For rising welterweight star Vergil Ortiz Jr, 2022 could be an interesting year for his career.
The 23-year-old is currently 18-0 with 18 knockouts and returns to action on March 19th where he takes on Michael McKinson exclusively live on DAZN.
If Ortiz Jr does get past McKinson, some fans will call for a world title shot. However, the Texas fighter is not looking past McKinson who will pose a difficult test.
"I know this fight is going to be a complicated fight for me," Ortiz Jr told The DAZN Boxing Show.
"This is a fight that’s going to show a new Vergil, I haven’t really been in with someone who moves a lot besides Brad Solomon.
"This guy, he’s younger, he’s undefeated, he’s hungry, so it’s going to be a different me you see in there."
With an impressive knockout reel to his name, there will be pressure on the American to deliver his nineteenth straight knockout, but if the fight with McKinson does go the full distance, Ortiz Jr will see it as a beneficial learning experience.
"I feel like everyone wants the knockout.
"I feel like if anyone else was in my position, I feel like they would probably feel a bit of pressure but honestly, if I go the distance, that’s more experience for me.
"My main goal is just to fight and look good doing it. People win fights, but they don’t look good doing it."
When it came to discussing what the future holds for Ortiz Jr, a clash with undefeated fellow American Jaron 'Boots' Ennis could be on the cards and it's one Ortiz Jr is confident it's one he would win.
"If the opportunity is there and he’s in my way, I’m going to take him out," Ortiz Jr claimed.
"That’s my job as a boxer.
"So that being said, if our crossroads meet, then the fight is going to happen."