By Ian S Palmer
Original article: https://www.sportsbetlistings.com/boxing/vergil-ortiz-jr-vs-fredrick-lawson-betting-odds-and-prediction/22591/
Unbeaten prospect Vergil Ortiz Jr of Dallas, Texas, moves up to the junior middleweight division for the first time this Saturday, January 6th as he takes on Fredrick Lawson of Ghana. The 12-round bout from Las Vegas, Nevada, can be seen live on DAZN in most nations. Ortiz last fought in August, 2022 when he stopped Michael McKinson in the ninth round to retain the WBO International Welterweight Crown. He was scheduled to fight in 2023 but was kept out of the ring due to an ongoing medical condition. Lawson, who fights out of Chicago, Illinois, last boxed in April when be beat Estevan Villalobos via a 10-round unanimous decision.
The 25-year-old Ortiz Jr is still one of the hottest prospects in boxing right now as he owns a perfect record of 19-0 with 19 Ko’s even though he’s fought just once since September, 2021. His 100 per cent knockout record means he’s a feared puncher with excellent power. Ortiz turned pro in 2016 and has boxed just 69 rounds since because of that power. Before that he enjoyed a fine amateur career by winning National Silver Gloves Titles from 2012 to 2014. He also won a National Under-17 Crown in 2013 and placed second a year later. In addition, he placed second at the 2016 National Golden Gloves Championships.
As a pro, Ortiz has also captured the vacant NABF Junior Super Lightweight Title and something called the World Boxing Association Gold World Welter Title. His biggest wins have been against Michael McKinson, Egidijus Kavaliauskas, Maurice Hooker, Samuel Vargas, Brad Solomon, Antonio Orozco and Mauricio Herrera. He was also the first man to stop Herrera. Ortiz has also beaten the likes of Jesus Alvarez Rodriguez, Juan Carlos Salgado, Roberto Ortiz and Jesus A Valdez Barrayan. Ortiz, who trains with Robert Garcia, stands 5-feet-10-inches tall and owns a 70-inch reach.
As for Lawson, the 34-year-old carries around a mark of 30-3 with 22 Ko’s and has boxed 167 rounds since making his pro debut in 2011following an amateur career which saw him reach the quarterfinals at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India. Lawson measures 5-feet-9-inches tall with a 70-inch reach, so gives up an inch in height to Ortiz. As far as power is concerned, Lawson is no slouch as 73.3 per cent of his victories have come by stoppage, but he’s stopped just two of his last 11 opponents.
Lawson’s three defeats have come in come in his last nine outings as he was stopped by Kevin Bizier after 10 rounds in 2015; by Juan Ruiz in the fourth round in 2019 and by Charles Hatley in the 10th and final round in 2021 in a shot at the vacant WBC USA Welterweight Title. Since turning pro Lawson has captured the vacant WBC International Silver Welterweight Title in 2017 with a 12-round majority decision over Sakina Mullings. He won the vacant IBF African, and IBF International Welterweight Crowns in 2013 and the vacant West African Boxing Union West Welterweight Belt in 2011 and has wins over Breidis Prescott in 2015 and Alfred Kotey in 2012.
Prediction…
Ortiz is moving up to the 154 lb division but Lawson has fought most of his career as a welterweight and is 6-3 in his last nine fights with all three of his losses coming by stoppage. This doesn’t really bode well for him as Ortiz has stopped all 19 opponents. It may take Ortiz a few rounds to get going due to inactivity and the weight gain, but I’m expecting him to stop Lawson somewhere along the line this Saturday night due to his power and chin.
