Making his much anticipated return to the ring, Vergil Ortiz Jr. moves up in weight for a junior middleweight bout with Fredrick Lawson scheduled for January 6 in Las Vegas. Following a 17-month battle with health and other issues, Ortiz Jr. is finally ready to resume a boxing career that was on the fast track. It wasn’t like Ortiz Jr. was off sipping pina coladas and throwing down bon bons during the hiatus. He was actively trying to get back in the ring and had a scheduled fight with Eimantas Stanionis cancelled three times. That bout was set to be at 147-pounds instead Ortiz Jr. moves up to 154 for the first time as a massive favorite on the boxing betting line.
With 30 wins in his 33 career fights, Lawson has been a force in the welterweight division for a number of years. He hasn’t stuck around this long by getting his face smashed in and the experience of numerous bouts and different fighting styles should work to his advantage. But, his technical skills aren’t as sharp and too often Lawson waits for the one opening to end a fight. That style won’t work against a polished boxer like Ortiz Jr. And I guess that’s why Lawson is a +974 dog on the early boxing line.
Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Frederick Lawson Betting Odds
Vergil Ortiz Jr. -2526
Fredrick Lawson +974
The 12-round junior middleweight fight between Vergil Ortiz Jr. ( 19-0, 19 KOs ) and Fredrick Lawson ( 30-3, 22 KOs ) will take place on Saturday, January 6, 2024 from the Virgin Hotels Theater in Las Vegas, NV and will be streamed on DAZN.
Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Frederick Lawson Fight Preview
Ortiz has been chomping at the bit to get back in the ring and was frustrated when bouts with Stanionis were canceled. Ortiz is also eager to climb the ranks in the 154-pound division after dominating as a welterweight. The makings of a champion were present long before Ortiz even had a title fight. He won his first six professional fights by stoppage with only one going beyond the first round. His first 10 fights consisted of all or parts of 17 rounds. Ortiz is a powerful puncher with exceptional footwork with all 19 of fights won via KO.
In 2019 Ortiz scored a sixth-round TKO of Antonio Orozco to claim the vacant WBA Gold welterweight title. At the time it was the longest fight of his career. After successful title defenses against decent boxers Brad Solomon and Samuel Vargas, Ortiz put everyone on notice with a seventh round TKO of Maurice Hooker in early 2021 to claim the WBO international welterweight title. At the time Hooker was ranked among the top 15 welterweights by several different governing bodies.
Another highly-regarded opponent Egidijus Kavaliauskas was the next victim. The Lithuanian was the No. 5 ranked welterweight by WBO at the time and was knocked down five times before the fight was mercifully stopped in the eighth round. Most recently Ortiz beat Michael McKinson by TKO in an eliminator for the WBA world welterweight title. He never got a shot at the belt instead moving up in weight to pick up where he left off. It’s big move going up in weight for his first fight in 17 months, but he has a chance to put everyone at 154 on notice. “No one in boxing has a higher ceiling than Vergil,” said promoter Oscar De La Hoya.
Let’s not forget there will be another fighter in the ring. While he lacks a signature win on his resume, Lawson has been a consistent force in the welterweight division for over a decade. He’s won 30 of his 33 fights with 22 by stoppage. And Lawson could have the edge of recent activity in the ring. He’s fought and won twice since Ortiz last boxed beating Collinson Korley by KO and scoring a unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Estevan Villalobos in April.
Bet Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Frederick Lawson
I could see Ortiz being a massive favorite if he had a few more fights recently. The time off scares me and the move up in weight is another factor. It’s not always easy making the transition. But Ortiz is a more skilled boxer who will avoid his opponent’s power with fancy footwork. While trying to be overly aggressive Lawson often leaves himself exposed and that’s where Ortiz Jr. thrives. To shorten the odds I’m backing Ortiz for an early round KO.
Boxing Odds Pick: Vergil Ortiz Jr. / KO
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