‘I think Vergil can really shine’: De La Hoya talks bright future for Ortiz, interest in signing Stevenson

Oscar De La Hoya has his eyes set on some big fights for Vergil Ortiz in the coming year.

With Vergil Ortiz set to take on Serhii Bohachuk next month, Golden Boy promoter Oscar De La Hoya talks to Fight Hub TV about his expectations for Ortiz in this fight and why he thinks there’s big potential for a showdown between Ortiz and Ryan Garcia in the coming year. Check out some of what De La Hoya had to say below.

De La Hoya on Ryan Garcia saying he wants a fight with Vergil Ortiz

“You see Ryan right now, he’s a big boy. He’s probably walking around at 170, easy. And he’s getting bigger and bigger so I strongly feel that a Vergil vs Ryan fight down the road is doable, very possible. We’re talking about next year but it’s right around the corner. So I strongly feel that Vergil vs Ryan is a megafight.”

On the Ortiz vs Bohachuk matchup and where Ortiz has the edge

“Well you take a look at the European style which is like come forward, ‘me caveman,’ one-two-hook. I think Bohachuk is different but the same. I think that in terms of power, yes, he’s powerful. In terms of skill and speed, I think Vergil has him, has an edge. But it’s a different school, it’s a totally different school. I think Vergil fighting on his toes, moving around, throwing jabs, combinations, punches in bunches, I think Vergil Ortiz can really shine on Aug. 10.”

On his interest in matching Ortiz against Errol Spence

“Imagine Vergil with Errol at Cowboy Stadium with Jerry Jones. That’s the idea. And when he was 17 or 18 years hold, Vergil Ortiz predicted ‘I’m going to fill Dallas Cowboy Stadium up one day,’ and I believe that day is coming. I believe Vergil Ortiz is ready, the next fighter to fill up Cowboy Stadium against Errol Spence.”

On his interest in pursuing Shakur Stevenson in his free agency

“I actually have a zoom call with his team at 3 p.m., with Shakur’s team, to sign him. I would love to figure out a way to work with him, I think he’s a very talented fighter. I strongly feel that Shakur needs some good dancing partners. Shakur reminds me of a Mayweather. When I promoted Mayweather for 15 fights I had every single opponent for him. All the opponents that Golden Boy had, we fed them to Mayweather, and Mayweather became Mayweather.

“So I think Shakur is in a similar situation where if we have the right opponents we can build another Mayweather, but you need the right opponents and unfortunately Top Rank didn’t have the right opponents for Shakur. I believe that’s one of the reasons why the relationship didn’t work out in the end.

“I’m going to listen to him, see what he has to say, and if it makes sense for us — because obviously we’re not in the game of losing money, we’re not in the game of overpaying, we’re not in the game of changing the whole market around just for one fighter. It all depends on him, if he sells or not.”