“Why should I talk about Ortiz at this point, that he probably won’t fight for the next year or so, and he’ll be stripped of the WBC interim soon,” Lewkowicz said during tonight’s post-fight press conference.
Lewkowicz’s prediction that Ortiz is “going to be stripped very soon” refers to the WBC’s active stance on title defenses; with Ortiz unable to sign fight contracts due to a temporary restraining order, the sanctioning body is unlikely to let the interim belt sit vacant.
Lewkowicz went further and Ortiz Jr. completely removed from the current picture. “Ortiz is out of the game at this point.”
The comments quote Vergil Jr. effectively out of the running despite his interim title status, which would typically position him as a top contender for Fundora’s WBC belt.
Fundora did not respond to its promoter’s position during the exchange, instead maintaining its focus on activities within the division without naming specific rivals.
By remaining silent during his promoter’s comments, Fundora appeared to agree with the strategy of prioritizing active opponents. It’s a sharp turn from his comments just a week ago, where he mentioned wanting to challenge Ortiz for the vacant Ring Magazine title on the undercard of Canelo Alvarez’s “Mexico vs. The World” event scheduled for September 12, 2026.
The 154-pound division remains one of the most volatile in the sport. While Ortiz has been sidelined, several other options exist for Fundora:
Jaron “Boots” Ennis: The WBA interim champion recently announced that he is “moving on” from Ortiz and is looking for a major association.
Xander Zayas: The rising star holds the WBA and WBO titles and is a prime target for anyone seeking undisputed status.
September return: Fundora has made it clear that he intends to fight again in September, regardless of whether the opponent is Ortiz or another top contender.
During tonight’s press conference, Fundora said he thinks a clash with inactive 35-year-old Jermell Charlo would be a “great fight.” Jermell hasn’t fought in three years since 2023, making him a similar type of opponent for Fundora to Thurman.
By Vergil Ortiz Jr. firing while simultaneously expressing favorable interest in the fight against Jermell Charlo, Fundora appears to be establishing a pattern that prioritizes name recognition and “big event” status over immediate division threats.
The rejection of Ortiz, who despite his legal obstacles is 24-0 and in his physical prime, stands in stark contrast to the pursuit of Charlo. By the time a possible September 2026 date arrives, Charlo will have been inactive for three full years.
The comparison to the Keith Thurman fight is hard to dismiss. In that match, Fundora faced a 37-year-old former champion who was coming off a massive layoff and was obviously a smaller man who had moved up in weight.
This move also keeps everything within the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) ecosystem. While Ortiz is currently embroiled in a lawsuit to leave Golden Boy, Charlo remains a staple of the PBC roster.
Focusing on Charlo, Fundora and Lewkowicz avoids the promotional headaches of cross-platform negotiations with Golden Boy or DAZN, even if it means fans have to wait longer for the division’s most dangerous young contenders to get their chance.
