Vergil Ortiz Jr. admits that fighting Terence Crawford would be by far his toughest task yet.
The American fighter had said the same of Maurice Hooker, who had moved up to welterweight after struggling in recent fights to make the junior welterweight classification. Expecting to face a powerful Hooker, he nevertheless put away the game Texan with an impressive and powerful display of his own.
Crawford was in attendance to support his stablemate Hooker, and Ortiz wasted no time in calling for a fight with one of the sport’s pound-for-pound best.
Speaking to BoxingScene.com, Ortiz acknowledged Crawford would likely not suffer a knockout at his hands.
“I don’t think I could take out Terence Crawford like that if we fought,” Ortiz said.
“If we do end up fighting, it will probably go the distance in a great, competitive fight.”
WBO welterweight champion Crawford has held the belt since 2018 and is seen as the best in the division, though Top Rank chief Bob Arum is frustrated at his failure to make a money-spinning fight. A unification fight could be the event that would bring all parties to the table.
“Let’s make the fight happen,” said the 22-year-old. “I’m more than ready. There’s no one really willing to fight [Crawford]. I’m ready.”