Avila Perspective, Chap 176: Vergil Ortiz Eager to Fight in L.A. and More News

LOS ANGELES-Those Texas guys are coming strong and perhaps the strongest of all might be Vergil Ortiz Jr. And he doesn’t mind finding out if he’s the best of the Texas lot.

But first things first.

True knockout artist Ortiz (18-0, 18 KOs) didn’t need to hunt long to find a foe as United Kingdom’s undefeated Michael McKinson (21-0, 2 KOs), a southpaw, eagerly agreed to face him in the prize ring on March 19 at the Galen Center in Los Angeles. DAZN will stream the Golden Boy Promotions card.

“It’s a complicated fight,” admits Ortiz, 23, who has already faced southpaws and knows the differences they can make in a fight.

Of course, there’s a saying in boxing: “it only takes one punch to change the outcome of a fight.”

Ortiz has a way of uncomplicating fights with those heavy-handed fists. Eighteen former  opponents know this.

“I don’t look for the knockout,” said Ortiz.

Eighteen former foes wish otherwise.

Changes have taken place in Ortiz’s training camp. He no longer prepares with Robert Garcia at his Robert Garcia Boxing Academy in Riverside. A change of scenery was sought and though they looked into working with Eddy Reynoso at Saul “Canelo” Alvarez’s camp in San Diego, that too was nixed.

“We were there for three or four weeks,” said Ortiz, adding that they saw very little of Reynoso, so they departed for Los Angeles. “Bad timing.”

In L.A. they discovered Manny Robles gym and decided to make that their new home.

“Manny brings a lot of things including experience. He’s taken fighters like Andy Ruiz and Oscar Valdez to world titles,” said Ortiz to a throng of reporters at the Founders Room in the Galen Center on Tuesday. “My dad is my trainer. They all work together.”

The father Vergil Ortiz Sr. has always been the main trainer and they also have Hector Beltran along with Robles planning to work the corner for Ortiz Jr.’s upcoming fight with McKinson.

Ortiz Sr. said he believes in not talking over each other in a corner during the fight. It causes confusion. “You only get one minute.”

Father and son go over fights regularly and talk strategy. They break down the skill sets of their opponents and decide the proper tactics to use during the fight. Its worked 18 times.

Ortiz Sr. said they have worked with a number of sparring partners during this camp including Argentina’s Brian Castano who was scheduled to face Jermell Charlo but suffered an injury. That fight was scheduled for the same March 19 date two miles north on Figueroa Avenue.

The announcement that Ortiz was fighting in Los Angeles stirred up phone calls from fight fans all over the Southwest and especially Southern California by those eager to see the fighter with hands of stone.

Oscar De La Hoya, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, said Ortiz fighting in Los Angeles is a perfect scenario for the fighter’s return.

“Los Angeles probably has the most knowledgeable fans in boxing,” said De La Hoya at the Galen Center where the fight will take place. “We feel L.A. fans will come and support him.”

Ortiz only fought once in Los Angeles and that took place in 2018 at the Belasco Theater in downtown. He knocked out former super featherweight world champion Juan Carlos Salgado in three rounds. Now he returns on the big stage.

“I really wanted to fight in Los Angeles,” said Ortiz.

He also said he would love a fight with fellow Texan Errol Spence Jr. or any of the top welterweights.

“I want them all,” said Ortiz.

Lightweights Collide

A four-bout lightweight tournament by Roy Jones Jr. Promotions takes place on Thursday Feb. 24, at Ciudad Obregon, Mexico. The card will be shown live on UFC Fight Pass at 7 p.m. PT.

It’s a very competitive fight card.

Venezuela’s Fradimil Macayo (15-1, 13 KOs) meets Mexico’s Armando Ramirez (5-0-1, 2 KOs) in an eight-round bout. All of the tournament fights are eight rounds.

Mexico’s Jorge Cota (6-0, 4 KOs) fights Mexico’s Rene De Leon (7-3, 4 KOs).

Luis Torres (14-0, 9 KOs) faces Rodolfo Flores (14-5, 6 KOs)

Isai Hernandez (11-2-1, 7 KOs) fights Irving Castillo (9-2, 6 KOs).

Undisputed Josh Taylor

Scotland’s Josh Taylor considered one of the top fighters in the world pound for pound defends the super lightweight world championship against Jack Catterall on Saturday Feb. 26, at OVO Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland. ESPN+ will stream the Top Rank fight card live at 11 a.m. PT.

“I can’t wait to get in there and dismantle him in every single department of the game. I can’t wait to get in there and put on a real top performance Saturday,” said Taylor who has the WBA, WBO, WBC and IBF super lightweight world titles.

Taylor (18-0, 13 KOs) finally returns to the prize ring after capturing all the titles last year with a convincing win over Jose Carlos Ramirez in Las Vegas. Before that he defeated super strong Regis Prograis in a tightly contested match by majority decision in England. Now he returns to his homeland in Scotland and faces Catterall (26-0, 13 KOs), an undefeated Brit. Both are southpaws. It should be good.

“I’ve got to go above and beyond for this fight. Everything I’ve done in all my previous fights mean nothing. I’ve got to go and put on a career-best performance to beat Josh on Saturday. Josh is at the top of his game — he’s got all the belts,” said Catterall.

Las Vegas

Undefeated super featherweights collide as Chris Colbert (16-0, 6 KOs) meets Dominican Republic’s Hector Garcia (14-0, 10 KOs) in the main event at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas on Saturday Feb. 26. Showtime will televise.

Brooklyn’s Colbert was set to challenge Roger Gutierrez for the WBA super featherweight title, but Covid-19 struck and the Venezuelan was forced to withdraw. Now Colbert will be showcasing his talent against a hard-hitting southpaw in Garcia.

Fights to Watch

Thurs. UFC Fight Pass 7 p.m. Luis Torres (14-0) vs Rodolfo Flores (14-5)

Sat. ESPN+ 11 a.m. Josh Taylor (18-0) vs Jack Catterall (26-0)

Sat. Showtime 7 p.m. Chris Colbert (16-0) vs Hector Garcia (14-0).

Sun. DAZN 11 a.m. Lawrence Okolie (17-0) vs Michal Cieslak (21-1).

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