Vergil Ortiz is making up for lost time when he takes on Michael McKinson on August 6.
Originally slated to face off in March, the welterweight contenders will finally come together later this summer with the winner almost certain to push on for a world title shot. The fight, exclusively live on DAZN, will be Ortiz’ first outing of 2022 following a bout of illness that side-lined him earlier this year.
With his career progressing nicely, Ortiz will face a solid test against the undefeated Brit, and although focused on the task at hand, the Californian fighter is already targeting bigger names than McKinson.
With 147lbs arguably boxing’s most stacked division, Ortiz is ready to put a show on when he clashes with Mckinson in Texas before going after the leading fighters at welterweight.
“My time away will not have any impact on me. These last few weeks in sparring I have been doing really well,” said Ortiz when speaking at a media get together.
"I feel great, I feel like I have been fighting every week. So, I don’t think my time away will have any impact on my performance at all.
“I feel 100% now. We are ready to go. I really want to get back into the ring. By the time I fight this August, it will almost be a whole year. Michael McKinson is ranked by the WBO, he’s undefeated, it would look good on my resume if I defeat him. He’s a good fighter”
On fighting Errol Spence Jr. or Terence Crawford, Ortiz added, “I want my shot with whoever, it doesn’t matter to me.”