Errol Spence Jr has been called out by a hard-hitting unbeaten super-welterweight contender.
‘The Truth’ has been out of the ring since he suffered the first defeat of his professional career two years ago after locking horns with Terence Crawford for the undisputed welterweight championship.
Spence was dominated by Crawford from the opening bell in their Las Vegas showdown, before he was eventually stopped in the ninth round to surrender his unified WBC, WBA and IBF world titles at 147lbs.
It was rumoured that the 35-year-old from Long Island would make his return to the ring earlier this year, although a potential bout against WBC world super-welterweight champion Sebastian Fundora did not materialise and he has been silent on the matter of a comeback since.
In an interview with the Ariel and Ade Show, unbeaten WBC ‘interim’ super-welterweight champion Vergil Ortiz Jr welcomed a showdown with Spence, as he claims it would ‘mean a lot’ for him to face the 35-year-old.
“It would mean a lot to me because I grew up with Spence. I think I first went to his gym when I was about 11 years old and we trained together for a good amount of time at Vivero Boxing Gym in Oakcliff. It would just be a cool full circle moment, I just can’t explain it because I was there. It’s just that feeling. It would mean a lot to me.
“Everyone always says Errol has a good body shot and he fights like a Mexican. People always say I fight like Errol. We came from the same gym. It’s crazy.”
Ortiz, who has 21 knockouts from 23 wins, has held the interim version of the WBC crown at 154lbs since he outpointed Ukraine’s Serhii Bohachuk last August. The 27-year-old from Texas made his return to the ring earlier this year, defeating former WBA super-welterweight champion Israil Madrimov via unanimous decision in Riyadh on February 22.
Should he fail to land a fight with Spence, Ortiz also has eyes on Jaron Ennis, who is set to enter the division soon after vacating his welterweight belts.