Grand Prairie native and undefeated Junior Middleweight Vergil Ortiz has had his name linked to several of the top guys at 154 pounds. Including world champion Tim Tszyu, that fight fell through as Tszyu inked a deal to meet up with former 147-pound unified champion Keith "One Time" Thurman in a mega fight scheduled for March 30th. That left the North Texan without a fight date. Rumors began circulating linking him with undefeated 154-pound prospect 21-year-old Xander Zayas of Puerto Rico. Zayas sports an 18-0 (12) record and appears well on his way to a world title fight. Zayas confirmed the rumors and said, "It would be a beautiful chapter to the Puerto Rico VS Mexic rivalry," and added, "Those Rumors may be true, and we can make that in the future. He just moved to 154. I am at 154. If I can stay at 154 and maybe get a title, we can make that fight in the future." Zayas went on to say that his next fight is already scheduled for June, on the eve of the Puerto Rican Day Parade as he will square off with former world champion Patrick Teixeira at Madison Square Garden. Ortiz last fought in January, in Las Vegas, and stopped an outmatched Fredrick Laeson in one round to move his record to 20-0 (20). Another tune-up for Ortiz in May would make sense and would line the Puerto Rican and the Texan up perfectly for a fight in the fourth quarter of 2024.
TEXAS BOXING SCENE
by 3d boxing