Ortiz (24-0, 22 KOs) hasn’t fought since stopping Erickson Lubin in the second round last November. That victory put him in position for a major fight with Jaron Ennis, but his dispute with Golden Boy landed in court and kept him inactive until the sides settled in July.
“We want anyone that’s willing to fight. We’re just having problems getting fights right now. No one wants to fight, if I’m being honest,” Vergil Jr. said to YSM Sports Media. “But what can I do? I can’t force them to sign the contract.”
The flaw in that argument is simple. Ortiz wasn’t available for much of the year. Without the legal battle with Golden Boy, it’s difficult to imagine him going nine months without fighting somebody. Ennis Moved On
Ennis stopped Xander Zayas in June to capture the WBA and WBO junior middleweight titles. His priorities changed immediately. Ennis wants IBF champion Josh Kelly and WBC champion Sebastian Fundora because defeating both would make him undisputed champion. Ortiz no longer offers what those champions bring.
“If we can’t get those other guys and Vergil Ortiz is available, let’s make it happen,” Ennis said after defeating Zayas.
That statement tells Vergil Jr. exactly where he ranks in Ennis’ plans. Waiting around for Ennis makes little sense, while Kelly and Fundora have plans of their own.
Golden Boy should find an available contender at 154 pounds and put Ortiz back to work. If the choices aren’t attractive, Ortiz is big enough to temporarily move to middleweight and expand the pool.
Yoenli Hernandez would make sense. The Cuban middleweight would likely welcome an opportunity against Ortiz, and defeating a dangerous contender at 160 pounds would accomplish more than spending additional months chasing champions who are looking elsewhere. Vergil Jr. has already said he’s open to fighting at middleweight.
“I’m definitely open to anything for sure. I wouldn’t be opposed to it at all,” Vergil Jr. said.
Then there shouldn’t be a reason to remain inactive. If he’s truly “open to anything,” making a fight with Yoenli should be next for him and Golden Boy.
Ortiz Jr. doesn’t need Ennis, Fundora or Kelly for his career to continue. Golden Boy needs to find one credible opponent willing to fight him. His legal dispute already cost him most of 2026. Waiting for the perfect opponent would only waste more time.
