Vergil Ortiz vs. Fredrick Lawson: Preview & Prediction

On Saturday night, fight fans will finally get to see Vergil Ortiz Jr. (19-0, 19 KOs) return to the boxing ring. He will be going one-on-one with Fredrick Lawson (30-3, 22 KOs) in a junior middleweight battle. The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas will play host to the 156-pound bout.

Ortiz has been away from the bright lights since his August 2022 victory over Michael McKinson. Ortiz’s inactivity was not by choice, as he endured rough outings with COVID-19, as well as rhabdomyolysis. Many wonder how long it will take for Ortiz to find his rhythm and timing in the fight with Lawson, given what he’s been through and how long he’s been out of action.

Lawson once had his own lengthy layoff, missing all of 2022, but he has nabbed victories over Collinson Korley and Estevan Villalobos since stepping back into the ring. Despite having the edge in recent activity, Lawson will enter as a massive betting underdog against Ortiz and look to play spoiler.

Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Fredrick Lawson Preview and Prediction

It’s clear that this fight was made to ease Vergil Ortiz Jr. back into the ring. While Lawson had success with his jab in his last outing, he’s gotten hurt too many times in his career for me to think he’ll walk out unscathed against a finisher like Ortiz. While Lawson survived danger against Villalobos, Ortiz is a tactical assassin when he smells blood in the water.

Lawson isn’t afraid to exchange punches, and I think that will be a mistake against Ortiz. While he was able to keep Villalobos at bay with his jab, he still found himself against the ropes and, in a bad way, thanks to his opponent’s barrages. While I credit Lawson for surviving, a more skilled fighter would’ve put him away that night.

Ortiz went to the body to finish off McKinson in their clash. He did a great job stalking his opponent, and I expect him to have that same success here against Lawson. It may take a little while for Ortiz to get comfortable, but once he’s in a groove, I expect him to put Lawson away.

Prediction: Vergil Ortiz Jr. via TKO

Fernando Quiles Jr.

Fernando has been covering combat sports and pro wrestling for over a decade. He currently writes for BJPenn.com and has also contributed for Sports Illustrated’s MMA Knockout. Fernando is excited to be a part of FightsATW to provide you with the latest news content in the world of pro wrestling.

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