Avila Perspective, Chap. 197: Return of Vergil Ortiz, Quiet Cannon and More

An out of sight, out of mind mentality of the boxing public keeps Vergil Ortiz Jr. from being mentioned as one of the top welterweights in the loaded division.

But fighters know otherwise.

“He’s a great young fighter,” said undefeated Michael “The Problem” McKinson of Ortiz.

Ortiz (18-0, 18 KOs) anxiously awaits to prove he’s among the top welterweights in the world when he meets England’s McKinson (22-0, 2 KOs) on Saturday Aug. 6, at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. DAZN will stream the Golden Boy Promotions card live.

“I’m just ready to fight. It’s been like a year,” said Ortiz, 24, a native of nearby Grand Prairie, Texas. “It’s taken a full year to come back around, but hopefully, after this fight, everything’s back on schedule.”

Before battles with the coronavirus, and other maladies for the past two years, Ortiz was within an eyelash of cracking the ranks of elite welterweights. He hopes things get back on track.

Standing in his way will be McKinson, an undefeated slick southpaw from Portsmouth, England. Four times he’s faced undefeated fighters in the past and given them all a loss.

“I believe I’m a very good fighter, but I haven’t had the opportunity to prove that I’m world-class,” said McKinson, 28, who is about the same height as Ortiz. “You don’t get to 22-0, winning four international titles along the way for not being a good fighter.”

Ortiz and McKinson were scheduled to meet last March in Los Angeles. But when Ortiz was felled by a sickness, he pulled out and the British fighter was kept on the boxing card to fight the main event against Chicago’s Alex Martin. It was southpaw versus southpaw and McKinson easily defeated the American replacement.

Golden Boy Promotions promised McKinson a future fight with Ortiz and here we are five months later.

“I’m a very proud Englishman coming to the other side of the world, coming to the lion’s den in an attempt to tame the young lion,” McKinson said during a conference call this week.

Though Ortiz’s fast rise was stalled by the pandemic and other obstacles, he’s simply anxious to prove why experts predict greatness for the lanky Texas knockout puncher.

Eric Gomez, who discovered Ortiz during his amateur days, is eager to see him continue his journey.

“It’s beautiful to watch a young kid like Vergil develop into a world-class fighter. That’s the part of the job that I enjoy, just watching the progression,” said Gomez, the vice president of Golden Boy Promotions. “he’s become so much more of a complete fighter.”

Ortiz has trained in Southern California for most of his pro career. Along the way in the past six years, he’s built up a fan base throughout the southwest as a dangerous fighter who can end a fight quickly.

No opponent has ever heard the final bell.

“I’m excited to show more of my ability than I’ve been able to show in my previous fights because in my previous fights, I’ve coasted,” said Ortiz. “I’ve not had to go somewhere that I’ve never been before and I know I’m going to have to in this fight. So, I’m looking forward to it. I’m excited for Saturday and I can’t wait.”

The long, tall Texan desperately wants a good test.

Gomez believes this will be the ultimate test for Ortiz.

“He needs to be facing the top fighters in the world like Michael McKinson, who’s highly rated in the world. He needs the experience of fighting different styles. If he’s victorious on Saturday night, then he’s ready. He’s ready for any of the top fighters in the world,” said Gomez.

Saturday brings testing more than just Covid.

Thursday

360 Promotions returns on Thursday Aug. 4, at the Quiet Cannon Golf Course in Montebello, Calif. with a stacked boxing card that includes two female fights and Ireland’s Callum Walsh.

Walsh is backed by UFC’s Dana White. UFC Fight Pass will stream the 360 Promotions card live.

The super welterweight Walsh (3-0) meets Benjamin Whitaker (15-8) in the semi-main event. Others on the card include Chelsey Anderson, Aida Satybaldinova, Elvina White, Cem Kilic, and Jesus Gonzalez. Doors open at 5 p.m.

Saturday

Elite Boxing Promotions presents a fight card on Saturday Aug. 6, at the Commerce Casino in City of Commerce, Calif. Female flyweight contender Sulem Urbina fights Jhosep Vizcaino in the main event. Others on the card include Leonardo DiStefano, Eric Mondragon, Kenneth Lopez and Francisco Casillas among others.

It’s a loaded boxing card that begins at 5 p.m. For more information contact NGBA at (323) 445-9763.

Fights to Watch

Thurs. UFC Fight Pass 6 p.m. Callum Walsh (3-0) vs Ben Whitaker (15-8).

Sat. DAZN 11 a.m. Dalton Smith (11-0) vs Sam O’Maison (17-3-1)

Sat. DAZN 6 p.m. Vergil Ortiz (18-0) vs Michael McKinson (22-0).

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