A big fight is on the horizon on Saturday from Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, as Vergil Ortiz Jr. (23-0, 21 KOs) puts the interim WBC junior middleweight title at stake against Erickson Lubin 27-2, 19 KOs), which you can watch exclusively on DAZN.
Much has been made about an Ortiz win meaning a 2026 mega-fight with Jaron "Boots" Ennis. But a win by Lubin shakes things and puts him in the same pole position.
With this showdown packing high stakes, DAZN News jabs away at how "The Hammer" has built himself up to this point by looking back at his last five fights.
Fighting outside of the PBC banner for the first time in a long time, this was a big fight for Erickson Lubin. He was returning after a 20-month layoff. And it was an IBF title eliminator, so the stakes were high for Lubin. A win and he'd remain in the championship hunt.
He rose to the occasion in stopping Ardreal Holmes Jr. in the 11th round to earn a crack this Saturday against Vergil Ortiz Jr.
Jesus Ramos was a guy many in PBC were looking at as a possible world title challenger in what was the co-main event fight on the Canelo Alvarez vs. Jermell Charlo fight card. He was 20-0 with 16 knockouts, and an exciting fighter with a ton of power. Lubin was supposed to be the stepping stone.
However, Lubin had other things in mind, dominating throughout with his superior overall skills to win the decision on all three scorecards. The win showed there was plenty left in the gas tank.
This was a crossroads fight for Lubin. How was he going to react coming off the thrilling loss to Sebastian Fundora 14 months prior?
Lubin was a man on a mission in pounding out Arias to stop him inside five rounds and get his career back on track.
On paper, you know Lubin vs. Fundora was going to be an all-action-packed affair.
The duo didn't disappoint in what was considered the consensus 2022 Fight of the Year. It was a brutal and vicious fight. Lubin and Fundora knocked each other down once to the canvas. Lubin's face was all busted up, but he was up on the judges' scorecards when the ninth round came to a close.
Not knowing the scorecards at the time and seeing his guy's face all swollen, Lubin's trainer, Kevin Cunningham, told the referee his guy couldn't continue, and Fundora won the interim WBC title.
This was the co-main event of Gervonta Davis vs. Mario Barrios. Lubin gave the fans a show before the main event, knocking Rosario down twice in the sixth round to get the KO and secure himself the Fundora clash.
Ortiz Jr. and Lubin clash in Texas this Saturday, November 8. Watch it live with a DAZN subscription. Monthly and annual options available.