WBA #1 welterweight Vergil Ortiz Jr. has pulled out of Saturday’s fight against WBA “regular” welterweight champion Eimantas Stanionis scheduled for Saturday in San Antonio, Texas. Ortiz reportedly fainted and required hospitalization. This is the third time Stanionis-Ortiz has been postponed. Previously, Ortiz pulled out due to a flare-up of rhabdomyolysis and Stanionis pulled out due to emergency appendectomy surgery.
Statement from Golden Boy Promotions: “Nothing is more important than the safety of our fighters, and we of course support Vergil’s decision 100 percent. This unfortunate event does however open the door for one of Golden Boy’s top prospects, Floyd Schofield, to accelerate his profile by headlining in his home state of Texas. We will, as always, put on a high-action card from top to bottom on July 8 and look forward to showcasing all of our fighters both in San Antonio and on DAZN.”
More information on the July 8 event will be announced shortly.
Ortiz should forget about boxing, seems that his body can’t handle boxing training demands. Great talent, but unfortunately he is very frail.
And when did he become so frail, think anything specific might have caused that?
I found this information “He had multiple bouts with COVID-19 and developed a condition known as rhabdomyolysis in which muscle fibers break down and are released into the blood, potentially causing kidney failure”
I can sympathize if it’s real.
Unfortunately p, with the current circus atmosphere surrounding boxing, fans need proof.
Maybe it’s an unexpected reaction to the . There’s a long list of athletes with adverse effects.
You apparently know, so please educate us. I assume you are his in-camp doctor?
His case is well documented, just Google
After just 2 cancellations in a row you say this? Thank you, Doctor.
This is twice that Ortiz has canceled on the Lithuanian with his made-up disease, which is clearly him being unable to cheat down to 147. Stanionas should sue team Ortiz for doing this again. I don’t ever want to hear about Ortiz fighting ever again and he should retire right away, OR move up to 154 or 160 where his mysterious disease will vanish. I can’t imagine a promoter ever wanting to take a chance on him again or a fighter wanting to waste their time. Today’s American fighters are the biggest prima donnas in the history of boxing. Poor Stanionis.
Take it easy man. Don’t rush to judge the poor guy is suffering. We are living in different times
It’s that bleeding heart liberal attitude and apathy that is turning this country into a bunch of soft pansies. I’m also not rushing to judge him as he’s done this two times prior to the same fighter. There’s no disease, he’s just going through too extreme of weight cut and suffering from massive dehydration symptoms. Nothing more, nothing less. If he wasn’t a weight cheater he wouldn’t be going through this shit.
What is he suffering from?
It’s tough not to be cynical when this has happened twice before.
CLEARLY. Do you go through your life this certain about everything of which you have now knowledge? Scary.
Ortiz isn’t exactly known as a big welterweight. Middleweight would be too much for hi aggressive style.
I think Ortiz, if he is to fight on, needs to move up to 154. He may’ve already shortened his career going through all of these things and THEN attempting to squeeze down to 147 cannot be healthy even if he can make it and fight. I wish him all the best but clearly he needs to make some changes and IMMEDIATELY.
Yes this has to be it for him at Welter. Too many fighters I think are trying to fight in weight classes too small for them. They hit an age and just cannot do it anymore. Too bad Golden Boy never had Rocha or Cobbs available to take his place. Looks like I will watch the ESPN card afterall and watch the replay on DAZN later.
Seems probable.
Wow that sux I was looking forward to this fight. I feel for Ortiz tho it looks like his condition is really effecting his career. I dont know what these guys do after when they invested all of their life into the sport and they cant anymore due to health reasons.
He doesn’t have a condition, it’s called dehydration. Americans are so stupid now.
True v that t can’t make 147 or cycling off of roids screwed him
Ummmmmm sad
I was so excited for this fight I like Ortiz boxing full of fireworks
Boy needs to retire if his heart isn’t in it and his health also.
i saw a training video and he looked good in it. But, training and fighting are two different things. Why are the Charlo brothers not fighting? There is an undercurrent nobody wants to touch. Deception and exploitation is the order of the day.
On what do you base the ‘his heart isn’t in it’ comment?
Difficult to keep promoting fights for Ortiz. It’s too bad cause I really like him but rhabdamyolosis (?) is very serious and difficult to overcome. Even if he moves up to 154 the rigors of training for professional prize fights will be too much. Tough break for such a nice young man. I will not be suprised to see him try one last time at 54 before his promoter cuts him loose.
Eimantas Stanionis should immediately handed the WBA welterweight championship belt. A first title defense should occur within 90 days.
since he left Robert Garcia, his carrer goin’ fall
Surely leaving your trainer has nothing to do with subsequently getting ill. Why would you even suggest this?
Sometimes when it rains it pours, hopefully this is just a series of unfortunate events and Ortiz can resume his career soon.
Agreed! We shouldn’t sit here pretending we know exactly what’s going on and what will happen. All we can do is hope.
I was pushing for Ortiz, Jr. (Ortiz) to create massive waves at 147.
I hope there are folks (medical background or not) on this site for the following questions:
1) Based on Ortiz’s previous/present medical conditions, is it healthier for him to fight at 154 (and not at 147)?.
2) Did Ortiz’s previous medical condition cause his current medical condition?
3) Based on Ortiz’s health issues, should he retire?.
4) Other than/in addition to standard medications, are there natural remedies/foods that may help Ortiz to comfortably make 147?.
I hope this young man gets better.
Good questions. I like your approach. Better we have questions at this stage than certainty in our answers when we have no way of KNOWING what is really going on. I do hope all the answers ultimately prove favorable and Ortiz is able to return.
I hate fighters who insist on fighting in lower weight classes to get an advantage.
That is why they need to go back to same-day weigh-ins.
Ultimately, how much of an advantage is it really, though?
I think this would continue with same day weigh ins. Fighters would still try to fight in classes that are too small for them and with less time to rehydrate it could get more dangerous. Ortiz needs to move up, I think this has become painfully obvious. The problem is that Golden Boy has even less traction at 154 then 147. There may have been a pubic demand to for Ortiz to get the Crawford vs Spence winner had he beat Stanionis so maybe there was a chance at some big money there and the parties may and I stress may have worked something out. There really isn’t any big fights to make for him at 154 that would make Haymon and Oscar work together imo. I also do not see a path that gets him there. I do not like PBC and how they have handled business but I think that is where he should go. He might then get fights with Lubin, Mendoza, Fundora or Tszyu. They may even be able to recycle Tony Harrison one more time to get his feet wet. There is Perrella, and all sorts of guys he can fight at PBC in the 154lb division. I get that it will not be the big money he was hoping for at Welter…but that ship appears to have sailed as he is too big to be on it!
Getting rid of the junior and super divisions would make this much harder to do.
he just needs to move up in weight already. he can’t handle losing lots of water. 147 is not for him anymore.
Jab injured. He will never be back.
Unfortunate that you have such certainty in things about which you likely know little to nothing.
Vergil Ortiz has said the COVID vaccine made him sick.
Saw a pic of him when he was in London, i was shocked that he can make 147, he looked like a good size middle. I will bet that he goes into the ring around 170-75
No ways.
He doesn’t want to move up to 154 and fight the likes of a Charles Conwell.
I feel really bad for this young man!! People who have seen him in camp will tell you how hard he works and takes no shortcuts!! I think he should seriously consider a move up to 54 if weight cutting is the problem? Seems like his condition flares up when dropping weight?? Otherwise, it may be time to think about long term health. Again, I feel so bad for him!!
It’s not healthy to cut weight like that. Marvin Hagler walked around at 163 lbs between fights and he weighed in at 160!
Fainting is serious business, and may be an indication that his boxing career is over. If this is how he goes out, it’s unfortunate. Hopefully, Ortiz’s condition is not life threatening.
Rhabdomyolysis is a real condition. But it shouldn’t occur in a health, well conditioned athlete. I suspect he is cutting extreme amounts of weight and his body cannot handle it. He needs to fight at 154 or even 160. Clearly 147 is not the weight for him. He is likely very dehydrated.
I’d have more sympathy if the guy hadn’t pulled out at 48hrs notice. Clearly he wasn’t going to make weight. The usual stooges either falling for it, or trying to make excuses in the comments section. Ajay the chief among them. Give it a rest you hack.
Ortiz’s career is probably over. He got the COVID vaccine and has had health problems ever since then.
The most reasonable next step is for Ortiz to move up to 154lbs, he’s a big 147lbs and his body is not reacting well to the weight cup demands. He should also reconsider his physical trainer and nutritionist.