Lightweight contender Javier Fortuna stopped Antonio Lozada in the sixth round Saturday in Los Angeles.
Javier Fortuna might not have done himself any favors on Saturday night in Los Angeles.
The Dominican, who has trouble luring top 135-pounders into the ring, stopped overmatched Antonio Lozada in the sixth round of a scheduled 10-round lightweight bout at Staples Center. And he looked like a terror in the process, which might scare prospective opponents away.
Fortuna (36-2-1, 25 KOs) was supposed to have fought Luke Campbell in April for a secondary world title but the fight was canceled because of COVID-19. Then, a scheduled meeting with Jorge Linares in August was scrapped after the Venezuelan contracted the virus.
Fortuna, who hadn’t fought in a year, took his frustration out on Lozada, a 6-footer from Tijuana with some grit but not enough ability to compete with a lightweight of Fortuna’s ability.
Fortuna almost ended the fight in the first round, as he came out winging punches and landed a series of them. Finally, a wide left to the top of Lozada’s head put him down. The Mexican survived the early onslaught but was on the defensive much of the rest of the fight.
The winner paced himself throughout, boxing and moving – but not throwing many punches – much of the time. And then, in an instant, he would open the flood gates and overwhelm Lozada (40-5-1, 34 KOs) with hard, accurate shots.
That’s what happened in the final round. Fortuna had been sticking and moving when, with Lozada’s back against the ropes, he landed several blows in a brutal flurry. He punctuated the attack with a straight left that snapped Lozada’s head back, prompting referee Gerard White to stop the fight.
The official time was 2:34 of Round 6.
Fortuna is ranked No. 2 by the WBC, behind titleholder Teofimo Lopez, secondary beltholder Devin Haney and No. 1-ranked Vasiliy Lomachenko, meaning he’s in position to take part in a major fight next time out.
The problem will be trying to find a willing opponent.
Hector Tanajara probably will replace Jorge Linares as the foe for lightweight contender Javier Fortuna on Aug. 28, according to a report.
Hector Tanajara probably will replace Jorge Linares as the opponent for lightweight contender Javier Fortuna on Aug. 28, BoxingScene.com is reporting.
Linares on Friday had to pull out of the fight at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif., after he tested positive for COVID-19.
Tanajara (19-0, 5 KOs) was scheduled to face Mercito Gesta on the Vergil Ortiz Jr.-Samuel Vargas card on July 24, but the fight was canceled the day before when Gesta came down with a bug unrelated the coronavirus.
The handlers of Fortuna (35-2-1, 24 KOs) and Tanajara reportedly are waiting for approval from DAZN, which will stream the show.
Fortuna has won two fights in a row (with one no-contest) since he lost a split decision to then 135-pound titleholder Robert Easter in 2018. The Dominican came in overweight, which precluded him from fighting to the belt.
Tanajara, 23, is coming off arguably his biggest victory, a wide decision over veteran Juan Carlos Burgos in January. Fortuna would be a significant step up for the San Antonio fighter.
Jorge Linares has tested positive for COVID-19 and his fight with Javier Fortuna scheduled for Aug. 28 in Indio, Calif., is off.
Jorge Linares has tested positive for COVID-19 and is out as Javier Fortuna’s opponent on Aug. 28 in Indio, Calif.
Linares, the former three-division titleholder, had been training at the Teiken Gym near his home in Tokyo. Teiken Promotions, his promoter, announced the news. The gym reportedly has been closed temporarily.
“He’s feeling OK,” Linares’ manager, De La Cruz, told ESPN. “He’s got symptoms, he’s at the hospital, he can’t leave for 10 days. It’s a nightmare for everyone.”
The Teiken statement read: “We found out [the results] after a pre-fight test was conducted, while [Linares] continued to make good progress [in the gym].”
ESPN reported that Golden Boy, which is promoting the card, is planning to go through with the show and is looking for an opponent for Fortuna in the main event.
Linares (47-5, 29 KOs) has won two consecutive fights since he was stopped by Pablo Cesar Cano in January of last year. He is ranked No. 4 at lightweight by the WBC.
No. 1-ranked Fortuna (35-2-1, 24 KOs) is 2-0 (with one no-contest) since he lost a split decision to Robert Easter in 2018.
Vergil Ortiz Jr. will aim to keep his perfect record intact when he faces Samuel Vargas on Friday, July 24, at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif. It’s one of three recently announced fights – behind closed doors – that will be streamed …
Vergil Ortiz Jr. will aim to keep his perfect record intact when he faces Samuel Vargas on Friday, July 24, at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif.
It’s one of three recently announced fights – behind closed doors — that will be streamed on DAZN over a five-week period :
Ortiz Jr. vs. Vargas on July 24, which is Golden Boy Promotions’ first event since the coronavirus pandemic took hold in March.
Julio Cesar Martinez vs. McWilliams Arroyo on Aug. 15 in Tulsa, Okla.
Jorge Linares vs. Javier Fortuna on Aug. 28 at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino.
The Ortiz-Vargas fight was originally scheduled for March 28 at The Forum in Inglewood, Calif., but it was postponed a week beforehand because of COVID-19.
Vargas (31-5-2, 14 KOs) has had difficulty winning the big fight. He has suffered losses to Luis Collazo, Amir Khan, Danny Garcia and Errol Spence Jr. That being said, he did bounce back from a split-decision loss to Collazo last March with a unanimous decision victory over Silverio Ortiz in June.
Ortiz, a hard-punching 21-year-old, has stopped all 15 of his opponents. He will face his most experienced opponent to date.
“I’m very thankful and excited to be headlining the first Golden Boy event after quarantine,” Ortiz said. “I’m happy that it’s still with the same opponent, so basically we’re picking up where we left off. It’s going to be a tough fight, and it’ll be a great way to kick off the year for me.”
Here’s a complete guide to the Ortiz vs. Vargas card, which features Hector Tanajara Jr. (19-0, 5 KOs) vs. Mercito Gesta (32-3-3, 17 KOs) as the co-feature.
Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Samuel Vargas fight date, start time
Date: Friday, July 24
Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT
Main event: 11:30 p.m. ET / 8:30 p.m. PT (approximate)
The Ortiz-Vargas card will begin at 8 p.m. ET, with Ortiz and Vargas expected to make their ring walks about 11:30 p.m. ET. That time depends on the length of the earlier fights.
Ortiz Jr. vs. Vargas TV, live stream: How to watch on DAZN
Live stream: DAZN (global)
The Ortiz vs. Vargas fight isn’t available via traditional pay-per-view or a linear TV channel. Fans around the world instead can sign up to watch the fight online with DAZN, the global sports live-streaming service.
DAZN is live and available to users in the following countries: United States, Canada, Brazil, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain and Japan. In addition to those nine nations, select beta testers worldwide are able to watch the fight ahead of the upcoming global roll-out of the service.
DAZN can be streamed on a variety of platforms, including Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Google Chromecast, iOS, Android, Xbox One, Playstation 4 and Playstation 3, as well as Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer and Safari browsers via DAZN.com.
Ortiz Jr. vs. Vargas: How much does the fight cost?
New users can sign up for a DAZN subscription to watch the Ortiz vs. Vargas fight. A subscription to DAZN includes access to all live programming and on-demand content, including original shows, behind-the-scenes features and archived fights.
Pricing options vary globally. For example, in the U.S., a monthly subscription is $19.99, and an annual subscription is $99.99. In Canada, the monthly option is $20 CAD, and the annual plan is $150 CAD. A one-month free trial is also available in Canada.
For current subscribers, the fight is already included as part of your plan.
Where is the Ortiz Jr. vs. Vargas fight?
The Ortiz vs. Vargas fight takes place at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif. This will be the fifth time Ortiz has fought at the venue, but it will be the first time he does so without fans in attendance.
Ortiz Jr. vs. Vargas odds
Odds for the Ortiz-Vargas fight will be listed when available.
Vergil Ortiz Jr. record and bio
Nationality: American
Born: March 25, 1998
Height: 5 feet, 10 inches (178 cm)
Reach: 70 inches (178 cm)
Total fights: 15
Record: 15-0 with 15 knockouts
Samuel Vargas record and bio
Nationality: Columbian & Canadian
Born: April 12, 1989
Height: 5 feet, 9 inches (175 cm)
Reach: 72 inches (183 cm)
Total fights: 38
Record: 31-5-2 with 14 knockouts
Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Samuel Vargas fight card
Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Samuel Vargas, 10 rounds, welterweights
Hector Tanajara Jr. vs. Mercito Gesta, 10 rounds, lightweights
Shane Mosley Jr. vs. Jeremy Ramos, eight rounds, middleweights
Seniesa Estrada vs. Jacky Calvo, eight rounds, junior flyweights
Devin Haney gives his thoughts on what lies ahead for him in the stacked lightweight division.
Devin Haney has watched from the sidelines as those below him in the lightweight rankings have tried to figure out who they will be fighting next.
As it stands, it looks as if Javier Fortuna will take on Jorge Linares for what the WBC calls its “diamond belt.” And Luke Campbell and Ryan Garcia are in negotiations to fight for the WBC “interim” title, with the winner to face Haney.
The WBC calls Haney (24-0, 15 KOs) it’s 135-pound champion but he’s positioned below “franchise” champion Vasiliy Lomachenko. Haney last fought on Nov. 9, when he shut out Alfredo Santiago at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Here are Haney’s thoughts on what’s going on around him and how he fits in amid the coronavirus pandemic:
“I’m excited to get back in the ring. This has been the longest time between fights in my career. My body received a well-deserved rest. I’m blessed. Lately, I’ve been fortunate to spend a lot of time with ‘TBE’ Floyd Mayweather. Being compared to Mayweather is the ultimate compliment for any fighter in this era of boxing.
“I’m the most skilled fighter in the world right now and I’m looking forward to an opponent I can make a statement against. I’m working diligently with Mauricio Sulaiman and the WBC to make the big fights happen. Every decision made by the WBC hasn’t went my way, but I have a genuine love and respect for the WBC family as a whole. I’m proud to represent the WBC organization.
“Vasyl Lomachenko is a true professional and considered to be a top five pound-for-pound champion. I challenged him for the WBC lightweight world title and I didn’t get the big fight I wanted, but I got the belt I deserved by stopping Zaur Abdullaev and becoming Vasyl Lomachenko’s mandatory challenger to the lightweight world title.
“Ironically, the big fight never happened because Lomachenko and Top Rank petitioned the WBC not to fight me and award him the franchise title. I then petitioned the WBC to elevate me from interim champion to full world champion because Lomachenko chose not to fight me and I had previously beat the highest ranked fighter available.
“Let’s make this clear: You can’t win the franchise title and you can’t challenge a franchise champion. I’m 21-years old, and I’m the WBC world lightweight champion, and I believe in fighting mandatory challengers. The 135-pound unification runs through me. Enough said!
“At this point in my career I don’t mind mandatories at all because it forces the best fighters in my division to get in the ring with me. They can run but they can’t hide. Mandatory for me means mandatory cash. It’s good to be in a stacked division. If I can, I’m going to fight all of them.
“I hope Teofimo Lopez beats Loma and then fights me in a unification for all the belts like he promised Mauricio Sulaiman. To me it looks like Luke Campbell is looking forward to the opportunity of getting beat up by me more than Ryan Garcia is looking forward to it. I’m guessing, in Ryan’s defense, he’s never lost so he’s moving a little different and trying to stay undefeated, but I … think Eddie Reynoso and Golden Boy really don’t want him to fight me yet. Luke is accustomed to losing big fights, we know he’s come up short more than once. …
“As far as Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis? I don’t like throwing water on a drowning man but leaving a stacked 135-pound division, to take a fight at super featherweight kind of tells you where he’s at. It’s no secret I’m a problem at 135 pounds. I know Jose Ramirez ain’t sleeping good at night either. He got Haney at 140 pounds or Terence Crawford at 147 pounds. Problems to think about.
“I don’t wish that on anybody. Josh Taylor is an easier fight for Ramirez then me or Bud, but it’s still a tough 50-50 fight. Ramirez is out here looking like food on the low. This pandemic is something we’ve never seen. It’s tough on everyone around the world. We’ve all been in quarantine for the last few months, including myself, and fortunately staying at home is the best place to be. Similar in many ways to training camp.
“I pray to God things get back to normal soon. I’m anxious to get back in the ring as soon as the experts give the green light. I want all the smoke.”
Luke Campbell told talkSPORT.com in the U.K. that Ryan Garcia will face a stiff test if they agree to terms.
Ryan Garcia and Luke Campbell reportedly have agreed to fight one another but they have not signed contracts, meaning we don’t know whether the intriguing fight will actually take place.
That said, the fighters obviously like the concept.
Garcia Tweeted after the WBC ordered the fight for its 135-pound “interim” title, with the winner to face Devin Haney for another WBC title: “I’m finally getting to fight a southpaw, my favorite fighters to fight! Bring it on Luke Campbell.”
And Campbell told talkSPORT.com in the U.K. on Monday that Garcia will face a stiff test if they agree to terms.
“He is [talented], but I’m also very talented as well,” Campbell said. “… It gives me a fantastic opportunity to show the world what I’ve got and who I can beat. … He’s quick, he carries power, so yeah.
“It’s a fantastic fight, a fight I’m very excited about.”
Campbell has no idea when or where the fight would take place, although it would be streamed by DAZN.
“I’m not sure,” he said. “The WBC’s ordered it, but then that means it has to go to the promoters to figure out a date, venue, location and all that type of stuff. … I wanna be out as soon as possible, I only need a five-week training camp, six-week training camp.
“I’m ready to go. It’s not as if I’ve not been training, I’ve had two training camps [for fights that fell through recently], but I’ve been in camp doing the work.”
The WBO this week ordered a title eliminator between Garcia (20-0, 17 KOs) and Emmanuel Tagoe (31-1, 15 KOs). That could give Garcia a viable option if talks with Campbell (20-3, 16 KOs) fall through and the WBO gives Garcia and Tagoe time to negotiate.
The Athletic is reporting that Ryan Garcia has agreed to fight Luke Campbell for the WBC’s “interim” title and talks will begin immediately.
So much for Emmanuel Tagoe.
The Athletic is reporting that Ryan Garcia has agreed to fight Luke Campbell for the WBC’s “interim” title and talks will begin immediately, with the winner to face Devin Haney for another WBC title.
No date or site has been reported. It would be streamed by DAZN.
The WBC last week ordered the fight, after which Garcia Tweeted: “I’m finally getting to fight a southpaw my favorite fighters to fight! Bring it on luke Campbell.”
The WBO announced today that it ordered a lightweight title eliminator between Garcia and Emmanuel Tagoe but, if The Athletic’s report is accurate, Garcia has decided to go a different direction.
I’m finally getting to fight a southpaw my favorite fighters to fight! Bring it on luke Campbell
Campbell and Garcia are ranked Nos. 2 and 3 in the WBC rankings, behind Javier Fortuna. Fortuna is planning to face Jorge Linares for yet another WBC belt.
Campbell (20-3, 16 KOs) has more name recognition and high-level experience than Tagoe. The southpaw from England won a gold medal in the 2012 Olympics and has twice fought for major titles, losing decisions to Linares (SD) and Vasiliy Lomachenko (UD).
A victory over Campbell would represent a significant step forward in Garcia’s career, particularly if he can score a knockout. Campbell has never been stopped.
Garcia (20-0, 17 KOs) is developing a reputation as a KO artist. He has stopped his last two opponents in the first round, including a classic one-punch stoppage of Francisco Fonseca on Feb. 14.
Tagoe (31-1, 15 KOs) is a good boxer with an impressive record but he has fought outside his hometown of Accra only once, a ninth-round stoppage of journeyman Gerardo Robles in 2013. He’s a question mark.
Lomachenko, the WBC’s “franchise” champion, is scheduled to face IBF 135-pound titleholder Teofimo Lopez in what presumably would be a title-unification bout on Sept. 19.
The WBO has ordered a lightweight title eliminator between Garcia and Tagoe, giving the sides 20 days to reach an agreement.
First Luke Campbell. Now Emmanuel Tagoe. Ryan Garcia apparently has a decision to make.
The WBO has ordered a lightweight title eliminator between Garcia and Tagoe, giving the sides 20 days to reach an agreement. That follows an order by the WBC for Garcia to begin negotiations for an “interim” title fight against Campbell, with the winner to face Devin Haney for another WBC belt.
The promoters of Garcia and Tagoe received the following letter from the WBO, which can be found on its website:
“Please be advised the parties have twenty (20) days upon receipt of this letter to negotiate and reach an agreement regarding the WBO Lightweight Elimination Contest between WBO Lightweight Participants Ryan Garcia and Emmanuel Tagoe. If an accord is not reached within the time frame set forth herein, a Purse Bid will be ordered pursuant with the WBO Regulations of World Championship Contests.
“The minimum acceptable bid for the WBO Lightweight Division is $150,000.00 (One Hundred Fifty Thousand) dollars. Any of the parties involved may request a purse bid procedure at any time during the negotiation process. The parties are hereby advised that this Committee reserves the right to issue all necessary rulings regarding sanction approval of this bout and/or determinations to maintain active the WBO Lightweight Division.”
Garcia and Tagoe are ranked Nos. 1 and 2 by the WBO, respectively. Cambell and Garcia are Nos. 2 and 3 in the WBC rankings, behind Javier Fortuna. Fortuna is planning to face Jorge Linares.
Campbell and Tagoe would both be legitimate tests for the fast-rising Garcia, who has stopped his last two opponents in the first round.
Campbell (20-3, 16 KOs) has better name recognition and more high-level experience than Tagoe. The southpaw from England won a gold medal in the 2012 Olympics and has come up short in two title challenges, losing decisions to Jorge Linares (SD) and Vasiliy Lomachenko (UD).
Tagoe (31-1, 15 KOs) is a good boxer with an impressive record but he has fought outside his hometown of Accra only once, a ninth-round stoppage of journeyman Gerardo Robles in 2013. He’s a question mark.
The lightweight title picture is a mess even by frustrating sanctioning body standards. Lomachenko is the WBO and WBA titleholder and holds what the WBC calls its “franchise” belt. Haney fits in below Lomachenko in the WBC hierarchy. Gervonta Davis holds what the WBA calls its “regular” title.
Lomachenko is scheduled to face IBF 135-pound titleholder Teofimo Lopez in a title-unification bout on Sept. 19.
The WBC has ordered a fight between Nos. 2- and 3-ranked Luke Campbell and Ryan Garcia for the sanctioning body’s interim lightweight title.
Ryan Garcia’s first genuine test could come against Luke Campbell.
The World Boxing Council has ordered a fight between Nos. 2- and 3-ranked Campbell and Garcia for the sanctioning body’s interim lightweight title.
No. 1-ranked Javier Fortuna was expected to face Campbell for that belt but Fortuna chose to fight Jorge Linares on Aug. 28 instead.
Garcia (20-0, 17 KOs) has become a fan favorite after a series of knockouts, including a KO of the Year candidate against Francisco Fonseca on Feb. 14. However, he hasn’t faced an opponent of Campbell’s pedigree.
Campbell (20-3, 16 KOs) is a 2012 Olympic gold medalist and two-time title challenger, losing a split decision to Linares in 2017 and a unanimous decision to Vasiliy Lomachenko — Boxing Junkie’s No. 1 fighter pound for pound — last August. He’s left-handed.
“I’m finally getting to fight a southpaw my favorite fighters to fight! Bring it on luke Campbell,” Garcia said on Twitter.
I’m finally getting to fight a southpaw my favorite fighters to fight! Bring it on luke Campbell
That comment is encouraging for those who would like to see the matchup because the fighters must still come to terms. On top of that, Garcia is at odds with his promoter, Golden Boy. It’s not clear what, if any, role that could play going forward.
ESPN reported that Garcia and Golden Boy officials are scheduled to meet this week.
“We just got the letter today [from the WBC], so we’re in the process of talking to Ryan,” Golden Boy President Eric Gomez told ESPN. “We’re going to talk to his team, we’re going to see what he wants to do.
“That’s one of the guys he’s said repeatedly that he wants to fight,” said Gomez, referring to Campbell.
Also, the WBC’s handling of the lightweight division is an example of how absurd the ranking system can be.
Lomachenko is the “franchise” champion, meaning he doesn’t have mandatories. Devin Haney a world champion even though he fits in below the Ukrainian star. Fortuna and Linares are fighting for what the WBC calls its “Diamond Belt,” whatever that is. And Campbell-Garcia would be for the interim belt.
Promoter Eddie Hearn is trying to put together a fight between lightweight titleholder Devin Haney and Luke Campbell in August or September.
Editor’s note: This article originally appeared on DAZN.com.
***
Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearn is beginning to put the pieces together for future fights as boxing heads toward operating during the COVID-19 pandemic.
One of the first fights Hearn is aiming to put together on American soil is a lightweight showdown between titleholder Devin Haney and Luke Campbell.
Hearn revealed his intentions in an interview with BoxingScene.com.
“Ideally I want to make Devin Haney against Ryan Garcia,” Hearn said. “I think that is a monstrous fight. But that might take a bit longer to be made, so if we can make Haney against Luke Campbell, that is a great fight.”
Haney and Garcia have been on a collision course for several years as two of the brightest young talents in the sport. Haney stepped into the ring to challenge his rival after Garcia’s first-round knockout of Francisco Fonseca back in February.
Although both fighters seem to be keen on a potential showdown, there doesn’t seem to be a rush to pair the two at the moment. Instead, Hearn aims to give Campbell an opportunity to hand Haney his first loss as a professional.
Campbell (20-3, 16 KOs) is coming off of a unanimous decision loss to lightweight titleholder Vasiliy Lomachenko last August. Campbell was set to face Javier Fortuna for the vacant WBC title in April after Haney was declared champion in recess while sidelined with an injury. But that fight was scrapped when the coronavirus pandemic struck the sporting world.
With Haney now having ample time to heal, he has been reinstated as champion and could make a defense of his title later this summer.
“It’s a bit of a mess, really,” Hearn said. “Luke has been ordered to fight Javier Fortuna for the world title, now the interim world title, but because of the delay, Devin Haney is back and ready to go.
“I’d rather they fight each other. Luke seems up for it, Devin Haney seems up for it, and that is a fight I will try and make for August or September.”
