Vergil Ortiz Jr. On The

A Fighter's Frustration: 'No One Wants to Fight'

Vergil Ortiz Jr. is back, he’s in the gym getting good sparring in, and he’s ready for the next challenge. There’s just one problem: finding it. In a recent conversation with YSM Sports Media, the hard-hitting 154-pound contender laid bare his primary frustration. He’s a fighter without a fight. “We’re just having problems getting fights right now. No one wants to fight if I'm being honest,” Ortiz stated plainly. This isn’t about a lack of desire on his part; it’s about a lack of willing dance partners. Ortiz explained his predicament with the simple, stark reality of the sport: “What can I do? You know, I can't force them to sign the contract.” For a boxer who signed up professionally just to “fight people,” the politics and posturing of the modern fight game have become a significant hurdle.

The Champions in His Sights

While he’s grown tired of calling out names with no result, Ortiz Jr. has a clear objective: championship gold. When asked who he wants next, the answer was direct. “Anyone with the belt, man,” he said. That puts the current titleholders at 154 pounds squarely in his crosshairs. The names that matter, the names that drive him, are the ones holding the hardware. This A-list of targets includes IBF champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis, WBO titleholder Sebastian “The Towering Inferno” Fundora, and WBA champion Josh Kelly. Ortiz isn’t looking for a tune-up or a stay-busy fight; he is hunting for the division’s elite. His goal is not just to fight, but to fight for the ultimate prize and prove he’s the best in the world.

Open for Business at 160

The pursuit of greatness isn’t limited to one weight class. Recognizing the difficulties in securing a title shot at junior middleweight, Ortiz Jr. confirmed his willingness to move up to 160 pounds for the right opportunity. When the possibility of a middleweight clash with a big name like Tim Tszyu—a fight that was once on the table—was floated, Ortiz didn't hesitate. “I'm definitely open to anything for sure. I wouldn't be opposed to it at all,” he confirmed. While he dismissed the line of questioning as “a lot of hypotheticals,” the message was clear. Vergil Ortiz Jr.’s priority is a meaningful, high-stakes fight, and if that means stepping up to a new division to find it, he’s more than willing to make the move. His focus is on the fight, not the weight class.

Behind-the-Scenes Action, Not Twitter Talk

In an era where fights are often built on social media callouts, Ortiz Jr. prefers a more traditional, direct approach. He addressed the fan criticism he’s received for not being more vocal online, explaining that it’s a conscious choice. “Just cuz I'm not on social media calling people out… that's not how I like to come off,” he said. Instead of trading barbs on Twitter, his team works behind the scenes. “We call people behind closed doors. We we we call the sanctioned bodies. We hit up the managers themselves.” He finds himself in a no-win situation with public perception; he’s criticized for being too quiet, but he refuses to become what he calls a “Twitter figures kind of guy.” For Ortiz, the proof is in the contracts, not the character counts. He is determined to do his talking in the ring, as soon as someone is brave enough to answer the call.