Errol Spence Jr might make his comeback against Vergil Ortiz Jr in a stadium fight at 154 pounds. The former welterweight champion hasn't fought since his loss to Terence Crawford last year.
Spence, now 35, was the WBA, WBC, and IBF World Champion before Crawford stopped him in 2023. He hit the canvas three times in that fight before the referee called it off. Since then, Spence has kept quiet about his future plans.
On the other hand, Ortiz Jr is on a roll. The undefeated knockout artist has a perfect 23-0 record and recently beat Israil Madrimov at 154 pounds. His win over Madrimov showed he's ready for bigger challenges.
Oscar De La Hoya, Ortiz's promoter, sees a big opportunity in matching these two fighters. He told Fight Hype:
"Imagine if we can put together a Vergil-Spence fight at Dallas Stadium at the Cowboys Stadium. That would sell out the place. I think that's something to consider as well."
This fight would be a tough test for both boxers. Spence would be fighting in a new weight class after a long break. For Ortiz, it'd be the biggest event of his career so far.
But Ortiz has other plans too. De La Hoya wants to set up a homecoming fight in Dallas against a top 10 opponent first. After that, they're looking at Sebastian Fundora and maybe even Terence Crawford down the line.
De La Hoya explained:
"I'm thinking about doing a homecoming party for him in Dallas and fight a top 10 guy. Then go after Fundora and then go after Crawford after he comes back down to 154 after he fights Canelo at 168."
The boxing world is shifting. Spence is thinking about moving up to 154 pounds, and other fighters like Jaron Ennis are doing the same. Crawford might even fight Canelo at 168 pounds before coming back down.
With all these changes, a Spence vs Ortiz fight could be just what boxing fans want to see. It's a clash between a former champ looking to bounce back and a rising star ready to prove himself. We'll have to wait and see if it happens.
