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He is coming back from a fight three months ago in January against welterweight vet Frederick Lawson (30-3) in a 156 catchweight after being unable to fight for a year in 2023 due to fainting during in fight week due to having weight cutting issues at Welterweight. The first fight was postponed by Eimantas having an appendectomy surgery, the second attempt was postponed by Ortiz after it was initially thought to be a comeback Rhabdomyolysis symptoms, though a doctor from Fresno called Juan Bautista implied that after running several battery of tests, Ortiz had instead excessively trained camp extending his camp for 4 months onto 7 months and suffered from Long Covid after contracting it in 2021 prior the Maurice Hooker bout.
He has also rejoined the RGBA's team while also investing in medical backing and equipment
If he puts a good demonstration after cutting down to 154, who should he fight next? Although it's a veteran from light welterweight (140) in Thomas Dulorme, from two divisions below. It will at least show if Ortiz can safely cut weight and perform. A win over Dulorme won't bring much to the table when it comes to becoming a title contender however, but the activity will help Vergil shake off any ring rust and adjust to weight cutting as he had a premature stoppage in his first bout of 2024 after a long time of inactivity in the ring.
Dulorme after getting stopped by Ennis in 1 round, the 34 year old Puerto Rican had one comeback fight by KO at 154 against Abrahan Peralta, though the Dominican has a record of 19-17 with most losses being by the way of KO. It doesn't change that he won't be noteworthy win at this stage of his career as Ortiz would be beating a declining veteran. But I guess it's better than fighting any random journeyman who hasn't been tested.
Tim Tszyu and Sebastian Fundora are not options as of now, as they will recover from the injuries from the first bout and have a rematch scheduled in November. Vergil Ortiz will likely become the Mandatory for the WBA title soon if he were to win next week, however if the fight were not fight against Madrimov due to Crawford wanting the opportunity thanks to Turki Alalshikh or Charlo demanding a turn, then there is:
Charles Conwell (18-0, 13 knockouts) is fighting in this week's card after signing with Golden Boy Promotions and is a WBC ranked contender. The winner would become a mandatory against Fundora/Tszyu at some point.
Serhii Bohachuk (24-1, 23 knockouts) another contender for the WBC title, he would had been Fundora's opponent if Thurman didn't get injured, instead he pulled a competitive but quite convincing win over Brian Mendoza. Sadly, it looks like he get won't get the opportunity to fight the towering Inferno as a rematch between Tim Tszyu vs Sebastian Fundora II is likely happening November.
The Ukranian is a free agent that can fight at any promotion. Ortiz's Team has the means the contact Robles as they trained under his gym.
Jaron Ennis (31-0, 28 knockouts) has not moved up to 154 yet, but he has been signed to Matchroom, both fighters from MR and GBP fight in the Zone/DAZN.
Brian Castano has come back to the United States a month ago in Manny Robles's Gym and hasn't really implied who he will fight but looks like he plans to make a comeback at 154 this year.
Xander Zayas is turning 22 this year and will fighting a contender in Patrick Texeira in June 08, a fighter whose currently in a losing streak, but had a victory over middleweight champion Carlos Adames rather recently, he will become a top contender by the end of the year or the next.
Erickson Lubin, Jesus Ramos and Rhadzab Butaev (who had moved up to 154 after his loss to Stanionis) are not likely to fight other opponents unless they are inhouse opponents in the same promotion, unless they attained title contender ship status or likely benefit more than vice versa.
He has also rejoined the RGBA's team while also investing in medical backing and equipment
If he puts a good demonstration after cutting down to 154, who should he fight next? Although it's a veteran from light welterweight (140) in Thomas Dulorme, from two divisions below. It will at least show if Ortiz can safely cut weight and perform. A win over Dulorme won't bring much to the table when it comes to becoming a title contender however, but the activity will help Vergil shake off any ring rust and adjust to weight cutting as he had a premature stoppage in his first bout of 2024 after a long time of inactivity in the ring.
Dulorme after getting stopped by Ennis in 1 round, the 34 year old Puerto Rican had one comeback fight by KO at 154 against Abrahan Peralta, though the Dominican has a record of 19-17 with most losses being by the way of KO. It doesn't change that he won't be noteworthy win at this stage of his career as Ortiz would be beating a declining veteran. But I guess it's better than fighting any random journeyman who hasn't been tested.
Tim Tszyu and Sebastian Fundora are not options as of now, as they will recover from the injuries from the first bout and have a rematch scheduled in November. Vergil Ortiz will likely become the Mandatory for the WBA title soon if he were to win next week, however if the fight were not fight against Madrimov due to Crawford wanting the opportunity thanks to Turki Alalshikh or Charlo demanding a turn, then there is:
Charles Conwell (18-0, 13 knockouts) is fighting in this week's card after signing with Golden Boy Promotions and is a WBC ranked contender. The winner would become a mandatory against Fundora/Tszyu at some point.
Serhii Bohachuk (24-1, 23 knockouts) another contender for the WBC title, he would had been Fundora's opponent if Thurman didn't get injured, instead he pulled a competitive but quite convincing win over Brian Mendoza. Sadly, it looks like he get won't get the opportunity to fight the towering Inferno as a rematch between Tim Tszyu vs Sebastian Fundora II is likely happening November.
The Ukranian is a free agent that can fight at any promotion. Ortiz's Team has the means the contact Robles as they trained under his gym.
Jaron Ennis (31-0, 28 knockouts) has not moved up to 154 yet, but he has been signed to Matchroom, both fighters from MR and GBP fight in the Zone/DAZN.
Brian Castano has come back to the United States a month ago in Manny Robles's Gym and hasn't really implied who he will fight but looks like he plans to make a comeback at 154 this year.
Xander Zayas is turning 22 this year and will fighting a contender in Patrick Texeira in June 08, a fighter whose currently in a losing streak, but had a victory over middleweight champion Carlos Adames rather recently, he will become a top contender by the end of the year or the next.
Erickson Lubin, Jesus Ramos and Rhadzab Butaev (who had moved up to 154 after his loss to Stanionis) are not likely to fight other opponents unless they are inhouse opponents in the same promotion, unless they attained title contender ship status or likely benefit more than vice versa.
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