Unbeaten super-welterweight contender Vergil Ortiz Jr has been offered an opportunity to fight for a world title by a newly-crowned champion.
The 27-year-old from Texas has had an impressive professional career to date, defeating all 23 of the opponents that he has shared the ring with since making his debut back in 2016.
Ortiz captured the WBC interim super-welterweight title in August of 2024 when he defeated Ukraine’s Serhii Bohachuk via majority decision, getting up off the canvas on two occasions before he was given the nod on two of the judges scorecards.
He made his return to the ring back in February as he put on a solid performance against former WBA super-welterweight champion Israil Madrimov, defeating the Uzbek star via unanimous decision at the conclusion of their showdown in Riyadh.
As he prepares to make the second defence of his WBC interim title against Erickson Lubin later this year, Ortiz appears to have been offered an opportunity to face newly-crowned WBA super-welterweight champion Abass Baraou next.
Speaking to iFL TV, Baraou said that he would ‘love’ the opportunity to share the ring with someone like Ortiz, as he claims he ‘rates’ the unbeaten American.
“I mean the top 15 in this division are great challengers. [I want] one of the top guys [that] are fighting now, like Vergil Ortiz, I would love a fight like that you know? He’s very talented, I rate him.”
Baraou made his return to the ring in August when he defeated previously unbeaten Cuban contender Yoenis Tellez via unanimous decision to capture the WBA interim super-welterweight title at the Caribe Royal in Orlando, Florida.
He was then elevated to full WBA world champion after former champion Terence Crawford forfeited the title ahead of his historic victory over Canelo Alvarez earlier this month.
