Vergil Ortiz Jr has withdrawn from his scheduled bout against WBA ‘regular’ welterweight champion Eimantas Stanionis after fainting on Wednesday and requiring hospitalization. The match has now been postponed for the third time. The cause of Ortiz Jr’s health issue remains unclear, though some speculate it may be due to efforts to meet the 147-lb limit for the Saturday fight.
Ortiz Jr, who is notably larger than most in the welterweight division, has been suspected by fans to have outgrown the weight class, with the rapid dehydration to reach 147 potentially causing his recent health problems. If this is the case, it could necessitate his move up to 154. Despite Ortiz Jr’s expressed desire to stay in the welterweight division for another two years, such a plan may no longer be feasible.
Should he move up to the 154-lb category, Ortiz Jr would have the opportunity to face several talented fighters, potentially generating significant revenue. However, these developments present a setback for Golden Boy Promotions, who had banked on Ortiz Jr as a major star in the wake of Canelo Alvarez’s departure and Ryan Garcia's recent loss. As a result of Ortiz Jr’s withdrawal, the main event of the Golden Boy card will now feature lightweight contender Floyd Schofield in a 10-round fight against Haskell Rhodes.
There is currently no information on the future plans of Stanionis, the WBA secondary welterweight champion. Given the repeated postponements and Ortiz Jr’s health issues, Stanionis’ continued pursuit of this bout could be risky. The World Boxing Association may need to decide whether to continue sanctioning fights between Ortiz Jr and Stanionis.
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