- Vergil Ortiz finishes off his opponent with a KO in the first round
- Ortiz criticized Australian Tim Tszyu after
- The pair will meet in August for a super fight.
Vergil Ortiz has sent a strong message to Tim Tszyu ahead of their August clash by finishing his opponent with a savage body shot in the first round in Los Angeles.
Ortiz needed to beat Thomas Dulorme on Sunday to set up his fight with Tszyu, and the American knockout artist did just that with a left hook to the body that threw Dulorme to the canvas and left him writhing in agony.
Ortiz’s record remained perfect, 21-0 with 21 KOs, and he wasted no time criticizing the Australian.
‘Hey Tim, I know you’re watching this fight right now. “I’m ready for you, man,” Ortiz said.
Vergil Ortiz (pictured) sent a message to Tim Tszyu ahead of their August superfight
‘We are ready. Let’s prepare for World War III.
When asked about the matchup with Tszyu, Ortiz said, “I just want to fight the best.”
‘I don’t care if it’s the right time or not.
‘People are judging my opponent’s selection. I don’t choose my opponents, I simply eliminate them. That’s all I have to do. That’s my job.
“I’m going to get everyone out.”
Tszyu responded on X shortly after, writing, “Vergil Ortiz and I are the real main event.”
The pair will face off as the co-main event headlined by Terrence Crawford’s fight with WBA super welterweight champion Israil Madrimov.
The Australian star is still medically suspended following his fight with Sebastian Fundora on March 30, where he suffered a deep cut to his head at the end of the third round.
Ortiz floored his opponent with a brutal body shot in the first round that left him writhing in agony.
Ortiz called Tszyu after Sunday’s fight and told him to prepare for World War III.
Tszyu (pictured) and Ortiz will meet in August on the undercard of Terence Crawford’s challenge to Israil Madrimov.
Ortiz’s promoter, boxing icon Oscar de la Hoya, predicts a short night for his fighter when he meets Tszyu.
“With Tim Tszyu, it’s going to be a war,” De La Hoya said.
“I trust my boy a thousand percent, but you can’t sleep with Tim Tszyu.
‘I love his style, his aggression and his power. This fight will be a clash of titans.
“Vergil Ortiz stopping this fight in one round will give him the confidence to get back in the gym and I promise you he will knock out Tim Tszyu.”
