“Why should I talk about Ortiz at this moment, that probably he will not fight for the next year or so, and he will get stripped very soon of the WBC interim,” Lewkowicz said during tonight’s post-fight press conference.
Lewkowicz’s prediction that Ortiz will be “stripped very soon” refers to the WBC’s active stance on title defenses; with Ortiz unable to sign fight contracts due to a temporary restraining order, the sanctioning body is unlikely to let the interim belt sit idle.
Lewkowicz went further, removing Ortiz Jr. from the current picture entirely. “Ortiz is out of the game at this moment.”
The comments effectively take Vergil Jr. out of the running despite his interim title status, which would typically position him as a leading contender for Fundora’s WBC belt.
Fundora did not respond tond to his promoter’s stance during the exchange, instead keeping his focus on activity within the division without naming specific opponents.
By staying silent during his promoter’s remarks, Fundora appeared to agree with the strategy of prioritizing active opponents. This is a sharp turn from his comments just a week ago, where he mentioned wanting to face Ortiz for the vacant Ring Magazine title on the undercard of Canelo Alvarez’s “Mexico vs. The World” event scheduled for September 12, 2026.
The 154-pound division remains one of the most volatile in the sport. While Ortiz is sidelined, several other options exist for Fundora:
Jaron “Boots” Ennis: The WBA interim champion recently announced he is “moving on” from Ortiz and is looking for a major unification.
Xander Zayas: The rising star holds the WBA and WBO titles and is a primary target for anyone seeking undisputed status.
September Return: Fundora has made it clear he intends to fight again in September, regardless of whether the opponent is Ortiz or another top contender.
During the press conference tonight, Fundora said that he thought a clash against inactive 35-year-old Jermell Charlo would be a “great fight.” Jermell hasn’t fought in three years since 2023, which makes him a similar type of opponent for Fundora as Thurman.
By dismissing Vergil Ortiz Jr. while simultaneously expressing favorable interest in fighting Jermell Charlo, Fundora seems to be establishing a pattern that prioritizes name recognition and “big event” status over immediate divisional threats.
The rejection of Ortiz, who, despite his legal hurdles, is 24-0 and in his physical prime, stands in stark contrast to the pursuit of Charlo. By the time a potential September 2026 date rolls around, Charlo will have been inactive for three full years.
The comparison to the Keith Thurman fight is difficult to dismiss. In that matchup, Fundora faced a 37-year-old former champion who was coming off a massive layoff and was naturally a smaller man moving up in weight.
This move also keeps everything within the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) ecosystem. While Ortiz is currently embroiled in a lawsuit to leave Golden Boy, Charlo remains a staple of the PBC roster.
By focusing on Charlo, Fundora, and Lewkowicz avoid the promotional headaches of cross-platform negotiations with Golden Boy or DAZN, even if it means the fans have to wait longer for the division’s most dangerous young contenders to get their shot.
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