Promoter Oscar De La Hoya desires to match Vergil Ortiz Jr against Terence Crawford in 2025 if Vergil is successful in his next two fights.
De La Hoya says if Ortiz Jr. (21-0, 21 KOs) wins his fight this Saturday night against WBC interim junior middleweight champion Serhii Bohachuk after which beats Tim Tszyu later this yr, he can then face WBA 154-lb champion Crawford in a unification match in 2025.
Tszyu is predicted to face IBF champion Bakhram Murtazaliev for his belt. If he wins that fight and Ortiz Jr. is victorious against Bohachuk, a match between them can occur. Nonetheless, Tszyu and his management might need other plans.
Fighting Vergil Jr. could be dangerous for Tszyu, especially if he’s hoping to face Crawford. It’s the larger payday for Tszyu, and he might wish to swerve a clash against Ortiz Jr.
It’s a useless risk for Tszyu, and Ortiz’s title could be the WBC interim belt, not the complete one held by Sebastian Fundora.
“Crawford, I like. He’s probably the most effective pound-for-pound fighter on this planet. His style is fan-friendly. He’s an amazing boxer and undefeated,” said Oscar De La Hoya to Fight hype about Terence Crawford.
Last Saturday, Crawford moved as much as 154. He dethroned WBA champion Israil Madrimov by a twelve-round unanimous decision within the headliner in a Riyadh Season event on the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.
“He went up a weight class [154], and he met up with a man [Israil Madrimov] who is actually tough. Sometimes, you’re not going to look pretty much as good as in your previous fights, fighting smaller guys. It’s okay. It’s a learning process. He has to ascertain himself at 154,” continued De La Hoya about Crawford.
Crawford had problems with Madrimov’s style and power because he hadn’t fought anyone like that in his profession and was coming off a 13-month layoff. He got the win and now holds the WBA title at 154 lb. He just needs the opposite three to develop into the undisputed champion at junior middleweight.
The Potential Super Fight
If Crawford has to undergo Vergil Ortiz Jr. to earn that distinction, it would be tough, especially if one other yr goes by before he faces the younger. By this time next yr, Crawford will probably be 38, and that’s a bit ripe to be going up against a puncher like Vergil Jr.
“He probably fought essentially the most hardest guy. Not essentially the most dangerous guy however the hardest guy,” De La Hoya said about Madrimov. “But I believe Crawford against Vergil Ortiz next yr in the primary quarter will probably be a brilliant fight.
“We’re hoping if Vergil wins this Saturday, he can go up against Tim Tszyu in a while this yr. Then the winner of Tim Tszyu and Vergil Ortiz can face Crawford,” said De La Hoya.
If it plays out as De La Hoya wishes, Vergil might be the king of the 154-lb division and a brand new star. Beating Crawford could be hard, but he’ll be older by next yr, and he won’t have enough left at 38 to beat Ortiz.
