Ortiz Returns to the Ring in Fort Worth
Undefeated Vergil Ortiz Jr. (23-0, 21 KOs) will defend his WBC interim junior middleweight title against Erickson Lubin on Nov. 8 at the Dickies Center in Fort Worth, Texas. The bout, promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, will be streamed live worldwide on DAZN. Ortiz comes off a notable decision victory over Israil Madrimov in February and will enjoy the advantage of fighting on home turf.
Fight Negotiations and Alternate Matchups
Ortiz, 27, had initially pursued a showdown with WBO champion Xander Zayas, but negotiations with Top Rank fell through after a deadline last Friday. Ortiz’s team quickly arranged the fight with Lubin instead. There had also been speculation about a potential matchup with Jaron “Boots” Ennis in 2026, which Ortiz’s camp has denied. Manager Rick Mirigan emphasized Ortiz’s dominance in the sport, saying that top opponents have been reluctant to face him and praised Lubin for stepping up.
Lubin Seeks Redemption
Erickson Lubin (27-2, 19 KOs), currently the IBF’s No. 1 junior middleweight contender, has won three consecutive fights since his loss to WBC champion Sebastian Fundora in April 2022. Lubin, 29, has notable wins over Jeison Rosario and Jesus Ramos, with his other career loss coming against Jermell Charlo in a 2017 WBC title fight. Lubin hopes to pull off an upset and capture the biggest victory of his career. “This is the moment I’ve been waiting for,” he said. “This fight is about redemption; I’m back for everything.”
