Ortiz Ends Lubin Early; Ennis Callout Steals Post-Fight Spotlight

Vergil Ortiz Jr. disposed of Erickson Lubin in two rounds on Saturday at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, retaining his WBC interim super-welterweight title and amplifying talk of a blockbuster showdown with Jaron “Boots” Ennis. The result was decisive: Ortiz maintained his unbeaten record and his reputation as one of the division’s most dangerous punchers.

Relentless Pressure From The Start

From the opening bell Ortiz set the tempo. He worked behind a probing jab, kept Lubin on the back foot and quickly pushed the southpaw into the ropes. Ortiz’s pressure was methodical and effective; he used the jab to close distance and created angles to unleash power shots to the body and head. Lubin offered little in response, spending much of the early action pinned on the ropes and unable to mount a meaningful counter-offensive.

Second Round Finish

The contest turned in the second round. Ortiz immediately elevated his attack, landing a series of heavy punches that backed Lubin into a desperate defensive posture. A pair of right hands left Lubin’s hands hanging and the ropes the only thing preventing him from collapsing. Ortiz continued with right hooks and left hands, culminating in a crushing right hook at 1:27 of round two. The sequence left Lubin effectively out on his feet; the referee intervened at 1:30 to halt further punishment.

Stats Reveal The Gap

Punch statistics underline the one-sided nature of the contest. Ortiz landed 25 of 41 punches while Lubin managed just three successful connections across the scheduled rounds. The bout concluded before it matured into any tactical chess match; instead, it became a showcase of Ortiz’s raw power and finishing instincts.

Post-Fight: Ortiz Calls Out Ennis

After the stoppage, attention shifted immediately to Ennis. Ortiz, who improved to 24-0 with 23 stoppages, stood in the ring and issued a challenge to Ennis, who had earlier stopped Uislam Lima in the first round in his debut at 154lb. Ennis accepted the invitation in the ring, the two undefeated fighters exchanging words in front of a charged crowd. Promoters on both sides—Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn and Golden Boy’s Oscar De La Hoya—appeared amenable to making the fight, adding weight to the likelihood that negotiations will progress rapidly.

Why Ortiz vs Ennis Matters

The potential matchup carries significant interest for a number of reasons. Both men are unbeaten, both have high knockout rates and both have recently moved through meaningful opposition. Ortiz has built his case as a power puncher with relentless forward momentum, while Ennis offers similar punch output and a reputation for finishing fights early. A meeting between them would likely determine the next clear contender at 154lb and could reshape the landscape of the division.

Lubin’s Future Uncertain

Lubin, who came in with a record of 27-3, leaves Fort Worth with tough questions to answer. The southpaw was unable to impose his jab or use lateral movement to escape Ortiz’s pressure. Whether the performance was an off night, an ill-suited stylistic matchup, or indicative of a decline remains to be seen. For Ortiz, the victory was affirmation of form: he controlled range, mixed head and body work effectively, and finished decisively.

What Comes Next

Promoters and broadcasters will now move to capitalise on the moment. With both Ortiz and Ennis keen to press on, stakeholders are likely to prioritise timing and location to maximise commercial value. For fight fans, the takeaway from Saturday is simple — Ortiz’s power remains a major force in the 154lb ranks, and a potential clash with Ennis looms as one of the most significant domestic fights on the near-term calendar.

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