Erickson Lubin Warns Ortiz Jr.: “They’ll Talk About Me”

Erickson ‘The Hammer’ Lubin says he will “replace” WBC interim junior middleweight champion Vergil Ortiz Jr. by beating him in their main event in 11 days on November 8, 2025 at the Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.

Ortiz Jr. (23-0, 21 KOs) is set to challenge Sebastian Fundora for his WBC 154-pound title. He also has a potentially lucrative fight against Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis that could happen in early 2026 if he and his promoters at Golden Boy Promotions choose to take that risky bout.

Wear on Vergil

Before any of those fights can take place, Vergil Jr. Must defeat #4 WBC Lubin (27-2, 19 KOs) in their 12-round headliner on DAZN on November 8. This is the third consecutive tough fight that Ortiz Jr. had since 2024.

In his last two fights, he beat Israil Madrimov and Serhii Bohachuk by a pair of 12-round decisions in grueling bouts. Vergil Jr. absorbed as much punishment as he dished out. He survived those battles more than he won them. They were both very close, and his face looked beaten afterwards.

Lubin, 30, could take advantage of the situation if Vergil Jr. not 100% after those two wars. He hasn’t had a tough fight since his ninth round stoppage loss to Fundora on April 9, 2022.

The Replacement Plan

“To beat someone like Vergil, I would basically replace him,” Erickson told Lubin Golden Boy Boxing about his fight against Vergil Ortiz Jr. on November 8. “I’m one of the top dogs in this division. I feel like a lot of guys tend to duck or look over me. I’m just glad that Vergil took the fight that way.”

Lubin would Ortiz Jr. replaced in the slot to challenge Fundora for his WBC 154-lb title. It is doubtful that Erickson would be keen to face ‘Boots’ Ennis given how risky that fight would be for him. Unless the money is worth it, he will wait for his rematch with ‘The Towering Inferno’ Fundora.

“There’s a list of names he could have fought. Respect to him,” Lubin said of Ortiz Jr. said. “We’re both in our prime. We’re not waiting for somebody to get old or outrun each other because the money’s not right. It’s going to be one of those real historic games.”

If Ortiz Jr. had not fought Lubin, his options would have been slim in terms of significant opposition. Ennis didn’t want Vergil Jr. in his debut at 154. It would have been someone like Callum Walsh or Brandon Adams. None of them would have been as interesting as Lubin.

“I’ll probably stop him or win a decision. It doesn’t matter to me. Go home with a W. After this fight they won’t talk about Vergil. They are going to talk about the hammer.