Undefeated welterweight Vergil Ortiz feels his status as WBA gold welterweight champion should provide him with the opportunity to fight for the organization’s primary title. He also feels that opportunity should come sooner rather than later.
Yordenis Ugas is the WBA’s current 147-pound champion. He gained the championship by defeating eight-weight class legend Manny Pacquiao last August. Ugas has many potential fights to consider and may not have Ortiz on his mind. But the 23-year-old Dallas native wants the newly crowned champion to know he is ready to fight him now.
“I would love that fight,” was the simple response when a reporter asked Ortiz about fighting Ugas. “I don’t see why not. I’m basically right under him.”
The WBA ordered Ugas to defend his title against Eimantas Stanionis shortly after his victory against Pacquiao. If that fight does not materialize, Ugas must make himself available to fight the Jamal James-Radzhab Butaev winner. The 35-year-old Cuban champion has also been vocal about landing a big-name fight with elite welterweights like Errol Spence and Terence Crawford.
The above circumstances may make it necessary for Ortiz to find another road to a world title. But the young fighter is already tired of the cat and mouse games he has experienced while searching for a title opportunity.
“What else do I got to do,” Ortiz makes his argument. “My last fight gave me more credibility.” Ortiz defeated Egidijus Kavaliauskas the last time he made a ring appearance. “I’m ready for a world title fight.”
Only time will tell if Yordenis Ugas would be willing to accept the challenge from a young and worthy opponent like Ortiz so soon after the biggest victory of his professional career. But Ortiz has this to say about the potential matchup, “it would be an exciting fight. That’s the thing I am sure on.”