Is Vergil Ortiz Fighting Michael McKinson Or David Avanesyan?

Conflicting Reports Emerge on Status of Vergil Ortiz vs David Avanesyan

Vergil Ortiz caught between David Avanesyan and Michael McKinson
(left to right) David Avanesyan, Vergil Ortiz, Michael McKinson | Credit: James chance/Getty Images, Golden Boy Promotions, DAZN

Team Ortiz Says McKinson is Next While Team Avanesyan Denies Fight Being Called Off


In boxing, fights are negotiated behind the scenes and fans have no idea what is going on. Moreover, they receive conflicting reports of fights either being in negotiations or completely called off. Welterweight contenders Vergil Ortiz Jr (18-0, 18KO) and David Avanesyan (29-3-1, 17KO) are experiencing such an event.

Ortiz had to step away from boxing to deal with a serious health issue, resulting in him pulling out of a fight with Michael McKinson. Things were serious to the point many questioned if he would return to boxing. The boxing community was relieved when it was reported that Ortiz was returning, and was not going to take a soft touch by facing Avanesyan on August 6.

This was good news considering that Avanesyan’s promoter, Frank Warren, had dropped the names of Conor Benn and Ortiz Jr as fights they wanted next. Furthermore, it was floating around that Avanesyan was being avoided due to the fact he’s a dangerous southpaw.

WHO SHOULD THE FANS BELIEVE?

It now seems the boxing gods are getting a kick out of playing with the fans’ emotions. It looked as if the fight was not going to happen after Ortiz’s manager, Rick Mirigian, dropped a cryptic message on social media basically claiming that McKinson is the next opponent instead.

Rick Mirigian says McKinson is stepping up to face Vergil Ortiz next

In addition, Mirigian reveaeled to Fight Freaks Unite that the fight is off and went into to detail as to why.

“This guy has been calling Vergil out, saying he can’t avoid him, begging for this shot and talking shit online. And then has sat on a contract for two weeks.”

“They agreed to the deal and then never would send the actual contract back.”

Okay, here is where things can get confusing. According to Boxing Social, Warren is saying the fight is not off and it is still being worked on.

No official announcement has been made on who will face Ortiz Jr as of the writing of this article. 3Kings Boxing will continue to follow this story for further development.

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By: Garrisson Bland

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Garrisson Bland - Head of Public Relations/Senior Journalist. Garrisson is the Head of Public relations for 3kingsboxing.com as well as a senior writer. He is also the host of YouTube boxing show "Truth And Facts Sports Talk."