The WBC interim junior middleweight titleholder, Vergil Ortiz Jr. (23 wins, 0 losses, with 21 knockouts), tipped the scales at 153¾ pounds. Meanwhile, his challenger, Erickson Lubin (27 wins, 2 losses, with 19 knockouts), registered a weight of 154 lbs during Friday’s weigh-in event. This precedes their scheduled 12-round headline bout occurring this Saturday, November 8th, at the Dickies Arena situated in Fort Worth, Texas. The fight will be broadcasted live via DAZN.
(Credit: Golden Boy / Cris Esqueda)
Ortiz Jr. enters the contest as the anticipated victor; however, this presumption might be misleading. Lubin possesses both the requisite striking strength and technical prowess to potentially secure an unexpected triumph, particularly if he employs a boxing strategy akin to his performance in the 12-round unanimous decision victory against Jesus Ramos Jr. on September 30, 2023.
Despite considerable discussion focusing on the purported physical decline of the 30-year-old Lubin, it is, in actuality, Ortiz Jr. who seems to have absorbed more significant damage in his recent ring appearances. Following his encounters with Serhii Bohachuk in August 2024 and Israil Madrimov in February 2025, his facial appearance suggested a considerable amount of punishment.
“I am aiming to compete against the most accomplished fighters in the division. A defining characteristic of Vergil Ortiz is his unfamiliarity with defeat. Conversely, I am adept at disrupting undefeated records,” Erickson Lubin conveyed to Golden Boy Boxing during the weigh-in on Friday, leading up to his confrontation with WBC interim junior middleweight champion Vergil Ortiz Jr.
Boots Ennis Observing Intently
Speculation exists regarding Vergil Ortiz Jr.’s potential distraction by future prospects, specifically a highly anticipated match against Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis. Although Vergil Jr. asserts his complete focus on Erickson, maintaining unwavering concentration proves challenging given the magnitude of a potential subsequent fight.
Ennis, accompanied by his promoter, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing, will be present at ringside on Saturday night at the Dickies Arena. Their intention is to initiate a concerted effort to pressure Vergil Jr. into accepting their challenge next.
Should Vergil Jr. suffer a defeat on Saturday, he would possess a readily available explanation for his supporters. He could attribute the loss to the distraction caused by Ennis’s presence among the spectators. Some fans might sympathize with this rationale and offer him leniency.
Lubin’s Declaration at the Weigh-In
“This fight carries substantial importance. The victor gains everything. We represent two of the premier fighters within the division. Our respective records are impressive. Our accomplishments speak definitively,” Erickson stated.
Whether Ortiz Jr. and Lubin qualify as the two preeminent fighters at the 154-pound limit remains debatable. They certainly rank among the top ten contenders, but to declare them the absolute best might be an overstatement. Vergil’s preceding two fights at 154 revealed vulnerabilities. A truly dominant competitor would not secure contentious victories over Bohachuk or nearly succumb to Madrimov.
“He is the opponent I specifically sought. He exhibits unwavering determination. You will witness this on Saturday. Expect an explosive encounter,” Ortiz remarked regarding his upcoming fight with Lubin. “The identity of attendees is irrelevant. We have a singular focus on our opponent for Saturday night. We are solely concerned with him. Our objective is to handle our responsibilities effectively, and we are free from any distractions at present. That is accurate,” Ortiz affirmed when questioned about his status as the best fighter at 154.
