Virgil Ortiz Jr. dismisses the notion that he still needs to prove himself at junior middleweight when he fights Serhiy Bohachuk on August 10.
The 26-year-old Bohachuk will challenge the Ukrainian for his interim WBC title at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas in just his third bout since moving up from welterweight.
Ortiz Jr. proved to be a devastating puncher at 147 pounds but was forced to move up a weight class due to health complications from the extended COVID-19 pandemic.
There was a time when he and Jaron “Boots” Ennis were considered the glittering future of the welterweight division, but despite moving up to 154 pounds and defeating Frederick Lawson and Thomas Duhomme, both fighters were less proven than Michael McKinson and Maurice Hooker, whom he defeated at 147. In fact, they were even less proven than Tim Tse, whom Ennis was scheduled to fight on August 3 in Los Angeles.
“this is [division] “I'm where I'm supposed to be,” he said. “I have nothing to prove to anybody.”
“All eyes are on Bohachuk right now. We are not overlooking him at all. We will be in big challenges with him, but we are not worried about anyone else.”
“I think my power carries over to 154 pounds. I don't think I'm a devastating knockout puncher. I've never looked like that. I just pick the right shot and hit it in the right place at the right time, that's it.”
“I feel great physically, mentally and emotionally. I'm ready and I'm ready to get in the ring right now.”
Ortiz Jr. and the 29-year-old Bohachuk have sparred before, and he said: “It was a great fight. ““I know sparring is sparring. It's not like fighting each other. Let's put on 10-ounce gloves, no headgear, and see what really happens.”
Bohaczuk beat Brian Mendoza in Las Vegas in March, where Sebastian Fandora unexpectedly beat a cut-and-scarred Tsiu on points. “I've sparred with him, but sparring is sparring, it's not the same in a fight,” Bohaczuk said. “I know Virgil. – He is strong, smart, punches well and is in good condition. He is a good fighter but I am better.
“I want to give the fans a great fight. I'm interested in fighting the best boxers, not the easy ones. If it's not interesting for me, it's not interesting for the people.”
“I think it’s going to be the best fight of the year because I know Virgil, he’s strong, I’m strong.
“It feels great. I wanted to fight Virgil because he's a great fighter. Virgil is the best fighter in the 147 division and one of the best fighters in the 154 division. He's currently ranked No. 1 by BoxRec. He's one of the best boxers, so I wanted to fight him.”
