Vergil Ortiz jr. Deny the reports that an agreement between him and Erickson Lubin will be finalized for October 18 in the US on Dazn. Ortiz jr. That an offer was made to WBO 154 pound champion Xander Zayas with a deadline of 17:00 today.
Xander’s rejection and conditions
Zayas told Vergil jr. Answered and said that it was not a ‘Right offer.’ He says he would be interested in fighting against him, but it would be in Puerto Rico.
It is doubtful whether Zayas’s promoters on the top rank would enable him to make a pressure fighter like Vergil Jr. (23-0, 21 COs) to fight, as it would be a dramatic step of the last opponent, Jorge Garcia Perez, whom he fought for the vacant WBO junior middleweight title last month.
Lubin is the compulsory for IBF 154-Pond Champion Bakhram Murtazaliev. Why would he want to fight against Vergil jr. For his WBC -Tussentage belt when he could face his IBF belt?
This is not yet true if it is Lubin that is the next cause of Xander deadline is still at 5pm today. He has believed the offer since Wednesday. Idk how Ringmagazine can place it if Xander has not completely rejected it. https://t.co/g7h6gpvtp4
– Vergil Ortiz (@vergilortizsr) August 15, 2025
@Vergilortiz This is not a real offer, stop lying to your fans. The answer is yes !! Come meet me in Puerto Rico.🇵🇷 pic.twitter.com/l8t0wm9p2j
– Xander Zayas (@xanderzayas) August 15, 2025
Zayas is unlikely to want to fight in any country because he would deal with the entire battle with uninterrupted pressure. Xander, 22, can’t punch, and he had enough problems to defeat Jorge Garcia in July.
All the clinching and moving Zayas showed in that battle that he was being put under pressure. It was against a flawed opponent who looked nothing like a top-15-selected contender.
The WBO arranged Garcia #2 and Zayas #1 for their vacant title of 154 pounds. It was the perfect situation for Xander to capture the vacant WBO belt, but he still looked awful with all the movement and excessive clinic he did.
Zayas’ next opponent
The agreement Golden Boy had for Zayas with a 5 pm deadline will certainly not be accepted today. It is alleged that Xander defends his WBO title against Welterweight Young Santillan In December in Puerto Rico. It’s a gimme for Zayas.
Last updated on 08/15/2025
