Vergil Ortiz Beats Fredrick Lawson With A First-Round TKO

January 7, 2024
1 year
Vergil Ortiz Beats Fredrick Lawson With A First-Round TKO

Vergil Ortiz knocked out Fredrick Lawson with a controversial first win following his recent health scare. 

Ortiz made his comeback at a contracted weight of 156 pounds after struggling to make the welterweight limit. The boxer fainted before his fight with Michael McKinson, and the same occurred for his scheduled fight with Eimantas Stanionis on July 8th, 2023. Ortiz fainted and went to hospital. Ortiz’s promoter, De La Hoya, said his 147 days were over.

Ortiz dismissed any concerns over his form. He stopped Lawson emphatically. He backed up the boxer on the ropes, pummelling him with numerous chopping right hands, followed by lefts to the body. Lawson was covering up. That was enough for the referee, Tony Weeks, to stop the fight. The stoppage was controversial, with Lawson still on his feet and conscious of what was happening. Either way, Ortiz was delighted with the return, taking his record to 20-0, with 20 knockouts. 

Ortiz Reacts

“I think he got saved. I was hurting him with all the jabs. [And] I wasn’t really putting anything behind it. You guys know what I’m about, I love to fight. I wish I could have kept going. [And] I need the rounds, but hey, I was hurting him with the jab, I stunned him with the jab and I didn’t even land it that hard.

“I’m sorry. But I’m ready for anyone out there. There’s a lot of fighters that I want to fight. [And] I know people would love to see this fight, so Tim Tszyu, with all respect, I would love to fight you. I think you’re a hell of a fighter, and let’s make it happen.

“It’s all business. I’m a competitive person, I want to fight the best. He wasn’t responding. I knew it was over. Fans want to see great knockouts and I understand that but I knew that it was getting really bad for him and I don’t think it was an early stoppage,” Ortiz said 

Co-Main Event

In chief support, Ismael Barroso stopped Ohara Davies in the first round to win the WBA junior welterweight interim title. Barroso landed a big left hook that wobbled Davies’ legs. Barroso followed up with punches that sent him to the canvas. Davies got up. Barroso unloaded with more combinations to send Davies to the floor once more. That was enough for the referee to stop the fight.

“I said in an interview earlier that when I started boxing that I had a lot of power. And I’m showing that power now that God is on my side. I have that power. After that first punch, I knew that I had him. I knew that it was a good punch,” Barrasso stated 

Full Results

Vergil Ortiz Jr. def. Fredrick Lawson via a first-round TKO

Ismael Barroso def. Ohara Davies via a first-round TKO interim WBA super lightweight title

Arnold Barboza Jr. def. Xolisani Ndongeni via an eighth-round TKO 

Raul Curiel def. Elias Diaz via an eight-round TKO 

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