Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Michael McKinson | DAZN - 6 August 2022

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Tickets for Ortiz Jr. vs. McKinson go on sale Tuesday, June 21 at 8:00 a.m. PT / 10:00 a.m CT / 11:00 a.m. ET is priced at $275, $137.50, $82.50, and $44, not including applicable service charges. Tickets will be available online at Ticketmaster.com, DickiesArena.com, and GoldenBoyPromotions.com.

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Press Release | Esparza vs. Guzman, Hooker vs. Cobbs Added

Newly crowned WBC, WBA flyweight world champion Marlen Esparza (12-1, 1 KOs) of Houston, TX, is set to defend her world titles for the first time against her mandatory, former WBA interim-flyweight world champion Eva “La Ley” Guzman (19-1, 11KOs) from Maracay, Venezuela on Saturday, August 6 at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, TX.

The 12-round flyweight event will serve as the co-main event for Vergil Ortiz, Jr. vs. Michael McKinson.

Also, on the card, Dallas, TX fan favorite Maurice "Might Mo" Hooker (27-2-3, 18 KOs) will face Blair “The Flair” Cobbs (15-1-1, 10 KOs) of Philadelphia, PA, in a 10-round welterweight fight. Opening the DAZN stream, Bektemir “The Bully” Melikuziev (9-1, 7 KOs) of Indio, CA, will take on Sladan “The Miner” Janjanin (32-10, 24 KOs) of Boston, MA in an 8-round super middleweight event. All fights will stream live worldwide, exclusively on DAZN starting at 5:00 p.m. PT / 7:00 p.m. CT / 8:00 p.m. ET.

Also on the card and part of The Golden Boy Fight Night: Ortiz Jr. vs. McKinson Prelims on DAZN and the Golden Boy Boxing YouTube page, Alex “Chi Town Heat” Martin (17-4, 6 KOs) returns to the ring against the battle-tested warrior Henry “Hank” Lundy (31-10-1, 14 KOs). The 10-round super lightweight fight will be part of the preliminary bouts ahead of the DAZN broadcast hosted by Golden Fight Night’s Beto Duran and Texas rising boxing star Alex Rincon. Additional fights on the card will be announced shortly.

“I am ready for Eva Guzman. Mandatory defense or title fight, all fights are serious business for me!” said Marlen Esparza.

“This is the opportunity I have been waiting for to prove I am the best,” said Eva Guzman. “After this victory, the whole world will know I am the most dangerous fighter at 112lbs.”

“Im ready to show the world I’m still a warrior,” said Maurice Hooker. “I’m ready to give them a fight they will always remember.”

“Blair the Flair is saying absolutely nothing. See you August 6,” said Blair Cobbs.

“It’s been a long time in training camp, the opponents pulled out, the dates rescheduled, so I am happy to finally have a fight and step back in the ring on August 6 on a big Golden Boy show,” said Bektemir Melikuziev.

Marlen Esparza was born to make history in boxing. Born in Houston, Texas, Marlen Esparza began her boxing career at 12 years old after growing up in a household that loved the sport. In May 2012, Esparza became the first American woman to qualify to compete in the 2012 Olympics in London, the first year that women’s boxing made its debut as an Olympic event. She would win the bronze medal in the women’s flyweight division. In 2017, Esparza became the first female fighter signed by Golden Boy Promotions.

In 2021, Esparza had a successful year, with a unanimous decision victory against Ibeth Zamora Silva for the WBC Flyweight World Championship and successfully defended her new world championship title against former world champion Anabel “Avispa” Ortiz. On April 9, as part of the undercard of Ryan Garcia vs. Emmanuel Tagoe, Esparza faced her toughest challenge to date, taking on five-division world champion Naoko Fujioka. The fight pitted the #1 vs. #2 in the female flyweight division, granting them the honor of fighting for the first-ever Ring Magazine Female Flyweight World Championship. After 10-rounds of non-stop action from two of the mightiest female fighters in the flyweight division, the judges ruled in favor of Esparza unanimously, crowning her the new WBC, WBA champion.

An accomplished fighter since her professional debut in 2015, Eva Guzman has rapidly risen the ranks to a world championship by defeating some of the toughest fighters in the division. Her first big test came in 2018 when she faced Yaditza Perez for the IBA World Minimumweight World Championship. In 2021, she earned the most significant accomplishment in her career thus far, moving up in weight and fighting in Mexico for the first time against Isabel Millan to claim the crown as the WBA’s newest Interim Flyweight World Champion. The new title had also earned her the honor of becoming the new mandatory to fight Marlen Esparza for the WBA Flyweight World Championship, something she has dreamed of becoming since her professional debut.

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Fight Week!

[black panther]

I think McKinson has a real chance here. I'll give more of an opinion once I get a chance to rewatch a couple of their fights but off memory I think McKinson can win this

You can get 8-1 on Mckinson.

Personally don't think he has much chance. He might fiddle Ortiz around for a few rounds but Ortiz will eventually get to him. Despite his attacking style, Ortiz is a smarter boxer than one would initially think. He'll use different angles and deft footwork to manoeuvre around Mckinson wide stance, give him angles and will chop him down.

[PredatorHayds]

I can’t see past an Ortiz Jr KO. I don’t think McKinson has the power to keep him off.

[Coco]

I think McKinson has a real chance here. I'll give more of an opinion once I get a chance to rewatch a couple of their fights but off memory I think McKinson can win this

You can get 8-1 on Mckinson.

Personally don't think he has much chance. He might fiddle Ortiz around for a few rounds but Ortiz will eventually get to him. Despite his attacking style, Ortiz is a smarter boxer than one would initially think. He'll use different angles and deft footwork to manoeuvre around Mckinson wide stance, give him angles and will chop him down.

Good value though

[Glass Joe]

If McKinson can get to round 6 I give him a good chance. Would imagine Ortiz will be looking for an early win. Mckinson chin hasnt really been tested, thou I remember him being hurt for a moment in his fight against non puncher Kongo.

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[margaret thatcher]

I think McKinson has a real chance here. I'll give more of an opinion once I get a chance to rewatch a couple of their fights but off memory I think McKinson can win this

drop some dough on him bruh

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Vergil Ortiz-Michael McKinson Now Sanctioned As WBA Welterweight Title Eliminator

Golden Boy Promotions has taken additional measures to ensure that a world title fight is within reach for Vergil Ortiz.

The stakes have been raised for the rescheduled clash between Ortiz and England’s Michael McKinson. The winner of Saturday’s DAZN main event will be named the mandatory challenger to the WBA welterweight title, Golden Boy Promotions confirmed Thursday.

“It feels good,” Ortiz said of the development during Thursday’s final pre-fight press conference at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, where his clasnh with McKinson takes place this Saturday. “Of course, I have to get past Michael on Saturday.

“We’re not going to look past him but I’m very grateful for this fight being an eliminator.”

Ortiz (18-0, 18KOs) is already the number-one contender for both the WBA and WBO, as well as number-two with the WBC and number-three in the most recent IBF rankings. McKinson (22-0, 2KOs) is ranked number-ten by the WBA and number-five by the WBO, though rewarded with his willingness to revisit business with the unbeaten Texan.

“Fuel added to the fire,” insisted McKinson. “Very motivating. I’m very focused. This is just like the cherry on top of the cake.”

The development comes as talks are ongoing for an undisputed welterweight championship clash between WBA/WBC/IBF champ Errol Spence (28-0, 22KOs) and WBO titlist Terence Crawford (38-0, 29KOs). The most optimistic rumors have the potential pound-for-pound showdown taking place in November, though a growing list already awaits the winner.

Philadelphia-bred rising star Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis (29-0, 27KOs) is the number-one contender as named by the IBF. Lithuania’s Eimantas Stanionis (14-0, 9KOs) is the secondary WBA ‘World’ welterweight titlist and owed a shot at Spence’s WBA ‘Super’ title, though willing to wait out Spence-Crawford talks and likely to land a title defense in the interim should that superfight materialize.

Interestingly, a win by Ortiz could position him to next face Stanionis for the WBA ‘World’ title. Stanionis is promoted by Richard Schaefer, who used to run Golden Boy Promotions before being forced to resign from the California-based outfit in 2014.

Ortiz and McKinson were due to collide on March 19 in Los Angeles. The bout fell through just ahead of fight week, when Ortiz was forced to withdraw after being hospitalized and treated for rhabdomyolysis.

McKinson went through with his U.S. debut, outpointing Alex Martin. The British southpaw managed to once again land the fight with Ortiz once plans went south for the unbeaten Grand Prairie, Texas native to face David Avanesyan in what would have been a WBC final title eliminator.

Ortiz fights for the third straight time in his home region, and twice in this venue during that stretch.

The 24-year-old contender faced Dallas’ Maurice Hooker (who faces Blair Cobbs on Saturday’s undercard) at Dickies Arena last March, scoring a seventh-round knockout which was his second deepest fight to that point in his career. It was surpassed one fight later, when he stopped former title challenger Egidijus Kavailauskas in the eighth round of their DAZN headliner last August 14 in nearby Frisco, Texas.

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[gregregegg]

This fight is being massively slept on. Both look fit.

I assume Ortiz will be able to just power through mcinson, but if he can’t it’s gunna be a tricky night. Keen as fuk to see how it plays out.

[Glass Joe]

what time should i set my alarm for?

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Date: Saturday August 6, 2022
Location: Dickies Arena - Fort Worth, TX
TV/Stream: DAZN

Start Times
DAZN: 5 pm ET |2 pm PT | 10 pm BST (Preliminary Card)
DAZN: 9 pm ET | 6 pm PT | 2 am BST (Main Card)

Promoted by: Golden Boy Promotions & Matchroom Boxing

Main Card

12 Round WBA Eliminator Welterweight Bout
Vergil Ortiz Jr vs. Michael McKinson

Unified WBC and WBA flyweight Championship
Marlen Esparza vs. Eva Guzman

10 Round Welterweight Bout
Maurice Hooker vs. Blair Cobbs

8 Round Super Middleweight Bout
Bektemir Melikuziev vs. Sladan Janjanin

Undercard

10 Round Super Lightweight Bout
Alex Martin vs. Henry Lundy

8 Round Super Featherweight Bout
Floyd Schofield vs. Rodrigo Guerrero

4 Round Bantamweight Bout
Figo Ramirez Gonzalez vs. Francisco Bonilla Zambrano

8 Round Super Lightweight Bout
Rohan Polanco vs. Dedrick Bell

6 Round Lightweight Bout
Carlos Nava vs. Rodolfo Hernandez Montoya

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Prelims have begun

[CaptainSpacerod]

Fun weigh in, Oscar was having a ball.

How would McK do against Benn ?

[margaret thatcher]

blair cobbs vs benn?

[Glass Joe]

Im up good timing, either Mckinson pts or Ortiz early Ko.

[margaret thatcher]

lol, ortiz has a guy in his corner who looks exactly like mick

[margaret thatcher]

great little start for mick here, outboxing ort and cut him

[margaret thatcher]

now mick taking some leather here in the third, think virg will get to him eventually, too much fire power

[margaret thatcher]

ortiz giving him a bit of a pasting now. mick's style not confusing him any more, becoming 1 way stuff

[margaret thatcher]

mick down in the 8th from body shot, dropped again and stopped in 9th

was competittive in the first 2 rounds, but after that pretty much ortiz in control. mick did prove somewhat tricky and hence able to last as long as he did. ortiz isnt hard to hit and marks up, but in addition to those heavy hands he has a big gas tank and can really dig those shots round after round

for me ortiz is the #4 best at welter after spence, craw, and boots. those guys all just a bit more polished defensively imo

[Shambles]

Mick did well at times, his spinning off and movement worked well but if you dont have power then at some point this kid will get to you.

Talk of Ortiz v Crawford is silly. Crawford would box him senseless and eventually overwhelm him. I'd love to see it though. Crawford is an excellent technician and it would be great to see him take apart a limited power puncher.