Sampson Lewkowicz Says Vergil Ortiz Jr. Faces Two-Year Wait for Fundora

Fundora’s promoter says a unification with Jaron Ennis comes before a fight with the WBC interim junior middleweight champion

Vergil Ortiz Jr.’s path to a world title has become more uncertain after Sampson Lewkowicz claimed the WBC interim champion could wait another two years for a shot at Sebastian Fundora. The comments came as Lewkowicz rejected claims from Ortiz’s manager that Fundora’s team has avoided the matchup.

The blunt assessment came from Fundora’s promoter, Sampson Lewkowicz, who fired back after Ortiz’s manager, Rick Mirigian, accused Fundora’s team of repeatedly avoiding the WBC interim champion.

Mirigian argued that Ortiz had sought a fight with Fundora on multiple occasions, including before the WBC approved Ermal Hadribeaj as the mandatory challenger. He also suggested Jaron Ennis is likely headed toward a voluntary defense against Matchroom stablemate Josh Kelly before eventually facing Ortiz.

Lewkowicz dismissed those claims and instead placed the blame squarely on Ortiz’s camp.

“He had a shot. Not now,” Lewkowicz said to Boxingscene. “I’d rather go to a unification with ‘Boots.’ So, now he’s two years away.”

Lewkowicz went further, criticizing Mirigian’s handling of Ortiz’s career and saying the dispute with Golden Boy cost the interim champion his position in line for a title shot. He also argued that Ortiz does not generate enough commercial interest to force the issue.

If events unfold as Lewkowicz predicts, Ortiz would be left watching Fundora defend against Hadribeaj before pursuing a unification with Ennis, assuming the Philadelphia champion gets past a likely voluntary defense first. That sequence would leave the WBC interim champion without a clear path to the title despite occupying the mandatory position.

That may become the biggest issue for Vergil Jr. At 28, spending years waiting while the division’s champions fight other opponents would do little to advance his career. Trainer Robert Garcia has already raised the possibility of moving to middleweight if meaningful opportunities fail to materialize at 154.

Lewkowicz may be overstating Ortiz Jr’s wait, but his comments painted a bleak picture for his immediate future. If the title holders continue looking elsewhere, Ortiz Jr. may eventually decide that waiting in line at junior middleweight is no longer worth it.

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