As an amateur, he was a seven-time national champion and won the 110 pounds category at the USA's Junior Olympic National Championships in 2013.[2][3] He was named the 2019 Prospect of the Year by The Ring magazine.[4] Ortiz is known for his exceptional punching power, having scored all but one of his wins by knockout.[5]
Professional career
Early career
Ortiz was victorious in his first six fights, winning all six by stoppage and only going past the first round in one of the six fights.
Ortiz Jr vs. Valenzuela
His seventh bout came on September 16, 2017, on the undercard of Canelo Álvarez vs. Gennady Golovkin I against Cesar Valenzuela, which he won by second-round technical knockout.[6]
Ortiz Jr vs. Ortiz
After improving to 11-0, Ortiz appeared a year later on the undercard of Canelo Álvarez vs. Gennady Golovkin II to face Roberto Ortiz. Vergil Ortiz knocked down his opponent with a right hand early in the second round. Roberto got up, but he was still hurt. Vergil attacked him immediately and knocked him down again with a right hand that sent his opponent to one knee. Roberto Ortiz reached his feet again, but the referee deemed him unfit to continue, calling off the fight.[7]
Rise up the ranks
Ortiz Jr vs. Orozco
Ortiz, who now had an unblemished record of 13-0, defeated Antonio Orozco by sixth-round technical knockout to win the vacant WBA Gold welterweight title on August 10, 2019, at The Theatre at Grand Prairie, Texas.[8] He defended the title in his next fight against Brad Solomon on December 13, 2019, in Indio, California, winning by fifth-round knockout.[9]
Ortiz Jr vs. Vargas
Ortiz was originally scheduled to face Samuel Vargas on March 28, 2020, at The Forum, Inglewood, California on the undercard of Canelo Álvarez vs. Billy Joe Saunders.[10] However, following the postponement of the fight between Álvarez and Saunders due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the fight took place on July 24, 2020, at the same venue as Ortiz's previous fight against Brad Solomon.[11] Ortiz won the fight by seventh-round technical knockout and retained his WBA Gold welterweight title.[12]
Ortiz Jr vs. Hooker
Ortiz returned to the ring on March 20, 2021, beating Maurice Hooker with another seventh-round technical knockout in Fort Worth, Texas to win the vacant WBO International welterweight title.[13] Hooker was ranked #8 by the WBO, #13 by the WBC and #15 by the IBF at welterweight.[14]
Ortiz Jr vs. Kavaliauskas
On August 14, 2021, Ortiz defended the title against Egidijus Kavaliauskas. Kavaliauskas was ranked #5 by the WBO and #10 by the WBC at welterweight.[15] Kavaliauskas, who became Ortiz's first opponent to last longer than seven rounds, suffered five knockdowns as Ortiz won by eighth-round technical knockout.[16]
Ortiz Jr vs. McKinson
On August 6, 2022, Ortiz Jr fought Michael McKinson in an eliminator for the WBA world welterweight title. McKinson was ranked #5 by the WBO and #10 by the WBA at welterweight. Ortiz Jr beat McKinson by technical knockout in the 9th round.[17]
Ortiz Jr vs. Dulorme
On April 27, 2024 in Fresno, CA, Ortiz Jr was scheduled to face Thomas Dulorme.[18] He won the fight by knockout with liver shot in the first round.[19]
Ortiz Jr vs. Tszyu
Ortiz Jr was scheduled to face Tim Tszyu on August 3, 2024 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.[20] On May 30, 2024 it was announced that the fight was canceled with medical advice.[21] Tszyu required more time to heal from the injury sustained in his previous bout against Sebastian Fundora in March.[22]
Ortiz Jr vs. Bohachuk
On June 24, 2024 it was announced that Ortiz Jr would face Serhii Bohachuk in Las Vegas on August 10, 2024.[23][24] Ortiz was knocked down twice in the bout, but went on to win via majority decision (114–112, 114–112, 113–113) after twelve competitive rounds;[25] this being the first time Ortiz had gone the full distance in a fight.
