Promoter Oscar De La Hoya recently sparked speculation about a potential in-house fight between Ryan Garcia and Vergil Ortiz Jr. by asking his social media followers to pick a winner between the two.
Vergil Ortiz Jr. has never won a world title and lacks the popularity of bigger names in the 154-pound division. Ryan Garcia would be taking a significant risk by fighting Ortiz, as a loss could diminish his marketability. Additionally, Ortiz is naturally larger, posing a potential mismatch in size and strength and Garcia, who is set to return from a one-year suspension in April 2025, should ideally focus on welterweights rather than jumping to junior middleweights.
Ortiz has a crucial fight ahead against WBC interim junior middleweight champion Serhii Bohachuk on August 10th in Las Vegas. This bout will be a significant test for Ortiz and will reveal his readiness for higher-profile fights. Bohachuk is a formidable opponent who won't easily crumble, unlike some of the journeymen Ortiz has faced earlier in his career. A strong performance here could boost Ortiz's career without needing to involve Garcia.
For Garcia, a rematch with Devin Haney next year could be a more financially rewarding option. A second fight between Garcia and Haney would generate significant fan interest and likely sell well on pay-per-view. This approach would allow Garcia to maximize his earnings and maintain his career momentum without the risks associated with fighting a larger, less marketable opponent like Ortiz.
Read more about Ortiz Jr. vs. Bohachuk by clicking here.
Image Credit: DAZN