Vergil Ortiz Jr.: record, next fight and profile →
Vergil Ortiz and Michael McKinson are scheduled to meet once again after their originally scheduled match in March was scrapped due to Ortiz being diagnosed and hospitalized due to rhabdomyolysis.
Vergil Ortiz Jr. is persistent that he’s more than ready for a world title opportunity. The standout Ortiz (18-0, 18 KOs) is ranked as the No. 1 welterweight contender by the WBC, WBA, and WBO.
Vergil Ortiz is adamant that his experience with a harrowing illness is now firmly behind him. The hard-hitting welterweight contender from Texan was originally scheduled to face Michael McKinson of England in March, but Ortiz had to withdraw from their bout at the 11th hour because he fell dangerously ill. It turned out Ortiz was diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis, a serious medical condition, and needed to be hospitalized, prompting rumors that Ortiz would no longer be able to make the welterweight limit.
There is no other place that Michael McKinson would rather be than on the B-side and in the underdog role in his unbeaten opponent’s home country. The choice to next face red-hot welterweight contender Vergil Ortiz Jr. was a no-brainer for McKinson, who takes his second fight in U.S on August 6th at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.
It is no secret that Michael McKinson enters his fight with Vergil Ortiz Jr. as a considerable underdog. None of that is lost on the unbeaten British southpaw; in fact, he’s leaning into the role.
Knockout sensation and the pride of Grand Prairie, Texas, Vergil Ortiz Jr. (18-0, 18 KOs), will make his grand return to the ring on Saturday, August 6, taking on top 10 ranked, undefeated welterweight contender Michael “The Problem” McKinson (22-0, 2 KOs) of Portsmouth, Great Britain. The 12-round welterweight fight will take place at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, and will stream live worldwide, exclusively on DAZN.
Vergil Ortiz Jr. is not only sticking around at welterweight but made a point to seek out one of the division’s boogeymen. BoxingScene.com has confirmed that the unbeaten top-rated welterweight contender will next face David Avanesyan atop an August 6 DAZN show from [arena] in [Dallas], Texas. The scheduled 12-round bout will serve as a final eliminator for the WBC welterweight title current WBC/WBA/IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. (28-0, 22KOs).
Michael McKinson is not necessarily holding his breath at the prospect of landing another shot at Vergil Ortiz. The welterweight from Portsmouth, England was supposed to make his American debut last weekend against the hard-hitting Ortiz, but those plans were scuttled after Ortiz fell seriously ill (rhabdomyolysis) a week out from their scheduled fight, a headliner of a Golden Boy Promotions card at USC Galen Center in Los Angeles.
LOS ANGELES – Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions features a stable of stars headlined by the likes of former world champions Jaime Munguia and Gilberto Ramirez as well as undefeated upstarts Ryan Garcia and Vergil Ortiz Jr.
LOS ANGELES – Vergil Ortiz Jr. amicably split from trainer Robert Garcia in November after a three-year plus pact with the former world champion boxer turned coach.