American super welterweight (154 lbs) contender Vergil Ortiz Jr will no longer participate on the Los Angeles-based August 3rd card set to be headlined by Terence Crawford and Israil Madrimov. The fighter has instead been reported to be part of a separate Golden Boy event against an opponent yet to be determined. Reportedly, this event will occur in the same month of August.
Sportswriter Dan Rafael first broke the news surrounding the removal of Vergil Ortiz Jr (21-0, 21 KO’s) from the August 3rd card.
“Per source, Vergil Ortiz Jr. will not appear on the Aug. 3 LA card with Tszyu out.,” Rafel posted on Twitter/.X. He will have his own date later in August on DAZN.“
Vergil Ortiz currently occupies a position as the WBA mandatory of the super welterweight (154 lbs) division, but will have to settle for remaining active as WBA champion Israil Madrimov (10-0-1, 7 KO’s) prepares to face former undisputed welterweight (147 lbs) champion Terence Crawford (40-0, 31 KO’s) on August 3rd.
Ortiz’ run at 154 lbs has been met with a couple of controversies thus far. During his debut at 154 lbs earlier this year against Ghanaian contender Fredrick Lawson (30-5, 22 KO’s), a controversial stoppage by the referee that presided over the bout left Ortiz relatively untested. The referee’s post-match statements revealed he had made his decision due to being alarmed of Lawson’s brain scans prior to the match, overshadowing Ortiz’ own performance.
In April, Ortiz fought Puerto Rican fighter Thomas Dulorme (26-7-1, 17 KO’s) who he knocked out in the first round, but despite Dulorme’s credentials within the sport the victory again seemed blemished by Dulorme’s inactivity over the approximate past two years, and the fact Dulorme fought at 154 lbs for the first time of his career.
With both Vergil Ortiz’ victories proving to be devoid of any real challenge, the announcement of him fighting Australian contender Tim Tszyu (24-1, 17 KO’s) on August 3rd was a sorely needed step-up fight for the American to prove his credentials as an elite talent, but Tszyu’s withdrawal from the planned bout has again left Ortiz to look for a suitable match-up.
Likely due to Ortiz’ next opponent not fitting the competitive bill for the cross-promotional August 3rd card, Ortiz is expected headline against an easier opponent in a separate Golden Boy Promotions event that will be held in the same month of August. Given Ortiz last two opponents were unranked, there is a decent chance his next combatant might similarly be considered a fringe contender at best.
