Promoter Oscar De La Hoya needs to match Vergil Ortiz Jr in opposition to Terence Crawford in 2025 if Vergil is profitable in his subsequent two fights.
De La Hoya says if Ortiz Jr. (21-0, 21 KOs) wins his struggle this Saturday night time in opposition to 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 struggle and Ortiz Jr. is victorious in opposition to Bohachuk, a match between them can occur. Nevertheless, Tszyu and his administration might need different plans.
Preventing Vergil Jr. could be dangerous for Tszyu, particularly if he’s hoping to face Crawford. It’s the larger payday for Tszyu, and he may wish to swerve a conflict in opposition to Ortiz Jr.
It’s a pointless danger 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 most likely the very best pound-for-pound fighter on this planet. His fashion is fan-friendly. He’s an incredible boxer and undefeated,” mentioned Oscar De La Hoya to Combat hype about Terence Crawford.
Final Saturday, Crawford moved as much as 154. He dethroned WBA champion Israil Madrimov by a twelve-round unanimous resolution within the headliner in a Riyadh Season occasion 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 robust. Typically, you’re not going to look pretty much as good as in your earlier fights, combating smaller guys. It’s okay. It’s a studying course of. He has to determine himself at 154,” continued De La Hoya about Crawford.
Crawford had issues with Madrimov’s fashion and energy as a result of he hadn’t fought anybody like that in his profession and was coming off a 13-month layoff. He obtained the win and now holds the WBA title at 154 lb. He simply wants the opposite three to grow to be the undisputed champion at junior middleweight.
The Potential Tremendous Combat
If Crawford has to undergo Vergil Ortiz Jr. to earn that distinction, it will likely be robust, particularly if one other yr goes by earlier than he faces the youthful. By this time subsequent yr, Crawford shall be 38, and that’s a bit ripe to be going up in opposition to a puncher like Vergil Jr.
“He most likely fought probably the most hardest man. Not probably the most harmful man however the hardest man,” De La Hoya mentioned about Madrimov. “However I feel Crawford in opposition to Vergil Ortiz subsequent yr within the first quarter shall be a brilliant struggle.
“We’re hoping if Vergil wins this Saturday, he can go up in opposition to Tim Tszyu afterward this yr. Then the winner of Tim Tszyu and Vergil Ortiz can face Crawford,” mentioned De La Hoya.
If it performs out as De La Hoya needs, Vergil may very well be the king of the 154-lb division and a brand new star. Beating Crawford could be laborious, however he’ll be older by subsequent yr, and he won’t have sufficient left at 38 to beat Ortiz.
