It is a new era in boxing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has forced boxing events to be held without fans in attendance. But none of that mattered to Vergil Ortiz Jr. heading into his main event tilt against Samuel Vargas on Friday at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif.
Ortiz (16-0, 16 KOs) showed why he's not only one of boxing's rising stars but also a force to reckoned with in the welterweight division, running through Vargas to win by TKO with two seconds remaining in the seventh round.
Ortiz and Vargas were set to lock horns at the end of March, but the coronavirus sent the sports world into lockdown and postponed the event two weeks beforehand.
Fast forward four months later and Ortiz didn't miss a beat. He came out firing with a powerful jab and threw everything with conviction to let Vargas know that he wasn't coming to play around. The evidence was worn on Vargas' face early, with a bloody nose just three minutes into the action. That same trend continued as Ortiz kept pumping a hard jab and turning his hips ever so slightly to blast Vargas.
Vargas was doing the best he could but was taking a savage beating. It got to the point where referee Jack Reiss had the ringside doctor check on Vargas between rounds four and five because he was absorbing a tremendous amount of punishment.
Ortiz appeared to have taken the fifth round off, which also led to Vargas' best moments of the fight. He got the better of a couple of exchanges and started to gain some confidence heading into the second half of the contest. The confidence waned as Ortiz came back firing on all cylinders by pumping the hard jab and brutal right hands to the head and body in the following round.
For the first time in his career, Ortiz saw the seventh round. But the native of Texas made sure he didn't see the eighth. He connected on a vicious right hand followed with a left hook to put Vargas on shaky legs. Seeing he had Vargas right where he wanted him, the 22-year-old started unloading until Vargas football tackled him to the ground.
That wouldn't deter Ortiz whatsoever. He closed the show by continuing to blast Vargas until Reiss stepped to put an end to the fight.
Even though he won in spectacular fashion, Ortiz didn't give himself a top grade. Regardless, Ortiz feels he's now ready for the upper echelon in a talent-rich welterweight division.
"I was, like, a solid B+," Ortiz said in his post-fight interview. "That was my best opponent to date. I would like to fight someone like Danny Garcia or Keith Thurman.”
Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Samuel Vargas results
(All times Eastern)
Vergil Ortiz Jr. blasts through Samuel Vargas to remain undefeated
11:35 p.m.: Ortiz def. Vargas by knockout at 2:58 of the seventh round. Ortiz was determined to put Vargas away and did just that by throwing one big shot after another. A right hand wobbled Vargas. Sensing he was in trouble, he tackled Ortiz to the ground. It didn't matter for Ortiz as he continued to pummel Vargas by using his speed and power to overwhelm Vargas with left and right hands. With time winding down and the beating continuing, referee Jack Reiss had seen enough.
Round 6: Ortiz went back to the power game and continued to make life difficult for Vargas. Vargas said coming into the fight, you'd start to see him wear Ortiz down since he'd never been past the sixth. Will it happen? (10-9 Ortiz, 60-54 Ortiz)
Round 5: Good job by Ortiz. He adapted from power shots to going back to the stinging jab he implemented in the first round. Vargas needs to start letting it go a little more if he has any chance to win. (10-9 Ortiz, 50-45 Ortiz)
Round 4: An explosive round from Ortiz. He stunned Vargas with a left hook and tried to close it out. But Vargas came back with a short right uppercut and started to hold onto Ortiz. Like the shoulder roll from Vargas to avoid the full power of the overhand right. Let's see if Ortiz switches it up and figure out a way to put Vargas away. (10-9 Ortiz, 40-36 Ortiz)
Round 3: In what had been a close round, Ortiz turned it on in the final 70 seconds, unloading hard overhand rights followed by uppercuts. What's so impressive is how Ortiz stays balanced while throwing each power shot. A sight to see. (10-9 Ortiz, 30-27 Ortiz)
Round 2: A better round for Vargas. He landed a couple of body shots and backed Ortiz into the ropes. But the jab of Ortiz is proving to be too much already and it's only two rounds in. Vargas needs to continue going to the body and apply pressure if he's going to have any chance of success. (10-9 Ortiz, 20-18 Ortiz)
Round 1: Couldn't have asked for a better start if you're Ortiz. His jab is crisp and power shots are on point. Everything he's throwing at Vargas hurts. Vargas' face is already red and had a little bit of blood coming out of his nose when the horn sounded. (10-9 Ortiz)
10:59 p.m.: It's now time for the main event as Vergil Ortiz Jr. battles Samuel Vargas in welterweight action. Ortiz (15-0, 15 KOs) had a banner 2019, competing four times and winning them all by knockout. When he's gotten into the big fights, Vargas (31-5-2, 14 KOs) has come up short against unified welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr., former two-division titleholder Danny Garcia and former junior welterweight titlist Amir Khan.
Can Vargas finally come through? Or does Ortiz show the world that he's one of the top young boxers in the sport?
Shane Mosley Jr. takes care of business against Jeremy Ramos
10:40 p.m.: Mosley Jr. def. Ramos by unanimous decision (80-72, 80-72,79-73). A solid showing from Mosley. He was far more active and started everything off with the jab. But the inconsistency that's plagued him came rearing it's ugly head in the fourth and fifth rounds. He got lazy, and Ramos started connecting on overhand left and rights. To his credit, Mosley shook it off and went back to what won him the opening rounds and dominated the final minutes of action.
Now, it's time to see if Mosley is for real or just going to live off his father's name, He needs to take on someone of note to see what he's really made of.
10:19 p.m.: Mosely looking good heading into the fifth round. He's using the jab to set everything up and it's proving to be effective by continously landing the left hand to the body. Ramos is landing clean shots and is hanging in there and still in the fight.
10:02 p.m.: It is time for the co-main event of Ortiz vs. Vargas, Shane Mosley Jr. (15-3, 9 KOs) fights Jeremy Ramos (11-9, 4KOs) in middleweight action. Mosely, the son of his legendary father, Shane Sr., has proven to be inconsistent but has said in the lead-up that everything is different. Let's see if Mosley lives up to his words.
Seniesa Estrada blitzes Miranda Adkins in seven seconds
9:49 p.m.: Estrada def. Adkins via knockout at 0:07 of the first round. Estrada came out and blitzed Adkins with a combination with a left hook at the end of it. Estrada took a quick moment and threw another combination. She threw a right hand and then blasted Adkins with a left hook to send her head bouncing off the bottom rope.
Give Estrada credit. She didn't celebrate and acted like how a professional should and went right back to her corner. Thankfully, Adkins appeared to be ok.
9:41 p.m.: Right now at Ortiz vs. Vargas, Seniesa Estrada (18-0, 7 KOs) squares off with Miranda Adkins (5-0, 5 KOs) in women's light flyweight action. Estrada has the experience advantage as Adkins has never faced anyone with a winning record.
Hector Valdez outboxes Josue Morales for decision win
9:30 p.m.: Valdez def. Morales by unanimous decision (80-72, 80-72, 79-73). Which judge gave Morales a round? Whoever did should never be allowed to score a fight ever again. I would like to know how Morales won any round. Valdez outclassed him from the opening bell and made it look easy by getting on the inside whenever he wanted and started popping the jab in the latter half of the fight. Morales was a warm body to frustrate Valdez and give him some ring time. He'd never been knocked down and now we know why.
Valdez tried as hard as he could to put Morales away, but he had to settle for going all 24 minutes. Valdez needs to work on establishing the jab more from the opening seconds instead of waiting until later on in the fight.
9:20 p.m.: It's hard to determine what Morales is trying to do. He's riding the bicycle and not willing to engage too much.
9:11 p.m.: A bit surprising Valdez hasn't put Morales away as we go into the fifth round. Morales is fighting defensive, which is making it difficult for Valdez to land anything of substance since Valdez wobbled him with a straight right near the end of the first. Valdez needs to pump the jab and go from there to set up his power shots.
8:53 p.m.: Up next at Ortiz vs. Vargas, Hector Valdez (12-0, 8 KOs) takes on Josue Morales (11-11-4, 1 KO) in super bantamweight action. Valdez should make quick work of Morales here. But in this new age of how the world, you can "never say never."
Evan Sanchez scores a knockdown to remain undefeated over Issouf Kinda
8:43 p.m.: Sanchez def. Kinda by unanimous decision (60-53, 59-54, 58-55). Sanchez was the more active fighter, and that showed throughout. He connected on the harder shots and scored the lone knockdown of the bout in the fourth round with a right hook to the side of Kinda's head. From there, Sanchez tried to put him away, but Kinda remained resilient to make it the distance.
A good win for Sanchez (8-0, 6 KOs). He stays undefeated, but the important thing is Sanchez gained rounds and beat someone who had 23 fights coming into the contest.
8:27 p.m.: Down goes Kinda after a hard right hand by Sanchez at the beginning of the fourth round. Can Sanchez close the show?
8:16 p.m.: Definitely weird seeing no fans inside the venue due to the coronavirus pandemic. The California State Athletic Commission is mandating referees to wear masks. Have to preach safety and health as it's of the utmost importance.
8:12 p.m.: Kicking off the main card is Evan Sanchez facing Issouf Kinda in welterweight action.
8:05 p.m.: Ortiz's head trainer Robert Garcia will not be in his corner. Garcia's first test for COVID-19 came back positive, but the second test came back negative. For the safety and health of everybody, Garcia won't be the lead charge.
8:00 p.m. ET: Boxing is back on DAZN as top welterweight prospect Vergil Ortiz Jr. takes on Samuel Vargas in the headliner. Grab the refreshments, sit back, relax and enjoy the return of the sweet science to the global streaming service with an exciting night of action.
Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Samuel Vargas fight card
- Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Samuel Vargas
- Shane Mosley Jr. vs. Jeremy Ramos
- Seniesa Estrada vs. Miranda Adkins
- Hector Valdez vs. Josue Morales
- Evan Sanchez vs. Issouf Kinda