Press Release
ndefeated knockout sensation, Vergil Ortiz Jr. (18-0, 18 KOs), of Grand Prairie, Texas will make his grand return to Los Angeles, when he faces off against the #3 WBO ranked, undefeated welterweight Michael “The Problem” McKinson (21-0, 2 KOs) of Portsmouth, Great Britain. The 12-round fight for the WBO International Welterweight title will take place at University of Southern California’s Galen Center in Downtown Los Angeles, on Saturday, March 19 and will stream live exclusively on DAZN (worldwide).
“I am excited to return to Los Angeles, my home away from home,” said Vergil Ortiz, Jr. “I have been training in Southern California for my entire career and can’t wait to put on a big show for all my SoCal fans. I am taking on an undefeated, world-ranked opponent in McKinson, but I am ready to show the world that I belong at the top of the division and am ready for a world championship title shot.”
“Firstly, I want to thank everyone behind securing me this opportunity,” said Michael McKinson. “It’s an opportunity of a lifetime and I can’t wait to take America by storm. Vergil Ortiz, Jr. is an unbelievable talent that’s captured the eyes of everyone, but I’m about to come with a whole new box of problems. This fight changes my life, but winning this changes my future. This is huge for me, my family and everyone around me, I’ll give it everything.”
With a perfect knockout record, Vergil Ortiz Jr. has rapidly climbed the ranks of the welterweight division. He was most recently seen in an entertaining and fantastic TKO victory against the tough, world title contender Egidijus “Mean Machine” Kavaliauskas in August 2021. The 23-year-old has had an exciting career since his 2016 debut, knocking out contenders like Antonio “Relentless” Orozco, Brad “King” Solomon, and Maurice “Mighty Mo” Hooker. On March 19, Ortiz, Jr. will be looking to keep his title, undefeated record, and #1 ranking when he faces Michael McKinson at USC’s Galen Center.
Ranked #3 in the welterweight division by the WBO, Michael McKinson is an undefeated fighter ready to put his undefeated record on the line to prove he has what it takes to take over the #1 position in the division. Hailing from Portsmouth, Great Britain, the 27-year-old has had an active career capturing titles including the WBC International Silver Welter Title and the WBO European and Global Welter titles. Now, fighting in the U.S. for the first time, McKinson will be looking to claim the WBO Intercontinental Welterweight title from Vergil Ortiz, Jr. on March 19.
“Vergil Ortiz, Jr. is one of the most exciting welterweights to watch in the sport today,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy. “Since his professional debut, Vergil put the world on notice with his incredible punching power. Now, undefeated, with a perfect knockout record, Vergil is ready to fight against the elite in the division starting with the world ranked Michael McKinson.”
“I am so pleased to be able to deliver this fight for Michael – it really is a life-changing opportunity in so many ways,” said Eddie Hearn, Managing Director, Matchroom Sport. “Michael has got the style to beat Vergil, who for me is already a top five Welterweight in the world, a brilliant and powerful fighter. There’s only certain styles that can beat him, and Michael has a style to cause Vergil all sorts of problems. The money is always important as it’s a tough sport and you have to make every penny you can, but if Michael beats Vergil, he goes on to make multi-million-dollar purses.”
RISING STARS ALEXIS ROCHA AND BLAIR COBBS FACE-OFF AS THE CO-MAIN EVENT FOR ORTIZ, JR. VS. MCKINSON
Orange County’s rising star, Alexis “Lex” Rocha (18-1, 12 KOs) of Santa Ana, CA will take on Philadelphia’s Blair “The Flair” Cobbs (15-0-1, 10 KOs) as the co-main event to Vergil Ortiz, Jr. vs. Michael McKinson on Saturday, March 19. The duo will face off in a West Coast vs. East Coast, career-defining, 10-round welterweight battle at the University of Southern California’s Galen Center in Downtown Los Angeles and will be streamed live, worldwide, on DAZN.
“I know what is expected of me at this stage of my career; I’m expected to knock people out,” said Alexis Rocha. “I own and embrace that expectation. I know Blair and have watched him develop. He’s a good fighter, but I am confident I will win in explosive fashion. He’s a southpaw and I’ve sparred with the best southpaws in the world, from Pacquiao to Josh Taylor. I’m ready for this fight.”
“This is my moment to prove that I am a fighter to be feared in the welterweight division,” said Blair Cobbs. “I am ready for this challenge and can assure all my West Coast and East Coast fans that I am here to win and make a name for myself.”
“Both Alexis and Blair are shining stars in the Golden Boy stable,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy. “They have grown up here, we have developed their careers, and now they are ready for the next big challenge in their boxing careers. I am excited to see what they will both do in the ring and feel that on March 19th we will see a new star emerge.”
After a strong performance and knockout victory over Jeovanis Barraza on the undercard of Munguia vs. Rosado at the Honda Center in November 2021; Alexis “Lex” Rocha is ready to continue his winning streak. A victory over Blair Cobbs could be the career-defining opportunity Rocha has been waiting for to prove he has what it takes to climb the elite ranks of the welterweight division. This wouldn’t be the first challenge the Southern California native has faced. He has successfully defeated tough competitors, including James Bacon, Berlin Abreu, Roberto Valenzuela Jr., and Brad Solomon.
One of the most popular fighters to come out of Freddie Roach’s stable at Westside Boxing Club, Blair “The Flair” Cobbs, was last seen in a spectacular fifth-round TKO victory over the seasoned Brad Solomon in El Paso, TX, in June 2021. Undefeated in his career, except for a draw early on in 2018, Cobbs is no stranger to adversity as he has taken on and defeated tough opposition like Ferdinand Kerovyan, Estevan Villalobos, and Samuel Kotey Neequaye. Now, the undefeated welterweight is ready for the next stage of his career as he faces the fan-favorite Alexis Rocha on March 19.
Tickets for the event are on sale now and are priced at $150, $75, $50 and $25 not including applicable service charges. Tickets will be available for purchase at
www.galencenter.org or
www.goldenboypromotions.com. Please note that LADPH guidelines and other protocols relating to admission requirements will be in place for this event, which include that all guests age 2 and older will have to provide proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result within 24 hours for an antigen test or 48 hours for a PCR test.
Ortiz Jr. vs. McKinson is a 12-round fight for the WBO International Welterweight Title presented by Golden Boy in association with Matchroom Boxing. The event is sponsored by Hennessy “Never Stop. Never Settle” and “BetOnline – Your Online Sportsbook Experts.” The fight will take place on Saturday, March 19 at Galen Center in Los Angeles, and will be streamed live worldwide on DAZN.
