Undefeated American Vergil Ortiz Jnr has called out Tim Tszyu for a WBO world title headliner – with his legendary promoter Oscar De La Hoya suggesting he would even be willing to make the fight in Australia.
Better, Tszyu has already responded to the surprise call out on social media, saying he would happily accept what he dubbed a “modern day classic” with the rising star whose knockout record now stands at 20-zip.
After spending the best part of 18 months away from the ring due to various health issues, Ortiz returned in stunning fashion on Sunday afternoon (AEST) in Las Vegas – scoring a first round TKO over Frederick Lawson.
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The win was the 20th straight finish for the devastating 25-year-old who, apart from having previously held the WBO international and WBA gold welterweight titles, or being dubbed afterwards by De La Hoya as “the best fighter on the planet”, is now moved up a division with Australia’s undefeated Tszyu in his crosshairs.
Speaking afterwards with US journalists, the Texan insisted he was ready to make up for lost time and challenge for a world title, before then calling out Tszyu for a Down Under showdown.
While The Soul Taker has continually stressed he wants his next fight to be Stateside – with No Limit having spent months trying to secure a March date – both Ortiz Jnr and his promoter, De La Hoya, suggested they would be willing to come to Australia to make the fight happen.
Asked after his win what was next, Ortiz replied: “Bro there’s a lot of fighters that I want to fight and I know people would love people to see this fight so Tim Tszyu, with all respect, I would love to fight you.
“I think you’re a hell of a fighter, let’s make it happen.
“It’s all business.
“I want to fight the best.”
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Prior to Sunday’s bout, Ortiz Jr. had produced all of his 19 victories by stoppage at welterweight.
He now has his first in the super welterweight division too, courtesy of a stiff power jab to the temple, which was quickly followed by several unanswered shots, which led referee Tony Weeks to stop the fight just 2:30 into the bout.
“I’ve told Oscar ‘put me in (again) as soon as you can’,” Ortiz said afterwards when pushed on the Tszyu challenge. “Let’s do it.
“Let’s go tomorrow.
“This is a sport where we want to prove we’re the best, the strongest … that’s what fighters are supposed to do.
“I don’t fear anyone.
“I’ll fight anyone, anywhere, anytime.
“So if we have to go to Australia, I’m down.”
De La Hoya also expressed interest in the fight.
“Tim Tszyu, anybody at 154 … Ortiz will even go to Australia and do it,” he said.
“I’ve got to do my homework and see who Tim’s promoter is, see what the situation is.
“We’ll take it from there.
“(But) whatever Team Vergil wants we’ll make happen.
“We’re behind him a thousand per cent.
“Vergil is a fighter.
“One of those old school thinking fighters who, to be the best you have to beat the best.
“To be world champion, you travel the world.
“I think Vergil, right now, is the best fighter on the planet … at 154, at any weight class.
“And I strongly feel everyone is going to be searching for Vergil.
“And guess what? He’s right here.
“He made a statement … 20-0, 20 knockouts, who else has that?
“He’s the only fighter who is undefeated with 20 fights and 20 knockouts, that’s incredible.”
Unsurprisingly, Tszyu was quick to accept the challenge.
After the call out, the Sydneysider responded almost immediately, tweeting on X: “Yo @VergilOrtiz Welcome to the “54 club. I’m always keen for a modern day classic”.
Tszyu’s promoter George Rose added: “I love it when top fighters want to travel to Australia, it’s the best country in the world. @OscarDeLaHoya. You and @VergilOrtiz are always welcome down under, @Tim_Tszyu stays ready, I’ll add this one to the list.”
Asked afterwards about the stoppage, which saw several boxing fans take to social media to claim it was too early, Ortiz insisted referee Tony Weeks was right to jump in as quickly as he did to wave things off.
“He wasn’t responding,” the fighter said of Lawson.
“I knew it was over.
“Fans want to see great knockouts and I understand that but I knew that it was getting really bad for him and I don’t think it was an early stoppage.”
Pushed on the stoppage, Ortiz Jnr said: “I’m going to be honest, when I was in the ring I was like ‘it’s over’.
“I don’t think it was a bad stoppage.
“As a fan you’re going to think so. Because you want to see the knockout.
“Fans watch boxing to see knockouts.
“To see the ugly stuff.
“As a fighter who knew it was coming in the next few punches, he (Weeks) Saved him from a bad knockout.”
Asked what he saw, he said of Lawson: “He wasn’t responding.
“And if he’s not fighting back, it’s not a fight anymore. It’s a beat down.”
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