Ortiz pulled out of the fight on March 19

Virgil Ortiz Jr. will have to wait to launch their 2022 ring campaign. Ortiz fell ill and was forced to withdraw from the upcoming fight with the Englishman Michael Mackinson just a few days before the duel scheduled for March 19 on the DAZN platform in Los Angeles. The organizers are making efforts to save the show and find a new opponent for McKinson (21-0, 2 KOs), who was supposed to make his US debut this weekend.

The undercard of the evening includes a 10-round welterweight bout between Blair Cobbs (15-0-1, 10 KOs) and Alexis Rocha (18-1, 12 KOs). At this time, it remains unclear whether this fight will become a new main event or McKinson will still get a new opponent.

On Saturday, Ortiz (18-0, 18 KOs) was scheduled to make his debut in 2022, which was also supposed to be his first fight since parting ways with Robert Garcia. Ortiz spent his last training camp with Manny Robles, who joined Virgil Ortiz Sr. in training for the young welterweight.