Vergil Ortiz Jr. hopes to replicate the magic that came with his breakthrough campaign in 2019, even if it will have to come in condensed format.
The ongoing coronavirus pandemic ruined any plans for the 2019 Prospect of the Year to replicate that four-win campaign in the year ahead, but all is not lost. Ortiz will pick up where he last left off, with plans for a March 28 clash versus welterweight gatekeeper Samuel Vargas now repurposed for a July 24 show in Indio, California.
The event will mark the first major card to stream live on DAZN since February 29, while marking the first fight of 2020 for Ortiz (15-0, 15KOs). Back when he was due to headline a March 28 DAZN show versus Canada’s Vargas (31-5-2, 14KOs), the hope for Ortiz—a Golden Boy-promoted welterweight from Grand Prairie, Texas—was to get another four fights in on the year, the last of which he envisioned being a shot at a welterweight title.
With more than half of the year gone, that rate of activity no longer exists. The desire, however, remains strong, even if it now comes with a dash of uncertainty.
“It really just depends,” Ortiz admitted to BoxingScene.com on just how active he can remain in a condensed year. “There are so many factors now, it’s not like before where as long as you won and didn’t get hurt you can just get right back in the ring.
“The pandemic changes everything. But as long as I get this win and I’m healthy, I’m hoping we can get three fights in 2020 including this one.”
Ortiz’s four fights in 2020 came in a span of just under 11 months, and was due to return less than four months after his year-capping 5th round knockout of Brad Solomon from last December. The primary goal for now remains to get past Vargas, who has proven to be a serviceable gatekeeper.
From there will come the aim to advance to bona fide welterweight contender—and with any luck, a quicker than expected turnaround.
“It just depends how well the fight goes,” notes Ortiz, who has never been extended beyond the 6th round.. “I don’t want to jump the gun and say I’ll knock him out,
“But let’s say if the fight ends early, I can be ready for a fight on Canelo’s date (tentatively targeted for September 12)or sometime right after that.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
