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Vergil Ortiz Jr says fight with this boxing star would mark 'a cool full circle moment'
Vergil Ortiz Jr. is a few months removed from producing a unanimous decision over Israil Madrimov in February.
When appearing on DAZN’s Ariel x Ade: The Boxing Show the following month, the WBC interim junior middleweight world champion listed three opponents he would like to face in the near future in Sebastian Fundora, Jermell Charlo and Bakhram Murtazaliev.
But there is one other desired dream opponent that would be Ortiz’ sentimental favorite — former unified welterweight world champion Errol Spence Jr., because of their shared roots in the sweet science in Dallas, Texas.
“It would mean a lot to me because I grew up with Spence,” Ortiz told DAZN News in New York City last week. “I think I first went to his gym when I was about 11 years old and we trained together for a good amount of time at Vivero Boxing Gym in Oakcliff.
“It would just be a cool full circle moment,” Ortiz added. “I just can’t explain it because I was there. It’s just that feeling. It would mean a lot to me.”
Aside from their shared home base, Ortiz believes their boxing styles would mesh exceptionally well in the ring.
“Everyone always says Errol has a good body shot and he fights like a Mexican,” Ortiz offered. “And people always say I fight like Errol.
"We came from the same gym. It’s crazy.”
There are eight years that separate Spence, 35, and Ortiz, 27. While Ortiz (23-0, 21 KOs) has been active with a fight less than three months ago, Spence (28-1, 22 KOs) has not fought since suffering his first pro loss — a ninth-round TKO at the hands of Terence Crawford for the undisputed welterweight crown back in July 2023.
