The welterweight division’s newest sensation Vergil Ortiz Jr is now 17-0 in his professional career.
The WBO international champion has won all of his fights via knockout, including his latest victory against Maurice Hooker yesterday.
Returning to the squared circle after eight months, Ortiz clinched a 7th round TKO victory over the former WBO light welterweight champion, as Hooker dislocated his elbow while trying to defend his opponent’s barrage of body shots, and went down to the canvas.
Such a staggering victory has garnered eyeballs from every corner of the global boxing fandom, while speculations have come forward regarding who Ortiz Jr should fight next.
Vergil Ortiz Jr “more than ready” to fight Terence Crawford
As of now, the names of Errol Spence Jr and Terence “Bud” Crawford are doing rounds as both were present during the fight at the Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas and the latter’s name has gained pace since Vergil Ortiz Jr himself called Crawford out following the win.
I’m ready for a title shot. I’m not going to call anyone a bum. I would love that opportunity. Crawford is pound for pound. If I’m given the opportunity. I’m looking at you, Bud,” Ortiz said after the fight.
While his career is dominated by only knockout victories, the former WBC-NABF Junior super lightweight and WBA Gold welterweight titleholder feels a title fight against the WBO welterweight champ would go the other way around, as he expressed in a recent exclusive interview with BoxingScene.
“I don’t think I could take out Terence Crawford like that if we fought,” Ortiz said in the interview, “If we do end up fighting, it will probably go the distance in a great, competitive fight.”
While he may be skeptical about chances of knocking out or going the distance against “Bud”, Ortiz does express that he is nothing but prepared to have a world title shot.
“Let’s make the fight happen,” the young pugilist from Dallas went on, “I’m more than ready. There’s no one really willing to fight [Crawford]. I’m ready.”
A former lineal lightweight and unified light-welterweight champion, Terence Crawford has been WBO’s titleholder at 147, since winning the belt against Jeff Horn in June of that year.
Until now, Crawford has registered four successful title defenses, all of them coming via TKO. His most recent boxing match dates back to November last year when he defeated Kell Brook in the 4th round at the MGM Grand Conference Center.
