Promoter Oscar De La Hoya said today he wants WBC interim junior middleweight champion Vergil Ortiz Jr. to fight Terence Crawford, Sebastian Fundora or Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis next February 22 in Riyadh.
Oscar’s wish list for Vergil Jr
- Jaron Ennis
- Sebastian Fundora
- Terence Crawford
De La Hoya’s first choice is ‘Boots’ Ennis (33-0, 29 KOs), but he isn’t sure that Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn will still fight Vergil Jr. (22-0, 21 KOs) is looking to move on after the lackluster performance Jaron had in his rematch against Karen Chukhadzhian on November 9th.
“It’s one of those three. This is one of those three,” De La Hoya said DAZN about a big name for Vergil Ortiz Jr.
Oscar is looking for a big name for Vergil Jr
Ennis was exposed in that fight, and it would be a mistake for Hearn to match him with a killer like Vergil Ortiz Jr.
That fight showed that Boots is vulnerable and can be boxed out. Hearn may not want to take the risk of joining Vergil Jr. to place and spoil him all the hard work he put in to make him a star.
WBA 154-lb champion Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) is still in a holding pattern, waiting to see if Canelo Alvarez will throw him a leg by giving him a shot at his unified titles at 168. That fight is not likely to happen.
Vergil (26) still lacks the popularity to attract fighters like Crawford, WBC and WBO champion Fundora to want to fight him. It’s too risky for them, and it will be much more difficult to face a powerful young guy like Ortiz Jr. He is currently in the ‘Who Needs Him’ club.
In other words, Ortiz Jr. is more trouble than he’s worth without the Saudis stepping in to entice Fundora, Crawford or Boots Ennis to want to mess with him.
If His Excellency Turki Alalshikh can help lure one of those big names, Vergil Jr. have an excellent opponent on February 22. However, without Turki’s help, De La Hoya will have to look in a different direction for Vergil to face the former WBC interim 154-lb champion Serhii Bohachuk ia rematch.
Vergil beat Bohachuk (24-2, 23 KOs) by a controversial 12-round majority decision on Aug. 10 in a fight many fans saw Serhii winning.