Rising welterweight star (up to 66.7 kg), 24-year-old American Virgil Ortiz (19-0, 19 KOs) intends to get the position of an official contender for the WBC world title, having fought against compatriot and ex-champion Keith Thurman (30-1 , 22 KOs).
The promotional company Golden Boy Promotions, representing the interests of Ortiz, sent a corresponding request to the WBC the day before, during the organization’s annual congress in Mexico. Note that Thurman occupies the first position in the world ranking of the WBC welterweight division, while Virgil is located immediately behind him. A decision on this issue should be made today.
It is noteworthy that the WBC immediately responded to the GBP request, noting that, according to their information, Ortiz is already an official challenger from the WBO. However, vice president and executive matchmaker of the company Roberto Diaz stated that he did not have a written resolution from the WBO on the appointment of Virgil.
Thus, the question of the duel of the current WBC champion American Errol Spence (28-0, 22 KOs) with Thurman, which was tentatively scheduled for December 17, is “hanging up” for now. However, it is possible that the organization will still give the fight a “green light”, and will oblige the winner to fight Ortiz.
Also during the WBC Congress, it became known that the light heavyweight champion Beterbiev faces a second mandatory defense in a row.
Source: https://vringe.com/news/160020-spens-podozhdyet-u-ortisa-zaprosili-boy-s-turmanom.htm?rand=141343
