Vergil Ortiz Jr. believes it may be time for Errol Spence to call it quits. According to Ortiz, the 2019 car crash that sidelined Spence for months and his subsequent ninth-round TKO loss to Terence Crawford in July 2023 have taken a noticeable toll. "I really don’t want to see him fight again," Ortiz said, emphasizing his concern for Spence’s health rather than implying any lack of desire for a showdown.
Spence has been inactive for nearly two years and has battled through eye injuries and weight issues that complicated his title reign. With extended time outside the ring, Ortiz points out that fighters who remain idle often do so because they’ve already banked significant earnings - a situation Spence appears to match. "If he’s made the money he needed, then why keep going?" Ortiz asked, advocating that Spence retire comfortably.
Meanwhile, Ortiz himself is navigating a challenging junior middleweight scene after defeating Israil Madrimov on February 22 in Riyadh. He admits he'd like a crack at high-profile bouts, yet the unbeaten IBF champion Bakhram Murtazaliev appears less appealing to him than a match with the recently stopped Tim Tszyu. Critics say it’s a sign Ortiz respects Murtazaliev’s punishing power.
Still, Ortiz’s worries for Spence don’t come from a place of disrespect. Having once idolized the Texan’s skill set, Ortiz only urges caution for a fighter who, in his view, has given enough to the sport and may no longer have the capacity or motivation to endure more punishment.
Get to know more about Errol Spence.
Image Credit: DAZN