Ortiz: ‘We’re ready for the best’

We could have a big fight on the horizon in the 154-pound division.

Undefeated 154-pound contender Vergil Ortiz Jr. (24-0, 22 KOs) was dominant on Saturday night as he defeated Erickson Lubin (27-3, 19 KOs) by second-round TKO from Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. 

Ortiz trapped Lubin against the ropes in Round 2 and unleashed a series of power punches that forced the referee to stop the fight at 1:30.

Many expected this fight to go longer and be a little more explosive. It was explosive, but it was one-sided. According to Ortiz, he capitalized on Lubin’s mistakes.

“There wasn’t much to evaluate — I just capitalized on his mistakes,” Ortiz said after the win. “I took as much information as I could and used it. The adjustments I made in the second round were to just be cautious. I’m patient.”

The 27-year-old Ortiz believes that many people doubt his skills and think he only comes forward, but according to him, there is more to his game.

“I feel people think I’m just a come-forward fighter,” he said. “Yeah, I’m a come-forward fighter — I love the fight. That’s why I’m in boxing. But you have to be smart too, and I can be smart when I want. I kind of felt I would dominate Lubin, but I just had to believe in myself, and that’s what I did. There were so many people saying I was going to get gassed or that he was going to knock me out. Look, he’s a great fighter, but there are levels to this.”

Undefeated 154-pound contender and former unified 147-pound champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis was in the building, and many believe that he will be and should be next for Ortiz. The two had a faceoff in the ring after the fight.

“This win motivated me a lot,” Ortiz said. “We’re ready for the best — we’re going to fight the best. Boots, come over here!”

Ortiz-Ennis should be next. These are two young and talented fighters who are in the prime of their careers.

Eddie Hearn (Ennis’ promoter) and Oscar De La Hoya (Ortiz’s promoter), let’s get it done.