If Ortiz marches forward too straight or becomes too readable with his pressure, and has the toolbox to turn him, tag him, and make him pay before he can gather himself. Boots doesn’t have to sit and trade with Virgil. He can box him, frustrate him, and then punish him the moment openings appear. So, the way Kellerman and Bradley see it, Ortiz’s power keeps the fight dangerous, but Boots’s skill, speed, and variety could be the difference between them.
He’s got to clean these guys up at 54. There’s nothing at 54 that’s like, “Oh my god, that’s like, for example, when Shane Mosley moved up to welterweight, Oscar De La Hoya in his prime is standing there.” There’s no one like that at 54. The only guy who has a chance to be like that is Boots. That’s the dude who’s supposed to DO IT.
AND IF YOU’RE a a super fighter and you’re in a division with really good fight, all divisions have good fighters, but regular good fighters, you’re supposed to clean those guys up. >> On the flip side, Robert Garcia pushed back hard against the notion that Boots Andis would simply run through Virgil Ortiz, and he clearly wasn’t buying that narrative.
He respects how dangerous Boots is. He understands the speed, the angles, the switch hitting, and the creativity. But from where he stands, people are acting as though Virgil is just going to plant his feet and let Boots do whatever he pleases. >> Garcia doesn’t read the fight that way at all. >> I’m going Boots number one, Fedora number two, and uh and then Virgil. Okay, Virgil.
I’m That’s >> I think that’s probably the consensus, >> but that’s off skill. But I think Virgil has the best resume. We’re gonna reveal We are gonna reveal the 154 resume a little bit like sorry resume list later on in the show. The new ring magazine rankings later on in the show. One, two, three. >> I’m doing this off of resume, not off who I think is the best pound-for-pound or whatever.
Boots number one, Fedora 2, Virgil 3. >> I got Virgil one, Boots two, Fedora 3. >> Okay. >> Boots one, Virgil, and Fedora two or three, whatever order you want to put them in. I I think Boots has the T. I think here’s the best case scenario for Boots. >> Here’s the best case scenario for Boots. Boots is like in a way to me a version of Zab Judah in the sense that in the sense that he is so physically talented.
He’s faster than everyone. He hits harder than everyone. He wants to smoke. That’s a >> but he has certain vulnerabilities underneath the surface level. And you want to know how deep is his bag if the going gets rough against another super fighter. >> He’s convinced Ortiz brings the pressure, the power, the chin, and the toughness needed to make boots genuinely uncomfortable.
If Andis tries to get too fancy or lingers in the pocket a beat too long, Virgil is exactly the type who’ll punish that mistake in a flash. That’s why Garcia argued so firmly. In his view, this is nowhere near a simple styles matchup where Boots just dances circles around Virgil all night. I would probably say, you know, not just because Virgil is my fighter, but I think uh uh Boots versus Virgil is probably a bigger fight and and a bigger uh uh it could turn out to be a much better fight.
I think both of Warriors Boots just showed it. Uh and I think stylewise, >> so Garcia’s takeaway is straightforward. Boots may be gifted, but he isn’t going to breeze through Virgil the way people keep insisting. Ortiz is too strong, too dangerous, and far too driven to be written off as an easy night’s work.
>> I have I have on the same weight division. So, so obviously obviously we we have to also push for that, you know, cuz I do I I I believe Virgil >> Oscar de la Hoya even threw his weight behind Virgil Ortiz as the next name for Jiren Enis and his stance was blunt. If Boots keeps saying he wants the biggest fights available, then Virgil Ortiz is standing right in front of him.
He’s not a soft touch. He’s not a safe pick and he’s not someone and can afford to overlook. Ortiz shows up with real pressure, real power, and the kind of threat that can spin one error into complete disaster. That’s why De La Hoya is championing the fight so aggressively. From his perspective, boots against Virgil is precisely the kind of matchup the sport is craving right now.
Two unbeaten fighters, two hazardous styles, and both men chasing the claim of being the division’s future. So, the spotlight swings straight back onto Boots and his camp. If Enis truly wants to prove he’s the top dog at 154 de La Hoya believes Virgil Ortiz is the fight that settles it. >> Boots wants to fight Virgil, he’s going to say no to the Fondora fight and fight Virgil.
It’s not it’s not up to us right now. You know, Boots just became champion. He’s a unified champion. So So he’s got the choice. It’s going to be him, you know. Does he want to fight Fondora or does he want to fight Virgil? You know, uh I think I think it’s not about us, you know. Uh unless Oscar de la Hoya presents him with a with an offer that he can’t refuse, then it might make a difference.
But but uh right now it’s going to be up to Boots. It’s whatever he wants. If he wants to uh fight Virgil, then the fight’s there. I think I I I don’t I don’t want to we don’t want to stay busy fight. We don’t want a comeback fight. We want Virgil to go straight into the Boots fight. If Boots wants Virgil, then then he could say no to Fondora and I want to fight Virgil.
But if he picks Fondora, it’s also a unification fight. So, I’m not I’m not blaming him, but he probably knows that maybe it might be it might be a little more riskier fighting fighting Virgil. So, uh so you know, it’s going to be up to Boots. It’s not it’s not up to us pressuring or forcing that fight. It’s going to be up to >> then Eddie Hearn began turning up the heat on Virgil Ortiz and his message left no room for confusion.
If Virgil genuinely wants Boots and then he should sign to face him next. Hearn framed it so that Boots is clearly not the one dodging the challenge. From his side, Andis already showed he was willing to take the fight once before. And now, after stopping Xander Zeas, the calls have only grown louder. So, Hearn essentially redirected the pressure right back at Virgil and his team.
Bennis, what a great fight. You are a machine. Zas, a little inexperienced, but you will be back. You’re a great fighter. Let’s make the biggest fight in boxing today. Virgil Ortiz boots. Let’s go. It’s a compelling angle because Ortiz has been talking with real confidence, claiming he can hurt Boots and even put him to sleep.
But Hearn’s counter is simple. Talking is one thing and putting your name on the contract is another entirely. If Virgil truly believes Boots is flawed, if he really thinks he can knock him out, then this is the moment to back it up. So now the discussion turns serious. Boots is carrying himself like a fighter hunting big names and titles while Hearn is daring Virgil to step through the ropes and turn all those words into action.
>> He was holding a little bit, but he was sitting in a pocket and fighting back. You can’t necessarily do that against every style. So maybe if he fights Pandora, someone else or Virgil, maybe he’ll fight a little bit more of a smart fight. I don’t know if he respects their power a little bit more. I have no idea.
But one thing I know is when when I sit down to watch Shabboot and his fight, I don’t really have any fears or doubts that he’s going to lose. And I did for about 20 or 30 seconds, but other than that, you know, it was a a fantastic performance. That is what makes the taunt in >> Gary Antoan Russell leans in the direction of Boots taking that fight.
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He gets why Ortiz is dangerous. Virgil brings pressure, power, and toughness, and he can turn any bout uncomfortable once he settles into rhythm. He isn’t the sword who backs away easily and if Boots hands him too many openings, Virgil is capable of making him pay for it. >> Going back to the comments, you know, someone said, “Ask Virgil Ortiz if he’ll take the fight next because I don’t think he will.
” And I’d be very surprised because and by the way, I don’t necessarily blame him because he has been out. When was the Lubin fight? I don’t know. >> November. >> November last year. Yeah. >> So, you know, what we now 9 months, 8 month, you know, 9 months time he gets in the ring again won’t be till September, October. It’ll be nearly a year since he’s boxed.
Are you going to go straight into Geron Bennis? If you are, let’s talk. But realistically, I don’t think you are. I think you’re going to come back and you’re going to go, “Oh, I want one more fight.” And then, which is fine, but And by the way, we’re also not going to sit here and go, “We’re the champion now. He’s a voluntary defense.
15% for a voluntary defense like you’ve seen Haney and all these people do. It’s like so boring. It’s a massive fight. Massive fight. And I can’t sit there and tell you that we shouldn’t do that fight when I spent 6 months telling you how much we need that fight and boxing needs that fight. So we must make Boots against Ortiz.
Still, Russell believes Boots holds more routes to victory, pointing to the speed, the size, the switch hitting, the angles, and the inventive punch selection that lets run the fight when he stays locked in. Boots can operate from the outside counter as Virgil steps forward, spin him with angles, and force him to reset before he ever fully builds his pressure.
Now, Virgil Ortiz, right, he comes out and says that he would sleep boots. You know, now he’s he’s talking about Xander quit. Do you feel like Xander quit in the fight? >> I feel like Xander technically, yeah, he quit it. He made He made He made a responsible decision. He made a responsible decision. You know what I mean? Uh, no one is in there fighting for you.
The fans, of course, they going to always enjoy a juicy fight. Whether you got a black eye and your retina is is damaged and you can’t see no more after you fight, they not the ones that’s going to be paying your bills. They’re not the they not going to be taking care of their the personal family, you know.
So, I feel like as a young fighter, he just made the responsible decision. You know, he was hurt. He got hurt multiple times. >> That’s what makes Russell’s pick up. He isn’t calling Ortiz an easy assignment. He’s saying Boots owns the deeper skill set. Ifis fights with discipline and refuses to get too comfortable. Russell thinks he can dictate the tempo, frustrate Virgil, and gradually pull the fight away from him.
So, in Russell’s mind, Ortiz is dangerous, yet Boots has everything needed to beat him. >> Feel like it’s a bigger test for Boots, the the 6’4 tower inferno, Sebastian Fondor, or a Virgil Ortiz. >> Fur hands down. hands down. He would have to punch up for one, for two, Boots, he really have to go chase his man down.
It’s always like uh they even the same height. The styles make a way as though they just like in the center pocket middle of the ring and they just going like skill for skill, you know what I mean? With this 7 78 tall guy, he like 7 foot8. He’s not about to stand there. He He might He might, you know, but Boots is really going to have to show a different side of his ability.
He gonna have to walk forward. He’s going to have to move his head a lot more. Not just be defensive disciplined, but he’s going to have to work in between. He going to have to be defensive and offensively equally as good. >> From boxing ego’s point of view, Boots carries the sharper skill set. He can flip stances, shift angles, counter, and build offense in ways that make him tough to read.
But he also flagged the genuine danger Ortiz presents. Virgil isn’t showing up simply to box. He’s coming with pressure, power, and the kind of physical style that can punish Boots the second Enis gets too relaxed. That’s why boxing ego didn’t treat this like a walkover. Boots may be the more gifted man, but Virgil owns the power to swing the fight in an instant.
If Andis stays disciplined, leans on his movement, and keeps Virgil constantly turning, he can steer the matchup. But if he sits in the pocket too long or starts playing around, Virgil is more than capable of making him regret it. >> But honestly, I feel like he would clean Virgil up. Now, I’m not taking nothing away from Virgu Ortiz.
He’s a great fighter. Sound, very sound, and honestly, if he keep going in the path he’s going, he’ll be a knockout artist. But I don’t think >> Zabj Judah also offered his read on Jiren Enis versus Virgil Ortiz. And his opinion carries weight coming from a man who understands speed, timing, and southpaw rhythm at the very highest level.
Judah recognizes that Virgil is dangerous. Armed with power, pressure, and the toughness to drag anyone into rough patches. But when he studies boots, he sees a fighter with more dimensions. And can punch from different angles while switching, counter right in the heart of exchanges, and make opponents flinch before they’re even set.
That’s why Judah tilts toward Boots, holding the edge. Virgil can make things nasty once he closes the distance. But Boots has the equipment to keep spinning him, touching him, and forcing constant resets. If stays disciplined and avoids getting comfortable, Judah believes his speed and variety can run the fight. >> Gets knocked out if he faces Virgil Ortiz.
This is what Virgil Ortiz is saying after Geron Boo Inis became a champion by defeating unified Xander Zas. >> Zab Judah G. >> Coach Breadman also gave his assessment of Jiren Andis versus Virgil Ortiz and he didn’t soften it. His argument wasn’t that Boots lacks talent. His argument was that talent only means something once it’s proven against the right opposition.
Breadman understands why people are so excited about Boots. Andis has the speed, size, switch hitting, power, angles, and punch variety that make him look genuinely special. When he’s in rhythm, he can make solid fighters look ordinary. He changes stances, digs to the body, returns upstairs, and creates offense without ever forcing it.
Which is why so many people believe he can become one of the best in the sport. But Breadman’s point is that looking special no longer cuts it. Sooner or later, Boots has to share the ring with the real killers in his division to validate his worth. And that’s exactly where Virgil Ortiz enters the picture.
Virgil is precisely the kind of fighter who can answer the lingering questions about boots. He brings pressure, power, toughness, and a style that never lets you breathe. He won’t stand back and admire Andis’s skills. He’ll drag him into a fight, force him to think, adjust, and stay disciplined every single second. That’s why Breadman views this as the exact fight Boots needs.
If beats Virgil convincingly, the entire narrative shifts. Nobody can claim he’s just talented without a resume. Nobody can say he’s gone untested by a dangerous name. A win like that would prove Boots isn’t merely hype. It would prove he can handle a legitimate threat in his prime. But if Boots sidesteps fights like this, the doubts will keep trailing him.
Fans will keep wondering when all that talent finally meets real opposition. Because in boxing, greatness isn’t constructed on skill alone. It’s built by defeating men who can genuinely hurt you, push you, and expose you. is here. Jeron Bus in his confidence is here. Next time we’re going to see a first round knockout.
We almost got it this time, but you know what I’m saying? He kind of weathered the storm. >> Be sure to check out the other videos we’ve got waiting for you on the screen. >> Boots now has to capitalize off his best career momentum. He has to fight again this year. He has to try to be the fighter of the year.
He has to fight again this year. He can’t stay out long. He has to keep this train roll. The step downs though, they can’t like I was talking to Bernie, there can’t be no step downs from here. Two time champion, two different divisions. >> Um, I agree with that. I agree with that. His team has to find him very, very good opponents.
He has to get guys like Pandora. He has to get guys like um >> Virgil. >> Virgil. He has to get guys like Josh Kelly who’s a champion.
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