Crawford became a four-weight world champion in August 2023 when he beat Israil Madrimov for the WBA super-welterweight title. The unanimous decision victory added to his impressive collection of titles across lightweight, super-lightweight, and welterweight divisions. He's even been undisputed champion at super-lightweight and welterweight.
Ortiz, who holds a perfect record of 22 wins with 21 knockouts, recently picked up the WBC interim super-welterweight title. He showed grit and determination in his August 2023 fight against Serhii Bohachuk, getting up from two knockdowns to win by majority decision.
Now, Ortiz has his sights set on Crawford. In a recent interview, he said:
"I would love to fight him. He's probably the number one pound for pound fighter right now. He's in his peak. I believe that I can [beat him]."
Ortiz made it clear that his challenge comes from a place of respect, not animosity:
"I respect him as a fighter, that's the thing. When I want to fight people it doesn't mean I don't like you so let's get it on. It's more I respect your skills and I want to see if I could beat you."
While Crawford vs Ortiz is an exciting prospect, it's not the only fight on Ortiz's radar. He's also mentioned Tim Tszyu, the winner of the Spence-Fundora bout, and Charlo as potential opponents.
Crawford's next move remains uncertain. He's ruled out fighting a certain world champion next, but a clash with the ambitious Ortiz could be an intriguing option down the line. For now, fight fans can only speculate about this potential matchup between the established champion and the rising star.