LIVE ON DAZN THIS SATURDAY, JANUARY 6 AT THE THEATER AT VIRGIN HOTELS LAS VEGAS
One of the most naturally talented and exciting young and unbeaten fighters around, Vergil Ortiz will finally make his return to the ring in January, when he will move up from 147 to 154 pounds. RingTV.com reports that Ortiz, 19-0(19) and, before his enforced layoff of almost 18-months one of the best welterweights out there, will face Fredrick Lawson in Las Vegas on January 6th. Health problems plagued the 25 year old, with Ortiz suffering from a condition called rhabdomyolysis, and with Ortiz reportedly fainting in his dressing room prior to his ill-fated fight with Eimantas Stanionis (this a match up that was scheduled to happen no less than three times, only for it to fall apart, once due to Stanionis undergoing surgery for an appendectomy).
But now, promoter Oscar De La Hoya says Ortiz of Texas is ready to “come back stronger than ever to become a world champion.”
“He’s got the heart and dedication, ans is on a mission to be a world title holder,” De La Hoya told Ring. “I know he will make a statement in this new division against the powerful warrior from Ghana in Fredrick Lawson. Golden Buy will be starting 2024 with a bang, and we’re proud to have Vergil launch our action-packed boxing schedule for the year.”
While fans may be disappointed to see Ortiz leave the 147 pound division (for the time being at least, perhaps for good, we will have to wait and see), he will no doubt make an exciting addition to the 154 pound weight division – imagine, for one exciting potential fight, Ortiz against Tim Tszyu. Against Lawson, 30-2(22), Ortiz will face a pretty tough guy who has good experience. 34 year old Lawson is also coming off two good wins. Lawson has been a pro since 2011 and he knows his way around a ring. Ortiz, who last fought in August of 2022, when he stopped Michael McKinson in the ninth round, will almost certainly be rusty in his ring return, and this could prove somewhat dangerous against the man from Accra who now lives in Chicago.
That said, if he has put all his medical issues firmly behind him and if Ortiz is now 100 percent fit and ready to fight, he should do away with Lawson, most likely inside the distance (Lawson has been stopped in each of his three defeats). Most of all, it will be great to see Ortiz back in the ring. Against Maurice Hooker and Egidijus Kavaliauskas, Ortiz impressed us all and he was closing in on a world title shot. Can Ortiz make up for lost time in a big way next year?
Serving as the co-main event, the U.K.’s own Ohara “Two Tanks” Davies will lock horns with El Tigre from Venezuela, Ismael Barroso. Originally scheduled for an earlier date, this bout has been marinated to perfection and is now ready to sizzle over 12 rounds for the WBA Super Lightweight Interim World Championship, in a collaboration with TGB Promotions.
Making waves as the new kid on the Golden Boy block, El Monte’s Arnold Barbosa Jr. is all set to throw leather in a 10-round super lightweight clash. Not to be outdone, Ukraine’s Sergiy Derevyanchenko will also step into the ring for a 10-round dance. Their dance partners? Well, those names are still under wraps, soon to be revealed.
Ticket hunters, take note! Seats for Ortiz Jr. vs. Lawson are up for grabs, ranging from wallet-friendly to splurge-worthy, plus those pesky fees. For the high rollers, Golden Boy’s rolling out the red carpet with their VIP Experience – think exclusive swag and fight night perks. Snag your tickets at AXS.com or GoldenBoyPromotions.com before they vanish!
Over in the realm of Golden Boy Boxing Prelims, streamed live for your viewing pleasure on YouTube and Facebook Watch, undefeated NABF Welterweight champ Raul “El Cugar” Curiel is gearing up for a 10-round tussle against California’s own Elias Diaz. And fresh off his knockout victory last October, Tristan Kalkreuth will square off against Marquise Weston from Tacoma, Washington, in an eight-round cruiserweight battle.
And now, for a touch of drama and flair, here’s what some of today’s pugilistic poets had to say:
VERGIL ORTIZ JR., SUPER WELTERWEIGHT CONTENDER:
“I just want to tip my hat to everyone who’s had my back. First up, my dad, my team, Coach Robert, Coach Hector, and the whole Golden Boy gang.”
“I’ve poured my soul into this sport. Now it’s showtime. We’re tipping the scales tomorrow. If you’re on the fence about tickets, hop off it – this fight’s a go. And I’m more than ready. Honestly, I’ve never felt better.”
FREDRICK “GENERAL OKUNKA” LAWSON, SUPER WELTERWEIGHT FIGHTER:
“First things first, hats off to the man upstairs. Big thanks to Golden Boy Promotions and DAZN for making this happen. Our training camp was top-notch. We’re all set. Heard some rumors about how this fight’s supposed to go down. Well, we’ve got a few tricks up our sleeves. Saturday can’t come soon enough.”
BERNARD HOPKINS, GOLDEN BOY PARTNER:
“We’re our own biggest rivals. Last year was grand, but this year? We’re stepping it up. Like Oscar always says, the future starts right now.”
OSCAR DE LA HOYA, GOLDEN BOY CHAIRMAN AND CEO:
“Last year, Golden Boy was the crème de la crème of boxing. We threw the biggest PPV bash, crowned the top fights of the year, and groomed more rookies than anyone else. 2024’s looking even spicier, and it all kicks off this Saturday.”
“Since the clock struck midnight on New Year’s, I’ve been preaching that the future is today. Starting with Vergil, Barboza, and Davies this Saturday, a whole army of Golden Boy fighters are gearing up for world title shots. I haven’t been this jazzed about a boxing year in ages.”
Ortiz Jr. vs. Lawson is a 12-round dance presented by Golden Boy Promotions. Catch it live on Saturday, January 6, at The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, streaming worldwide on DAZN. Davies vs. Barroso is also a 12-rounder for the WBA Super Lightweight Interim World Championship, courtesy of Golden Boy and TGB Promotions.
Tickets for Ortiz Jr. vs. Lawson are flying off the shelves. Prices are $200, $150, $100, and $50, plus the usual pesky fees. A handful of Golden Boy VIP Experience tickets are up for grabs too.
Ortiz Jr. vs. Lawson start time
A: The weigh-in for Ortiz Jr. vs. Lawson is scheduled for Friday, January 5. It will start at 2 a.m. BST / 9 p.m. ET.
Q: Can I watch the Ortiz Jr. vs. Lawson weigh-in on DAZN?
A: Yes, the Ortiz Jr. vs. Lawson weigh-in conference will be shown live on the DAZN Boxing YouTube channel and on DAZN for subscribers.
Q: What is the date and start time for Ortiz Jr. vs. Lawson?
A: The fight is set for Saturday, January 6, starting at 8 pm ET / 1 am UK time. The main event ringwalks are estimated to be around 11 pm ET / 4 am UK time, though this depends on the undercard fight durations.
Q: Can I watch Ortiz Jr. vs. Lawson on DAZN?
A: Yes, the fight will be streamed live on DAZN in over 200 countries globally. Subscriptions can be acquired via their website. However, viewers in Argentina, Chile, and Colombia must download the DAZN app from the Apple App Store or Android Google Play store and sign up there instead of through a web browser.
Q: What devices are supported by DAZN?
A: DAZN is available on a wide range of devices including Apple TV, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Android and iOS devices, various Smart TVs, game consoles like PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Roku. A complete list is available on their website.
Q: Where is the Ortiz Jr. vs. Lawson fight taking place?
A: The fight will be held at The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.
Q: How can I get tickets for Ortiz Jr. vs. Lawson?
A: Tickets are available for purchase at AXS.com.
Q: What are Vergil Ortiz Jr. and Fredrick Lawson’s records and bios?
A: Vergil Ortiz Jr., an American, was born on March 25, 1998, is 5′ 10″ tall with a 70″ reach. He has a total of 19 fights, with a record of 19-0 (19 KOs). Fredrick Lawson, a Ghanaian, born on August 12, 1989, stands at 5′ 9″ with a 70″ reach, and has a record of 30-3 (22 KOs) from 33 fights.
Q: What is the fight card for Ortiz Jr. vs. Lawson?
A: The card includes:
- Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Fredrick Lawson, 12 rounds, junior middleweights.
- Ohara Davies vs. Ismael Barroso, 12 rounds, for the vacant WBA interim junior welterweight title.
- Arnold Barboza Jr. vs. Xolisani Ndongeni, 10 rounds, junior welterweights.
- Raul Curiel vs. Elias Diaz, 10 rounds, welterweights.
- Johnny Canas vs. TBA, 4 rounds, junior welterweights.
- Emiliano Gandara vs. Isaac Matamoros, 4 rounds, junior middleweights.
Weights:
- Vergil Ortiz Jr. 156 vs. Fredrick Lawson 152.4
- Ohara Davies 140 vs. Ismael Barroso 139.6
- Arnold Barboza Jr. 139.4 vs. Xolisani Ndongeni 139.2
- Raul Curiel 146.8 vs. Elias Diaz 146.2
- Emiliano Gandara 161.6 vs. Isaac Matamoros 164