Vergil Ortiz Jr. seeks return to boxing after promotional dispute

Undefeated super welterweight Vergil Ortiz Jr. is seeking a new opponent following a nine-month period of inactivity caused by a legal dispute with Golden Boy Promotions. The dispute, which was settled in July 2026, prevented Ortiz from capitalizing on his November victory over Erickson Lubin.

As Ortiz looks to return to the ring, discussions have surfaced regarding his next move. While he currently holds the WBC Interim World Super Welterweight belt, there is speculation about a potential move up to the middleweight division to face Cuban contender Yoenli Hernandez.

Ortiz, who maintains a 24-0 record with 22 knockouts, previously faced the prospect of a major bout against Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis. However, Ennis has since moved on to pursue undisputed status by targeting champions such as Josh Kelly and Sebastian Fundora, leaving Ortiz to seek alternative matchups at either 154 or 160 pounds.