The highlight of this action-packed boxing weekend will unfold on Saturday night, when two hard-hitting Americans, Vergil Ortiz Jr and Erickson Lubin, face off at the Dickies Arena in Fort Worth. The bout, promoted by Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, will be for the WBC Interim Super Welterweight Title. The event will be broadcast live on DAZN.
Vergil Ortiz and the hardships that lead to growth
Some brutal battles can leave a boxer scarred and vulnerable in the fights that follow. Others, however, forge character and help fix small flaws, allowing a fighter to approach the next challenge with greater confidence. Everything suggests that, in Ortiz’s case, his hellish war with Serhii Bohachuk was far more beneficial than damaging.
Dragged into a sensational slugfest and dropped twice, Vergil had to grit his teeth but weathered the storm, narrowly escaping with a razor-thin points victory. He learned from the experience and, in his next fight, displayed noticeable improvements—especially in his defense—delivering one of the best performances of his career against a strong opponent in Israil Madrimov.
Now, the Texan looks to be at the peak of his career and ready for full recognition. A convincing win would establish him as a true elite contender, while a shaky performance would revive the doubts his critics raised after the tough Bohachuk fight.
Erickson Lubin: a versatile fighter—or maybe not?
Before his disastrous 2017 encounter with Jermell Charlo, Lubin likely believed he could go toe-to-toe with anyone. That devastating first-round KO forced him to adjust, but it didn’t erase his warrior spirit, which he continued to carry into the ring.
The second loss of his career, after a thrilling slugfest against the towering Sebastian Fundora, showed him that he wasn’t tough enough to trade punches with everyone. That realization seemed to shape his cautious, evasive strategy against the unbeaten and dangerous Jesus Ramos, whom he outpointed two years ago.
So, has Lubin found a new style he can rely on when needed? Personally, I have my doubts. In my view, the judges were overly generous with Erickson against Ramos: he was mostly ineffective and only came alive in the late rounds.
What will happen? Boxe Punch’s prediction!
I’ve spent the past few days rewatching videos of both fighters, and despite my efforts, I still can’t understand why some respected analysts believe this matchup will be competitive or surprising.
From my perspective, Lubin simply doesn’t have the tools to trouble Ortiz or slow him down. The bookmakers seem to agree, offering long odds on a Lubin upset.
If Lubin tries to repeat his Ramos performance, constantly circling and relying on quick jabs to keep Ortiz at bay, it will turn into a manhunt, with Ortiz relentlessly closing the distance and attacking from every angle.
That scenario would be far worse for Lubin than the one he faced in 2023, because unlike Ramos, who picks his shots sparingly, Ortiz maintains a high work rate that makes it nearly impossible to avoid exchanges for long.
On the other hand, “The Hammer” wouldn’t fare any better by living up to his nickname and standing his ground, as Ortiz appears stronger, more explosive, and more durable in every department.
My hunch is that Lubin will try to box defensively, hoping to confuse Ortiz with his southpaw stance and drag the fight into the late rounds to make a final push. But I don’t think things will go according to plan.
I expect Ortiz’s pressure, building round after round, to draw Lubin into increasingly dangerous exchanges, forcing him to fight on the inside earlier than he wants to. At that point, the fighter with the tougher armor will prevail.
I have little doubt in picking Ortiz to win. The 27-year-old puncher should stop Lubin before the final bell, in a dominant performance that will put him in line for a world title shot.
Prediction: Ortiz by KO in the middle rounds.