Stanionis Sidelined By Emergency Surgery; Vergil Ortiz Bout Postponed
3Kings Boxing has learned that the March 18 contest between WBA welterweight regular champ Eimantas Stanionis (14-0, 9 KOs) and WBA mandatory challenger Vergil Ortiz Jr (19-0, 19 KOs) is postponed. On January 6, Stanonis underwent emergency appendectomy emergency surgery in his home country of Lithuania. The champion made the following announcement on social media. Understandably disappointed, the champion said the following.
“I know everybody is upset, but it’s god’s plan. I always want to give fans exciting fights and I need a little bit of time to get fully back from this little surgery!”
HIGHLY ANTICIPATED BATTLE
The WBA ordered this bout in November 2022. Ortiz’s promoter, Golden Boy, won the purse bid in December 2022. This was a fight that fans were looking forward to witnessing. Stanonis and Ortiz are both pressure fighters who throw punches in bunches. On paper, it shaped up to be an exciting, toe-to-toe battle. The defending champ believes a win over a high-profile fighter like Ortiz puts him in the limelight at 147. Ortiz is a fighter on the ascent and looking to win a world title.
Now the battle will be delayed. All signs are that Stanionis will make a full and quick recovery. Organizers are optimistic that the fight will be rescheduled for the second half of April. Stay tuned to 3Kings Boxing for further updates.
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
