Undefeated WBC interim super welterweight world champion Vergil Ortiz Jnr, 23-0 (21 KOs), will headline a card at dikkies Arena in his Fort Worth hometown against Erickson Lubin, 27-2 (19 KOs), on Saturday, November 8. Lubin enters the bout as the IBF’s No. 1-ranked fighter, while also sitting at No. 5 with the WBO, and No. 10 with the WBC. The 12-round world championship clash, presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with ProBox, will be broadcast live worldwide on DAZN beginning at 7 p.m. CT.
More information on tickets and the undercard will be announced very soon.
“I’m always happy to be a part of the fights that fans want to see,” said Ortiz in a press release. “See you guys November 8!”
“I want to thank Golden Boy, PBC and ProBox for making this happen,” said Lubin. “I think the fans are in for a treat. This is the moment I’ve been waiting for, this fight is about redemption, I’m back for everything.”
“Vergil Ortiz Jr. is the most ducked fighter in boxing — period,” said Golden Boy Chairman and CEO Oscar De La Hoya. “Big names talk tough until Vergil’s name comes up, then suddenly the phone goes silent. I commend Erickson Lubin; he has the guts that these fighters nowadays lack - courage! He has dared to enter Vergil’s den. On Nov. 8 at dikkies Arena, fans are going to see why everyone else keeps running from Vergil Ortiz Jr.”
“Since Fundora, Lubin fought Arias, who he dominated and stopped; the undefeated Ramos, highly touted and yet couldn’t do anything with Lubin; and the undefeated Holmes looked like a scared puppy,” said ProBox TV CEO Garry Jonas. “Don’t be surprised, the Hammer is going to beat Ortiz.”
Ortiz is coming off two sensational wins over Israil Madrimov and Serhii Bohachuk, going the distance for the first two times in his professional career and performing no worse for it. The Bohachuk brawl was heralded as one of the fights of the year. In February, Ortiz figured out Madrimov's herky-jerky style and landed concussive power shots down the stretch to secure a unanimous decision. Ortiz trains under the guidance of acclaimed coach Robert Garcia, surrounded by elite fighters at the Robert Garcia Boxing Academy.
Lubin has established himself as one of the premier contenders in boxing’s deep and talented junior middleweight division. In April 2022, he fought bravely in a loss against Sebastian Fundora, stunningly knocking down the lanky "Towering Inferno" against the run of play and fighting through grotesque swelling. He has since won three fights in a row, two of them by knockout.
