By Ian S Palmer
The WBO International Welterweight Title is on the line this Saturday, August 14th when unbeaten champion Vergil Ortiz Jr will be taking on Egidijus Kavaliauskas of Lithuania. The 12-round bout in Frisco, Texas will be held just down the road Ortiz’s hometown of Dallas. It can be seen live in most nations on DAZN. Ortiz was last in the ring in March when he won the vacant title by stopping Maurice Hooker in the seventh round. Kavaliauskas was in action in September when he stopped Mikael Zewski in the eighth round for the vacant WBC Continental Americas and the WBO NABO Welterweight Crowns.
Ortiz is one of the hottest prospects in boxing right now as the 23-year-old owns a perfect record of 17-0 with 17 Ko’s. His 100 per cent knockout record means he’s a feared puncher with excellent power. He turned pro in 2016 and has boxed 52 rounds since. 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.
Since turning 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 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.
The 33-year-old Kavaliauskas fights out of California and has an impressive mark of 22-1-1 with 18 Kos. His draw came against Ray Robinson over 10 rounds in 2019 while his lone defeat was at the hands of Terence Crawford by ninth-round stoppage in December, 2019 in a shot at the WBO Welterweight title. He stands 5-feet-9-inches tall with a 71-inch reach, so he gives up an inch in height and reach to Ortiz.
Kavaliauskas possesses good power with a current knockout ratio of 75 per cent and has boxed 112 rounds since making his pro debut in 2013. He Kavaliauskas also enjoyed a fine amateur career and represented his homeland at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China where he fought as a light welterweight and lost in the first round of the competition. He boxed at the 2012 Olympics in London, England as well in the welterweight division and once again failed to make it out of the opening contest.
He also competed at the 2006 World Junior Championships, 2007 World Championships, 2008 European Championships, 2009 World Championships (quarter-finalist) and 2010 European Championships and won a bronze medal at the 2011 World Championships. Since turning pro, Kavaliauskas has also captured the WBO Inter-Continental Welterweight Title. His biggest wins have been against the likes of Pablo Munguia, Deniz Ilbay, Daniel Echeverria, David Avanesyan, Juan Carlos Abreu and Roberto Arriaza.
Prediction…
This will be another good test for Ortiz as Kavaliauskas is a solid pro with good power. However, he’s 10 years older than Ortiz and was stopped by Crawford. He’ll need to show he can take a punch against Ortiz or he’ll likely suffer the same fate he did against Crawford. I’m expecting Ortiz’s power and speed to prevail on Saturday to remain undefeated.
