Vergil Ortiz returns to action next month but it isn’t against Jaron Ennis.
Ortiz puts his interim WBC super-welterweight title on the line against former world champion Israil Madrimov, who in his last bout pushed Terence Crawford all the way last August.
It is part of a packed bill in Saudi Arabia on February 22 that also includes the undisputed light heavyweight title rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol, and Daniel Dubois defending his IBF heavyweight title against Joseph Parker.
It was originally hoped that Ortiz would be taking on Ennis at the event, but the negotiations broke down due to Ennis being reluctant to vacate his IBF welterweight title in order to move up to 154lbs for the bout.
Ortiz has now spoken to Talksport Boxing about how it all unfolded, and revealed that he does not think ‘Boots’ ducked him.
“I don’t think he’s the one avoiding me. I think there’s someone on the team that is lying. Us as boxers, we’re not the ones negotiating. We have managers for a reason.
“I’m not saying it’s his manager because there are so many people that come into play. I can’t say who it is because I don’t know who it is. The only thing I know is we said yes, and it was a simple yes.”
He was then asked if he thinks a bout with Ennis will ever eventually take place.
“I believe so. It’s a fight that has to happen.”
Ortiz has only been the distance once so far in his professional career when he took on Serhii Bohachuk in his last outing, and Bohachuk has revealed just how hard his rival hits.
