Terence Crawford is slated to defend his newly won WBA Super-Welterweight World Title against Vergil Ortiz.
The 36-year-old pound-for-pound star made his debut in the division this month, defeating Israil Madrimov over the distance to become a four-weight world champion.
With his desired fight against Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez off the table, ‘Bud’ Crawford is now likely to stick around the 154 ranks and the man being set up to face him is Ortiz, who recently won for the third time in 2024, defeating Serhii Bohachuk in a fight of the year contender many felt he was lucky to get in his favour.
It was only Ortiz’ third fight at the weight having competed at 147 when Crawford was WBO champion, but the pair never faced despite the Omaha native making six defences of his belt.
One of those came against Egidijus Kavaliauskas, whom Crawford dropped three times on the way to a stoppage victory in 2019. Two years later, the Lithuanian faced Ortiz, who managed to beat him in the same fashion but one round quicker.
Speaking to Fight Hub TV last year, the man known as Mean Machine – who has fought and won twice since – said Ortiz is hits harder and could knock Crawford out if the fight is made.
“I think Vergil Ortiz has more power. The more powerful, stronger guy. I would back Vergil Ortiz, I think he’s the winner in the fight. He will beat Crawford … Maybe with a stoppage because he’s an aggressive and powerful guy. With that aggressiveness and that power, he’s a dangerous man.”
Crawford has 31 knockouts from 41 wins, the Madrimov unanimous decision bringing an end to a run of eleven consecutive stoppages. Ortiz, before he was taken the distance by Bohachuk, had defeated all 21 opponents inside the distance.
Ortiz is a thrilling fighter with the sort of relentlessness that’s hard to look away from. His campaign has unforuntately been stunted by bouts of illness, but pairing his style with that of Crawford’s switch-hitting prowess could be his breakout moment.
