Vergil Ortiz Jr.

Vergil Ortiz Jr. (born March 25, 1998) is an American professional boxer. He has held the WBO International welterweight title since 2021. As an amateur, he was a seven-time national champion and was the winner at the 2013 Junior Olympics.[2] He was named 2019 The Ring magazine Prospect of the Year.[3] Ortiz is known for his punching power, with a knockout-to-win percentage of 100%.[4]

For Native American artist, see Virgil Ortiz.
Vergil Ortiz Jr.
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Reach72 in (183 cm)[1]
NationalityAmerican
Born (1998-03-25) March 25, 1998
Grand Prairie, Texas, U.S.
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights18
Wins18
Wins by KO18
Losses0
Medal record
Men's amateur boxing
Representing  United States
Golden Gloves
2016 Salt Lake City Light-welterweight
Silver Gloves
2012 Missouri Strawweight
2013 Missouri Light flyweight
2014 Missouri Bantamweight
US National PAL Championships
2013 Mobile Flyweight
2014 Reno Atomweight

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. 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.[5]

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.[6]

Rise up the ranks

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.[7] He defended the title in his next fight against Brad Solomon on December 13, 2019 in Indio, California, winning by fifth-round knockout.[8]

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.[9] 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.[10] Ortiz won the fight by seventh-round technical knockout and retained his WBA Gold welterweight title.[11]

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.[12] On August 14, 2021, Ortiz defended the title against Egidijus Kavaliauskas. Kavaliauskas, who became Ortiz's first opponent to last longer than seven rounds, suffered five knockdowns as Ortiz won by eighth-round technical knockout.[13]

Professional boxing record
Professional record summary
18 fights 18 wins 0 losses
By knockout 18 0
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
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 WBC-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.

References
  1. DAZN tale of the tape prior to the Samuel Vargas fight
  2. "Vergil Ortiz Jr Golden Boy Promotions". goldenboypromotions.com. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
  3. "Prospect of the Year". The Ring. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  4. "BoxRec: Vergil Ortiz Jr". boxrec.com. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  5. "Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Cesar Valenzuela, GGG vs. Canelo | Boxing Bout". Tapology. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  6. Idec, Keith. "Vergil Ortiz Stops Roberto Ortiz In Two on Canelo-GGG Card". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  7. Christ, Scott (August 10, 2019). "Vergil Ortiz Jr stops Orozco in six, Franco and Negrete draw again". Bad Left Hook. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  8. "Vergil Ortiz Jr. records fifth-round KO of Brad Solomon for 15th victory | DAZN News US". DAZN. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  9. "Canelo's coach confirms Saunders next for Mexican superstar". The Independent. March 1, 2020. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  10. "BOXING IS BACK ON DAZN". DAZN Media Centre. June 30, 2020. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  11. "Ortiz vs. Vargas results: Vergil Ortiz Jr. pummels Samuel Vargas to notch 16th consecutive KO | DAZN News UK". DAZN. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  12. Christ, Scott (March 21, 2021). "Results and highlights: Vergil Ortiz Jr stops Maurice Hooker in firefight, Seniesa Estrada wins first world title". Bad Left Hook. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  13. "Vergil Ortiz Jr. overcomes adversity to knock down Mean Machine five times to win by eighth-round TKO | DAZN News US". DAZN. Retrieved August 15, 2021.


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