Ortiz’s Back-Up Plan If He Can’t Secure Ennis Fight

Vergil Ortiz’s trainer, Robert Garcia, wants Ortiz (24-0, 22 KOs) to fight unified junior middleweight champion Jaron Ennis (36-0, 32 KOs) this November, after two prior attempts to make the fight fell through. If it doesn’t come together again, Garcia named former champion Tim Tszyu (28-3, 18 KOs) as the expected alternative, following Tszyu’s decision win over Errol Spence Jr.

“We’re pushing for the Boots fight because that’s the biggest fight out there of that division. That’s the fight we want because I think we already owe it to ourselves and to the world. It’s already been twice where things go back and forth and then the fight doesn’t happen. That’s the fight Golden Boy is going to push for. But if not, Vergil versus Tim would be great. I wouldn’t mind. I would love that fight,” Garcia

Tszyu said he intends to stay at middleweight, and Garcia said Ortiz would be open to meeting him there.

“I think it would have to be at 160, right? Because I think Tim already said he’s staying at 160. Even 160 wouldn’t be a bad idea. I wouldn’t mind. Tim is a great name, great fighter. Just had a great win,” Garcia

Garcia dismissed the idea of a tune-up fight for Ortiz after nearly a year out of the ring, arguing he should return against the strongest opponent available.