Vergil Ortiz Jr.
American boxer (born 1998)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Vergil Ortiz Jr. (born March 25, 1998) is an American professional boxer. He has held the World Boxing Council (WBC) interim super welterweight title since 2024.
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname | The Texas Machine | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | March 25, 1998 Grand Prairie, Texas, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Boxing career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reach | 70 in (178 cm)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stance | Orthodox | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Boxing record | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total fights | 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wins | 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Win by KO | 22 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
As an amateur, he was a seven-time national champion and won the 110 pounds category at the USA's Junior Olympic National Championships in 2013.[2][3] He was named the 2019 Prospect of the Year by The Ring magazine.[4] Ortiz is known for his exceptional punching power, having scored all but two of his wins by knockout.[5]
Professional career
Early career
Ortiz was victorious in his first six fights, winning all six by stoppage and only going past the first round in one of the six fights.
Ortiz Jr vs. Valenzuela
His seventh bout came on September 16, 2017, on the undercard of Canelo Álvarez vs. Gennady Golovkin I against Cesar Valenzuela, which he won by second-round technical knockout.[6]
Ortiz Jr vs. Ortiz
After improving to 11-0, Ortiz appeared a year later on the undercard of Canelo Álvarez vs. Gennady Golovkin II to face Roberto Ortiz. Vergil Ortiz knocked down his opponent with a right hand early in the second round. Roberto got up, but he was still hurt. Vergil attacked him immediately and knocked him down again with a right hand that sent his opponent to one knee. Roberto Ortiz reached his feet again, but the referee deemed him unfit to continue, calling off the fight.[7]
Rise up the ranks
Ortiz Jr vs. Orozco
Ortiz, who now had an unblemished record of 13-0, defeated Antonio Orozco by sixth-round technical knockout to win the vacant WBA Gold welterweight title on August 10, 2019, at The Theatre at Grand Prairie, Texas.[8] He defended the title in his next fight against Brad Solomon on December 13, 2019, in Indio, California, winning by fifth-round knockout.[9]
Ortiz Jr vs. Vargas
Ortiz was originally scheduled to face Samuel Vargas on March 28, 2020, at The Forum, Inglewood, California on the undercard of Canelo Álvarez vs. Billy Joe Saunders.[10] However, following the postponement of the fight between Álvarez and Saunders due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the fight took place on July 24, 2020, at the same venue as Ortiz's previous fight against Brad Solomon.[11] Ortiz won the fight by seventh-round technical knockout and retained his WBA Gold welterweight title.[12]
Ortiz Jr vs. Hooker
Ortiz returned to the ring on March 20, 2021, beating Maurice Hooker with another seventh-round technical knockout in Fort Worth, Texas to win the vacant WBO International welterweight title.[13] Hooker was ranked #8 by the WBO, #13 by the WBC and #15 by the IBF at welterweight.[14]
Ortiz Jr vs. Kavaliauskas
On August 14, 2021, Ortiz defended the title against Egidijus Kavaliauskas. Kavaliauskas was ranked #5 by the WBO and #10 by the WBC at welterweight.[15] Kavaliauskas, who became Ortiz's first opponent to last longer than seven rounds, suffered five knockdowns as Ortiz won by eighth-round technical knockout.[16]
Ortiz Jr vs. McKinson
On August 6, 2022, Ortiz Jr fought Michael McKinson in an eliminator for the WBA world welterweight title. McKinson was ranked #5 by the WBO and #10 by the WBA at welterweight. Ortiz Jr beat McKinson by technical knockout in the 9th round.[17]
Ortiz Jr vs. Dulorme
On April 27, 2024 in Fresno, CA, Ortiz Jr was scheduled to face Thomas Dulorme.[18] He won the fight by knockout with liver shot in the first round.[19]
Ortiz Jr vs. Tszyu
Ortiz Jr was scheduled to face Tim Tszyu on August 3, 2024 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.[20] On May 30, 2024 it was announced that the fight was canceled with medical advice.[21] Tszyu required more time to heal from the injury sustained in his previous bout against Sebastian Fundora in March.[22]
Interim WBC super welterweight champion
Ortiz Jr vs. Bohachuk
On June 24, 2024 it was announced that Ortiz Jr would face Serhii Bohachuk in Las Vegas on August 10, 2024.[23][24] Ortiz was knocked down twice in the bout, but went on to win via majority decision (114–112, 114–112, 113–113) after twelve competitive rounds;[25] this being the first time Ortiz had gone the full distance in a fight.
Ortiz Jr vs. Madrimov
On February 22, 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Ortiz Jr defeated Israil Madrimov by unanimous decision to retain his interim WBC super welterweight title, with two scores reading 115–113 and one reading 117–111. This was the second time in Ortiz's career that he went the distance, as well as the second time in a row.[26][27]
Ortiz Jr vs. Lubin
On November 8, 2025, Ortiz Jr defended his interim WBC super welterweight title via 2nd round TKO victory over Erickson Lubin in Fort Worth, TX.[28][29][30]
Ortiz Jr vs. Ennis Negotiations
As one of the biggest fights in boxing, a bout between Vergil Ortiz Jr and Jaron Ennis has been in talks for a while, with Ennis previously rejecting proposals to fight Ortiz Jr on undercard fights in Saudi Arabia, not wanting to move up to Super Welterweight while trying to unify the World Titles at Welterweight. After Ortiz Jr's bout with Lubin, Ortiz Jr and Ennis officially entered negotiations for a proposed bout at the MGM Grand in March 2026, with Ortiz Jr's promotion Golden Boy Promotions, pulling out of negotiations as both Oscar De La Hoya and Ortiz Jr's manager Rick Mirigian could not reach an agreement with Ennis's team and Promotion after wanting a 60/40 split in favor of Ortiz Jr.
Professional boxing record
| 24 fights | 24 wins | 0 losses |
|---|---|---|
| By knockout | 22 | 0 |
| By decision | 2 | 0 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 | Win | 24–0 | Erickson Lubin | TKO | 2 (12), 1:30 | Nov 8, 2025 | Dickies Arena, Fort Worth, Texas, USA | Retained WBC interim super welterweight title |
| 23 | Win | 23–0 | Israil Madrimov | UD | 12 | Feb 22, 2025 | The Venue Riyadh Season, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | Retained WBC interim super welterweight title |
| 22 | Win | 22–0 | Serhii Bohachuk | MD | 12 | Aug 10, 2024 | Michelob Ultra Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | Won WBC interim super welterweight title |
| 21 | Win | 21–0 | Thomas Dulorme | KO | 1 (12), 2:39 | Apr 27, 2024 | Save Mart Center, Fresno, California, U.S. | |
| 20 | Win | 20–0 | Fredrick Lawson | TKO | 1 (12), 2:33 | Jan 6, 2024 | Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, Paradise, Nevada, U.S | |
| 19 | Win | 19–0 | Michael McKinson | TKO | 9 (12), 0:27 | Aug 6, 2022 | Dickies Arena, Fort Worth, Texas, U.S. | Retained WBO International welterweight title |
| 18 | Win | 18–0 | Egidijus Kavaliauskas | TKO | 8 (12), 2:59 | Aug 14, 2021 | Ford Center at The Star, Frisco, Texas, U.S. | Retained WBO International welterweight title |
| 17 | Win | 17–0 | Maurice Hooker | TKO | 7 (12), 0:36 | Mar 20, 2021 | Dickies Arena, Fort Worth, Texas, U.S. | Won vacant WBO International welterweight title |
| 16 | Win | 16–0 | Samuel Vargas | TKO | 7 (12), 2:58 | Jul 24, 2020 | Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S. | Retained WBA Gold welterweight title |
| 15 | Win | 15–0 | Brad Solomon | KO | 5 (12), 2:22 | Dec 13, 2019 | Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S. | Retained WBA Gold welterweight title |
| 14 | Win | 14–0 | Antonio Orozco | KO | 6 (12), 2:16 | Aug 10, 2019 | The Theatre at Grand Prairie, Grand Prairie, Texas, U.S. | Won vacant WBA Gold welterweight title |
| 13 | Win | 13–0 | Mauricio Herrera | KO | 3 (10), 0:29 | May 4, 2019 | T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 12 | Win | 12–0 | Jesus A Valdez Barrayan | RTD | 5 (10), 3:00 | Jan 26, 2019 | Toyota Center, Houston, Texas, U.S. | |
| 11 | Win | 11–0 | Roberto Ortiz | TKO | 2 (10), 1:03 | Sep 15, 2018 | T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | Juan Carlos Salgado | KO | 3 (10), 1:52 | Jun 23, 2018 | Belasco Theater, Los Angeles, California, U.S. | |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Jesus Alvarez Rodriguez | TKO | 3 (8), 2:23 | Feb 22, 2018 | Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S. | Won vacant NABF Junior super lightweight title |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Evandro Cavalheiro | TKO | 1 (8), 0:21 | Nov 16, 2017 | Polifórum Benito Juárez, Cancún, Mexico | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Cesar Valenzuela | TKO | 2 (6), 1:22 | Sep 16, 2017 | T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Ricardo Alan Fernandez | TKO | 1 (6), 2:09 | Jun 17, 2017 | Tostitos Championship Plaza, Frisco, Texas, U.S. | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Angel Sarinana | TKO | 3 (4), 1:44 | May 5, 2017 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Israel Villela | KO | 1 (4), 1:26 | Jan 28, 2017 | Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S. | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Nestor Garcia | KO | 1 (4), 3:00 | Dec 16, 2016 | Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S. | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Ernesto Hernandez | KO | 1 (4), 0:40 | Sep 17, 2016 | AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas, U.S. | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Julio Rodas | KO | 1 (4), 1:37 | Jul 30, 2016 | Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S. |