Tag: Michael McKinson

Vergil Ortiz Jr. knocks out Michael McKinson in ninth round

Vergil Ortiz Jr. knocked out Michael McKinson in the ninth round of a scheduled 12-round welterweight fight Saturday.

Vergil Ortiz remains perfect.

The hard-punching welterweight contender from Dallas stopped Michael McKinson in the ninth round Saturday night at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, giving Ortiz 19 knockouts in as many fights.

McKinson, a tricky boxer from England, was competitive for most of the fight. However, Ortiz gradually closed the distance and began to land heavy punches in the second half of the scheduled 12-rounder.

The beginning of the end was a left to the body that forced McKinson (22-1, 2 KOs) to drop to all fours with about 30 seconds remaining in Round 8.

McKinson danced the rest of the round to survive until the bell and was able to come out for Round 9. He didn’t last long, though. In the first few seconds Ortiz landed another punch to the same spot and McKinson dropped again.

Again he got up and continued to fight, but his trainer signaled to the referee that he wanted the fight stopped and he complied.

The official time of the stoppage was 27 seconds into the ninth round.

Ortiz had mixed feelings afterward.

ā€œIt wasnā€™t my best performance,” he said. “The first seven rounds, I didn’t really do anything good. I should have listened to my corner in the opening rounds. Once I listened to them, we were able to get the job done.”

The victory is another step toward the 24-year-old Ortiz’s immediate goal, to fight for a major welterweight title. He’s ranked in the Top 3 of all four major sanctioning bodies. So his time is coming.

“I am ready to fight anyone,” he said. “I stay training. Iā€™ll probably be ready for a run by tomorrow.ā€

Meanwhile, McKinson felt good about his performance.

”

ā€œI am proud to represent my country and my hometown of Portsmouth,ā€ he said. ā€œNot a lot of fighters were lining up to fight Vergil, and I am proud of being able to show that I can fight at this level.

“When I entered the ring, there were a lot of boos, but I must have done something right to be walking out with cheers for my performance.ā€

Vergil Ortiz Jr. knocks out Michael McKinson in ninth round

Vergil Ortiz Jr. knocked out Michael McKinson in the ninth round of a scheduled 12-round welterweight fight Saturday.

Vergil Ortiz remains perfect.

The hard-punching welterweight contender from Dallas stopped Michael McKinson in the ninth round Saturday night at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, giving Ortiz 19 knockouts in as many fights.

McKinson, a tricky boxer from England, was competitive for most of the fight. However, Ortiz gradually closed the distance and began to land heavy punches in the second half of the scheduled 12-rounder.

The beginning of the end was a left to the body that forced McKinson (22-1, 2 KOs) to drop to all fours with about 30 seconds remaining in Round 8.

McKinson danced the rest of the round to survive until the bell and was able to come out for Round 9. He didn’t last long, though. In the first few seconds Ortiz landed another punch to the same spot and McKinson dropped again.

Again he got up and continued to fight, but his trainer signaled to the referee that he wanted the fight stopped and he complied.

The official time of the stoppage was 27 seconds into the ninth round.

Ortiz had mixed feelings afterward.

ā€œIt wasnā€™t my best performance,” he said. “The first seven rounds, I didn’t really do anything good. I should have listened to my corner in the opening rounds. Once I listened to them, we were able to get the job done.”

The victory is another step toward the 24-year-old Ortiz’s immediate goal, to fight for a major welterweight title. He’s ranked in the Top 3 of all four major sanctioning bodies. So his time is coming.

“I am ready to fight anyone,” he said. “I stay training. Iā€™ll probably be ready for a run by tomorrow.ā€

Meanwhile, McKinson felt good about his performance.

”

ā€œI am proud to represent my country and my hometown of Portsmouth,ā€ he said. ā€œNot a lot of fighters were lining up to fight Vergil, and I am proud of being able to show that I can fight at this level.

“When I entered the ring, there were a lot of boos, but I must have done something right to be walking out with cheers for my performance.ā€

Michael McKinson insists he’s ‘mentally capable’ of upsetting Vergil Ortiz Jr.

Michael McKinson insists he’s “mentally capable” of upsetting Vergil Ortiz Jr. on Saturday in Forth Worth, Texas.

Michael McKinson has never faced a fighter with the ability of welterweight contender Vergil Ortiz Jr., his opponent on Saturday in Forth Worth, Texas (DAZN). He has stopped only two of his 22 opponents, meaning heā€™s not likely to hurt Ortiz.

The 28-year-old Englishman has something going for him, though: He doesnā€™t know what it is to lose. The confidence that comes with perfection and his tricky southpaw style could provide challenges for Ortiz.

ā€œIā€™ll pick one thing out that Iā€™ve got different than everyone he has ever faced,ā€ McKinson said. ā€œHeā€™s never faced an undefeated fighter like me. Heā€™s never been in the ring with someone thatā€™s never tasted defeat.

ā€œIā€™ve never tasted defeat. I donā€™t know what itā€™s like to lose. Iā€™m a very proud Englishman coming to the other side of the world, coming to the lionā€™s den in an attempt to tame the young lion.

ā€œHeā€™s looked vulnerable in certain fights, but heā€™s not put a foot wrong, and heā€™s a great young fighter. But I have a different style than most people, a style that can expose most things in certain fighters.

ā€œSo I know Iā€™ve got a hard fight ahead of me. Iā€™ve got a big task ahead of me, but I know Iā€™m very mentally capable of pulling it off.ā€

McKinson pointed out the stark differences between his start in professional boxing and that of Ortiz, who was a hot prospect out of the gate.

The native of Portsmouth did battle in front of 500 people at a cricket ground in his second fight; more than 50,000 watched as Ortiz fought on the Canelo Alvarez-Liam Smith card in his second outing.

Yes, Ortiz (18-0, 18 KOs) had had advantages and resulting opportunities that relatively few others enjoy. Thatā€™s one reason McKinson hasnā€™t beaten any notable opponents.

Of course, he expects that to change on Saturday. He has the awkward style he mentioned. That could give anyone difficulty, at least for a while.

ā€œYou donā€™t get to 22-0, winning four international titles along the way for not being a good fighter, he said. ā€œI believe Iā€™m a very good fighter, but I havenā€™t had the opportunity to prove that Iā€™m world-class. Along the way, Iā€™ve never had the luxury of picking and choosing whom I get to fight next.

ā€œIā€™ve had to take risks from early on and be on the ā€˜Bā€™ side from early on to get to where I am right now.ā€

He couldnā€™t be more excited about the opportunity before him.

ā€œIā€™m excited to be in Texas,ā€ he said. ā€œIā€™m excited to show more of my ability than Iā€™ve been able to show in my previous fights because in my previous fights, Iā€™ve coasted. Points win against good fighters, but Iā€™ve not been in any trouble. I have not had to dig deep. Iā€™ve not had to go somewhere that Iā€™ve never been before and I know Iā€™m going to have to in this fight.

ā€œSo Iā€™m looking forward to it. Iā€™m excited for Saturday, and I canā€™t wait.ā€

[lawrence-related id=31866,31861,28835]

Michael McKinson insists he’s ‘mentally capable’ of upsetting Vergil Ortiz Jr.

Michael McKinson insists he’s “mentally capable” of upsetting Vergil Ortiz Jr. on Saturday in Forth Worth, Texas.

Michael McKinson has never faced a fighter with the ability of welterweight contender Vergil Ortiz Jr., his opponent on Saturday in Forth Worth, Texas (DAZN). He has stopped only two of his 22 opponents, meaning heā€™s not likely to hurt Ortiz.

The 28-year-old Englishman has something going for him, though: He doesnā€™t know what it is to lose. The confidence that comes with perfection and his tricky southpaw style could provide challenges for Ortiz.

ā€œIā€™ll pick one thing out that Iā€™ve got different than everyone he has ever faced,ā€ McKinson said. ā€œHeā€™s never faced an undefeated fighter like me. Heā€™s never been in the ring with someone thatā€™s never tasted defeat.

ā€œIā€™ve never tasted defeat. I donā€™t know what itā€™s like to lose. Iā€™m a very proud Englishman coming to the other side of the world, coming to the lionā€™s den in an attempt to tame the young lion.

ā€œHeā€™s looked vulnerable in certain fights, but heā€™s not put a foot wrong, and heā€™s a great young fighter. But I have a different style than most people, a style that can expose most things in certain fighters.

ā€œSo I know Iā€™ve got a hard fight ahead of me. Iā€™ve got a big task ahead of me, but I know Iā€™m very mentally capable of pulling it off.ā€

McKinson pointed out the stark differences between his start in professional boxing and that of Ortiz, who was a hot prospect out of the gate.

The native of Portsmouth did battle in front of 500 people at a cricket ground in his second fight; more than 50,000 watched as Ortiz fought on the Canelo Alvarez-Liam Smith card in his second outing.

Yes, Ortiz (18-0, 18 KOs) had had advantages and resulting opportunities that relatively few others enjoy. Thatā€™s one reason McKinson hasnā€™t beaten any notable opponents.

Of course, he expects that to change on Saturday. He has the awkward style he mentioned. That could give anyone difficulty, at least for a while.

ā€œYou donā€™t get to 22-0, winning four international titles along the way for not being a good fighter, he said. ā€œI believe Iā€™m a very good fighter, but I havenā€™t had the opportunity to prove that Iā€™m world-class. Along the way, Iā€™ve never had the luxury of picking and choosing whom I get to fight next.

ā€œIā€™ve had to take risks from early on and be on the ā€˜Bā€™ side from early on to get to where I am right now.ā€

He couldnā€™t be more excited about the opportunity before him.

ā€œIā€™m excited to be in Texas,ā€ he said. ā€œIā€™m excited to show more of my ability than Iā€™ve been able to show in my previous fights because in my previous fights, Iā€™ve coasted. Points win against good fighters, but Iā€™ve not been in any trouble. I have not had to dig deep. Iā€™ve not had to go somewhere that Iā€™ve never been before and I know Iā€™m going to have to in this fight.

ā€œSo Iā€™m looking forward to it. Iā€™m excited for Saturday, and I canā€™t wait.ā€

[lawrence-related id=31866,31861,28835]

Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Michael McKinson: date, time, how to watch, background

Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Michael McKinson: date, time, how to watch, background.

Welterweight contender Vergil Ortiz Jr. will take on Michael McKinson of the U.K. on Saturday in Forth Worth, Texas, Ortiz’s home state.

VERGIL ORTIZ JR. (18-0, 18 KOS) VS. MICHAEL MCKINSON (22-0, 2 KOS)

  • Date: Saturday, Aug. 6
  • Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Dickies Arena, Fort Worth, Texas
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Cost: DAZN is $19.99 per month or $149.99 per year
  • Division: Welterweight (147 pounds)
  • Rounds: 12
  • At stake: No major titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: Ortiz 10-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card:Ā Marlen Esparza vs. Eva Guzman, flyweights (for Esparzaā€™s WBA and WBC titles); Maurice Hooker vs. Blair Cobbs, welterweights; Bektemir Melikuziev vs. Sladan Janjanin, super middleweights; Alex Martin vs. Henry Lundy, junior welterweights
  • Prediction: Ortiz KO 10
  • Background: The Ortiz-McKinson fight was scheduled to take place in March but was postponed after Ortiz pulled out because of illness. The 24-year-old slugger from Dallas is now healthy and ready to resume his pursuit of a shot at a 147-pound title. He has stopped all 18 of his opponents, the most recent being capable Egidijus Kavaliauskas in eight rounds in August of last year. No fighter has gone past eight rounds with Ortiz, who is ranked in the Top 3 by all four major sanctioning bodies, No. 1 by the WBA and WBO. He hopes that status will lead to a title fight sooner rather than later. McKinson is unbeaten but has faced no one with ability comparable to Ortiz. The 28-year-old Englishman is a good, experienced boxer but, with two stoppages in 22 fights, he has one of the lowest knockout percentages in the sport. Heā€™s coming off a one-sided decision over Alex Martin this past March in Los Angeles, his first fight outside Europe.

[lawrence-related id=31861,28835,22372]

Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Michael McKinson: date, time, how to watch, background

Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Michael McKinson: date, time, how to watch, background.

Welterweight contender Vergil Ortiz Jr. will take on Michael McKinson of the U.K. on Saturday in Forth Worth, Texas, Ortiz’s home state.

VERGIL ORTIZ JR. (18-0, 18 KOS) VS. MICHAEL MCKINSON (22-0, 2 KOS)

  • Date: Saturday, Aug. 6
  • Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Dickies Arena, Fort Worth, Texas
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Cost: DAZN is $19.99 per month or $149.99 per year
  • Division: Welterweight (147 pounds)
  • Rounds: 12
  • At stake: No major titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: Ortiz 10-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card:Ā Marlen Esparza vs. Eva Guzman, flyweights (for Esparzaā€™s WBA and WBC titles); Maurice Hooker vs. Blair Cobbs, welterweights; Bektemir Melikuziev vs. Sladan Janjanin, super middleweights; Alex Martin vs. Henry Lundy, junior welterweights
  • Prediction: Ortiz KO 10
  • Background: The Ortiz-McKinson fight was scheduled to take place in March but was postponed after Ortiz pulled out because of illness. The 24-year-old slugger from Dallas is now healthy and ready to resume his pursuit of a shot at a 147-pound title. He has stopped all 18 of his opponents, the most recent being capable Egidijus Kavaliauskas in eight rounds in August of last year. No fighter has gone past eight rounds with Ortiz, who is ranked in the Top 3 by all four major sanctioning bodies, No. 1 by the WBA and WBO. He hopes that status will lead to a title fight sooner rather than later. McKinson is unbeaten but has faced no one with ability comparable to Ortiz. The 28-year-old Englishman is a good, experienced boxer but, with two stoppages in 22 fights, he has one of the lowest knockout percentages in the sport. Heā€™s coming off a one-sided decision over Alex Martin this past March in Los Angeles, his first fight outside Europe.

[lawrence-related id=31861,28835,22372]

Vergil Ortiz says his KO streak could give people wrong idea about him

Vergil Ortiz says that his knockout streak could give people the wrong idea about him.

Vergil Ortiz doesnā€™t care much about getting knockouts.

Stoppages are nice, they build fanbases, but the welterweight contender is focused more on winning fights and targeting the best potential opponents in one of the sportā€™s glamour divisions.

And there are drawbacks to stopping all 18 of your opponents, as Ortiz has done. People start to think of you as a slugger, a guy who evidently relies primarily on his unusual punching power to succeed.

Ortiz believes he brings more than the ability to stop opponents to the table.

ā€œEveryone wants to do as good as possible in their fights,ā€ said the Texan, who faces Michael McKinson on Saturday in Fort Worth (DAZN). ā€œAnd thatā€™s usually with a knockout. As far as being concerned about keeping [the KO streak] alive? Iā€™m not going to lie, I really donā€™t care.

ā€œItā€™s a good thing. Iā€™m grateful for having it; Iā€™m kind of known for that. [But] itā€™s kind of a blessing and a cruse at the same time. Itā€™s just like a lot of people now only see me as some reckless punching machine that only goes in for the knockout, who canā€™t think.

ā€œā€¦ Thatā€™s not the kind of fighter I am. If anything, a lot of my knockouts have come from me actually thinking and exploiting their weaknesses and stuff like that. Iā€™m not really worried about getting a knockout in this fight or not.ā€

Ortiz was scheduled to fight McKinson (22-0, 2 KOs) in January but Ortiz had to pull out after contracting a condition in which his muscle fibers break down and release a damaging protein into his blood stream, which can result from extreme exercise.

He has recovered and is eager to get back into the ring, both to continue his pursuit of his dreams and demonstrate again to his doubters that heā€™s the genuine article.

ā€œThereā€™s been a lot of people doubting me,ā€ he said. ā€œI feel thatā€™s really stupid of them because if thereā€™s one thing Iā€™m good at doing ā€“ and itā€™s probably the only thing Iā€™m good at doing ā€“ itā€™s boxing. Itā€™s not like [the criticism] bothers me but it does bother me, that people are doubting.

ā€œIā€™m just going to have to show them, I guess. What else can I do? Iā€™m not going to talk to every heckler on Twitter and Instagram. Iā€™m going to box.ā€

[lawrence-related id=31787,28835,22372]

Vergil Ortiz says his KO streak could give people wrong idea about him

Vergil Ortiz says that his knockout streak could give people the wrong idea about him.

Vergil Ortiz doesnā€™t care much about getting knockouts.

Stoppages are nice, they build fanbases, but the welterweight contender is focused more on winning fights and targeting the best potential opponents in one of the sportā€™s glamour divisions.

And there are drawbacks to stopping all 18 of your opponents, as Ortiz has done. People start to think of you as a slugger, a guy who evidently relies primarily on his unusual punching power to succeed.

Ortiz believes he brings more than the ability to stop opponents to the table.

ā€œEveryone wants to do as good as possible in their fights,ā€ said the Texan, who faces Michael McKinson on Saturday in Fort Worth (DAZN). ā€œAnd thatā€™s usually with a knockout. As far as being concerned about keeping [the KO streak] alive? Iā€™m not going to lie, I really donā€™t care.

ā€œItā€™s a good thing. Iā€™m grateful for having it; Iā€™m kind of known for that. [But] itā€™s kind of a blessing and a cruse at the same time. Itā€™s just like a lot of people now only see me as some reckless punching machine that only goes in for the knockout, who canā€™t think.

ā€œā€¦ Thatā€™s not the kind of fighter I am. If anything, a lot of my knockouts have come from me actually thinking and exploiting their weaknesses and stuff like that. Iā€™m not really worried about getting a knockout in this fight or not.ā€

Ortiz was scheduled to fight McKinson (22-0, 2 KOs) in January but Ortiz had to pull out after contracting a condition in which his muscle fibers break down and release a damaging protein into his blood stream, which can result from extreme exercise.

He has recovered and is eager to get back into the ring, both to continue his pursuit of his dreams and demonstrate again to his doubters that heā€™s the genuine article.

ā€œThereā€™s been a lot of people doubting me,ā€ he said. ā€œI feel thatā€™s really stupid of them because if thereā€™s one thing Iā€™m good at doing ā€“ and itā€™s probably the only thing Iā€™m good at doing ā€“ itā€™s boxing. Itā€™s not like [the criticism] bothers me but it does bother me, that people are doubting.

ā€œIā€™m just going to have to show them, I guess. What else can I do? Iā€™m not going to talk to every heckler on Twitter and Instagram. Iā€™m going to box.ā€

[lawrence-related id=31787,28835,22372]

Fight Week: Vergil Ortiz returns to action against Michael McKinson

Fight Week: Vergil Ortiz will return to action against Michael McKinson on Saturday in Forth Worth, Texas, Ortiz’s home state.

FIGHT WEEK

Welterweight contender Vergil Ortiz will take on Michael McKinson of the U.K. on Saturday in Forth Worth, Texas, Ortiz’s home state.

VERGIL ORTIZ (18-0, 18 KOS) VS. MICHAEL MCKINSON (22-0, 2 KOS)

  • When: Saturday, Aug. 6
  • Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Dickies Arena, Fort Worth, Texas
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Welterweight (147 pounds)
  • Rounds: 12
  • At stake: No major titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: Ortiz 10-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card:Ā Marlen Esparza vs. Eva Guzman, flyweights (for Esparzaā€™s WBA and WBC titles); Maurice Hooker vs. Blair Cobbs, welterweights; Bektemir Melikuziev vs. Sladan Janjanin, super middleweights; Alex Martin vs. Henry Lundy, junior welterweights
  • Prediction: Ortiz KO 10
  • Background: The Ortiz-McKinson fight was scheduled to take place in March but was postponed after Ortiz pulled out because of illness. The 24-year-old slugger from Dallas is now healthy and ready to resume his pursuit of a shot at a 147-pound title. He has stopped all 18 of his opponents, the most recent being capable Egidijus Kavaliauskas in eight rounds in August of last year. No fighter has gone past eight rounds with Ortiz, who is ranked in the Top 3 by all four major sanctioning bodies, No. 1 by the WBA and WBO. He hopes that status will lead to a title fight sooner rather than later. McKinson is unbeaten but has faced no one with ability comparable to Ortiz. The 28-year-old Englishman is a good, experienced boxer but, with two stoppages in 22 fights, he has one of the lowest knockout percentages in the sport. Heā€™s coming off a one-sided decision over Alex Martin this past March in Los Angeles, his first fight outside Europe.

 

ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK

THURSDAY

  • Callum Walsh vs. Benjamin Whitaker, junior middleweights, Montebello, California (UFC Fight Pass).

FRIDAY

  • Antonio Moran vs. Michael Dutchover, junior welterweights, Plant City, Florida (ProBoxTV).

SATURDAY

  • Michael Conlan vs. Miguel Marriaga, featherweights, Belfast, Northern Ireland (ESPN+).

Fight Week: Vergil Ortiz returns to action against Michael McKinson

Fight Week: Vergil Ortiz will return to action against Michael McKinson on Saturday in Forth Worth, Texas, Ortiz’s home state.

FIGHT WEEK

Welterweight contender Vergil Ortiz will take on Michael McKinson of the U.K. on Saturday in Forth Worth, Texas, Ortiz’s home state.

VERGIL ORTIZ (18-0, 18 KOS) VS. MICHAEL MCKINSON (22-0, 2 KOS)

  • When: Saturday, Aug. 6
  • Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Dickies Arena, Fort Worth, Texas
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Welterweight (147 pounds)
  • Rounds: 12
  • At stake: No major titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: Ortiz 10-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card:Ā Marlen Esparza vs. Eva Guzman, flyweights (for Esparzaā€™s WBA and WBC titles); Maurice Hooker vs. Blair Cobbs, welterweights; Bektemir Melikuziev vs. Sladan Janjanin, super middleweights; Alex Martin vs. Henry Lundy, junior welterweights
  • Prediction: Ortiz KO 10
  • Background: The Ortiz-McKinson fight was scheduled to take place in March but was postponed after Ortiz pulled out because of illness. The 24-year-old slugger from Dallas is now healthy and ready to resume his pursuit of a shot at a 147-pound title. He has stopped all 18 of his opponents, the most recent being capable Egidijus Kavaliauskas in eight rounds in August of last year. No fighter has gone past eight rounds with Ortiz, who is ranked in the Top 3 by all four major sanctioning bodies, No. 1 by the WBA and WBO. He hopes that status will lead to a title fight sooner rather than later. McKinson is unbeaten but has faced no one with ability comparable to Ortiz. The 28-year-old Englishman is a good, experienced boxer but, with two stoppages in 22 fights, he has one of the lowest knockout percentages in the sport. Heā€™s coming off a one-sided decision over Alex Martin this past March in Los Angeles, his first fight outside Europe.

 

ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK

THURSDAY

  • Callum Walsh vs. Benjamin Whitaker, junior middleweights, Montebello, California (UFC Fight Pass).

FRIDAY

  • Antonio Moran vs. Michael Dutchover, junior welterweights, Plant City, Florida (ProBoxTV).

SATURDAY

  • Michael Conlan vs. Miguel Marriaga, featherweights, Belfast, Northern Ireland (ESPN+).