Vergil Ortiz Jr. Would Prefer ‘Dream Fight’ With Errol Spence Over Jaron Ennis

There’s only one name most fans are calling for when it comes to Vergil Ortiz Jr.’s next opponent. But despite a face-to-face moment in the ring with Jaron “Boots” Ennis immediately after dismantling Erickson Lubin last Saturday. Ortiz admits his dream scenario doesn’t involve the unbeaten Philadelphia star. Ortiz (24-0, 22 KOs) made it clear to reporters that Errol Spence Jr. is the man he truly wants.

“If I had to pick, it would be Errol Spence,” Ortiz said. “That’s my dream fight, at AT&T Cowboys Stadium. That’s my dream fight. I don’t care what anyone says about it.”

Ortiz, one of the most destructive punchers in boxing, defended his WBC interim junior middleweight title with ease, stopping Lubin in just two rounds at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. With momentum surging and his profile rising, Ortiz is thinking big and thinking Texas.

Spence (28-1, 22 KOs), the former unified welterweight champion, has been largely out of the spotlight since his ninth-round stoppage loss to Terence Crawford in July 2023. Though he has hinted at a return, nothing concrete has materialized. On Saturday, however, Spence was very much present, sitting ringside to watch Ortiz’s destruction of Lubin. His appearance only added fuel to speculation that a Dallas-area showdown could be viable. Ortiz’s manager, Rick Mirigian, acknowledged the logic behind that matchup, saying a fight with Spence “makes all the sense in the world” for Ortiz’s next move.

Ennis Still the Networks’ Favorite

Despite Ortiz’s preference, Jaron Ennis remains a major piece on the board. The slick, switch-hitting Ennis (35-0, 31 KOs, 1 NC) looked sensational in his junior middleweight debut on October 11, needing less than a round to dispatch Uisma Lima. As The Ring’s No. 1-ranked 154-pounder, he’s viewed by many as the top dog in the division.

Ennis and his promoter, Eddie Hearn, have both been vocal in calling for a fight with Ortiz, and DAZN executives are expected to push hard for that matchup. For now, it will take a few months before Ennis has a clearer picture of his future and whether Ortiz will be part of it.

“Anyone Can Get It”

Whether it’s Spence in a Texas super-fight, Ennis in a battle for divisional supremacy. Or another contender altogether, Ortiz insists he isn’t ducking anyone.

“Anyone can get it,” Ortiz said. “I just want to fight the best, I’m just a competitive guy.”

Dream fights, mandatory paths, and network agendas may all tug in different directions. But as long as Vergil Ortiz Jr. keeps winning and keeps punching holes through top contenders, the demand to see him in elite-level showdowns will only grow louder.

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