Once Welterweight prospect Vergil Ortiz (16-0, 16 KOs) stepped into the ring tonight, all three judges immediately put away their scorecards and simultaneously kicked up their feet. Their expertise has never been needed for an Ortiz contest and once again, the Dallas native granted them the night off.
The Fantasy Springs Casino, in Indio, California played host to the one sided drubbing that Ortiz dished out to journeymen Samuel Vargas (31-6-2, 14 KOs). The desolate arena allowed fans watching at home to hear, and almost feel the impact of the deleterious blows landed by Ortiz.
The undefeated star moved to the center of the ring to start off the contest as if to mark his territory on the night. He found success early on once Vargas decided to sit there and trade with him. With several rounds already in his favor, Vargas was beginning to realize that he was fighting a losing battle. The veteran fringe contender moved away from the center of the ring and attempted to move his man against the ropes. Vargas was able to do just that, but the success was seldom.
Ortiz simply continued the onslaught as the referee watched with a concerned look.
In a last ditch effort in round seven, Vargas resorted to tackling Ortiz in order to receive the reprieve he was looking for. It worked as he was able to push his younger opponent to the ground, but once he returned to his feet, the feeling of apprehension set in.
Ortiz poured on the power shots while Vargas frantically attempted to hold on to his opponent. Unlike previous rounds where Ortiz would simply accept the clinch until referee Jack Reiss separated them, the Dallas native pushed his man off and continued the assault.
With the face of Vargas becoming more and more unrecognizable with each landed shot, referee Jack Reiss saw enough and called a halt to the contest.
The experience gained on the night was appreciated by Ortiz following the contest. But at this point, he believes that it’s time to sink or swim.
“I want to fight either Danny Garcia or Keith Thurman,” said Ortiz to announcer Sergio Mora following his victory. “I think those would be great fights for me. I’m not 100 percent I would win, but that is the point. I want to fight the best.”
Final Grade For Vergil Ortiz: A
Win number 16 for Vergil Ortiz was just as destructive as the previous 15. Samuel Vargas has always been a game opponent, just not the most skilled boxer in the world.
At this point, there is no denying just how good Ortiz is. Matchups against fringe contenders and journeymen are no longer needed.
The 2019 ESPN prospect of the year wants to take the next step in his career. And if the bodies that he has left on his path to a world title are any indication, then he appears to be ready for the challenge.
