his team want another fight before Vergil,” Garcia said on Wednesday’s episode of ProBoxTV’s “BoxingScene Today.” “Why didn’t they invite Vergil to his [October 11] fight? I don’t really believe he wants to fight Vergil. They’ll show up to put on a show – ‘Boots’ with [promoter] Eddie Hearn – but I don’t think they want the fight next.”
Former welterweight world champion and fellow ProBoxTV analyst Paulie Malignaggi listened to his colleague and said, “Those are gunshots, shots fired.”
Texas’ Ortiz, 23-0 (21 KOs), is taking a third fierce test Saturday night when he meets former 154lbs title challenger Erickson Lubin, 27-2 (19 KOs), at Dickies Arena on DAZN.
In his past two bouts at 154, Ortiz saw his knockout streak halted in two victories over Serhii Bohachuk (majority decision) and former WBA champion Israil Madrimov (unanimous decision).
Now he meets recent 30-year-old Lubin, who has only lost to former undisputed 154lbs champion Jermell Charlo and current WBC champion Sebastian Fundora.
Lubin is on a three-fight winning streak that includes a triumph over Premier Boxing Champions’ 154lbs contender Jesus Ramos.
“It’s an interesting clash of styles. Vergil has looked more and more impressive [and he’s] been getting key wins, but, stylistically, you want to see him in this kind of test with ‘Boots’ Ennis up next.”
In addition to DAZN wanting its two young prime 154lbs fighters to scrap next, Ennis has told those close to him he’s serious about wanting to meet a victorious Ortiz, venturing to Texas so he can fully communicate that to gathered reporters and fight fans.
Malignaggi said Lubin can provide a demanding bout for Ortiz if he “brings a slickness … is he as hungry? Are you willing to go for it? To engage?
“You can’t just outslick Vergil. He brings the fight. He’s out to hurt you. If [Lubin fights at an optimum level] it gets real interesting. If not, Vergil ends up mowing him down.”
Former 140lbs champion and ProBoxTV analyst Chris Algieri said he’s especially curious how the fight will play out.
“Lubin … hasn’t reached his prime yet. Did those bad losses damage him? If not, he’s a real problem for anyone, Vergil Ortiz included,” Algieri said.
Lubin walked away from a title shot at IBF champion Bakhram Murtazaliev to take the more lucrative purse versus Ortiz.
“[Lubin] can slow the pace and box, like he did versus Ramos. He can fight backwards and check hook,” Algieri said. “Vergil will have to take flak to mow down Lubin. And Lubin has real knockouts versus real guys at 154.”
Ortiz has shown impressive boxing acumen to complement the knockout run he compiled as a junior-welterweight and welterweight. Yet, Malignaggi expects the power punches to fly toward Lubin.
“When people think you’re older, they think you can be pushed off the cliff by jumping on you early,” Malignaggi said. “It’s on you as the grizzled veteran to push back and say, ‘No, bro, you’ve got to go through me to win this fight,’ so that Vergil understands [he’s] here for a long fight.
“The mentality of Lubin should be to impose his will early.”
Both fighters have shown they don’t unravel if knocked down. Ortiz was dropped twice by Bohachuk and won. Lubin got decked by Fundora, then knocked Fundora down in the seventh before the fight was stopped in the ninth.
“Ortiz believes in his ability, chin and technique … Vergil’s a problem all night long, whether you hurt him or not,” Algieri said. “That’s why this fight is really interesting. It can end early, it can be a classic. I’m curious to see how they deal with each other.”
Ortiz and Garcia have each expressed deep respect for Lubin. Algieri wonders if that manifests in supreme preparedness or early caution.
“I’d like to watch this intently to see the psyche and how they carry on,” Algieri said.
(Programming note: ProBoxTV will present pre-fight and post-fight editions of “BoxingScene Today” to analyze and break down the Ortiz-Lubin bout).
Garcia said Ortiz’s 24 rounds with Bohachuk and Madrimov have been so beneficial to helping his 27-year-old “hold his power, conditioning and mentality” for a bout that goes the distance.
“He’s experienced it and he’s trained for it,” Garcia said. “He’s ready and we’ll go put up a fight.”
Whether that preparedness leads him to victory is on Ortiz.
Whether the quality of the performance lures in or intimidates … that’s on Ennis.
