Vergil Ortiz Jr. may end a wasted year by fighting on David Benavidez’s December 12 card. The opponent and weight have not been revealed, leaving the value of his comeback dependent on whom he faces and which division he chooses.
“Per sources, one of the possible spots for the return of Vergil Ortiz is for him to fight on the same card with David Benavidez on Dec. 12,” said Dan Rafael on X. “Would put two of the best and most entertaining fighters in boxing on the same show if it is finalized.”
Ortiz has not fought since stopping Erickson Lubin in November 2025. His contract dispute and lawsuit with Golden Boy Promotions consumed more than a year of his athletic prime while the 154-pound division continued without him.
Fighting beneath Benavidez would show how much ground Ortiz surrendered. He previously headlined events as a Texas attraction. He would now be accepting a supporting role to reintroduce himself without carrying the promotional burden of the entire card.
That may be practical, but it is still a demotion. The Lubin knockout once gave Ortiz significant leverage for a major fight with Jaron Ennis. Thirteen months of inactivity weakened that position while Ennis strengthened his own standing.
Ortiz also faces a difficult decision over weight. His past struggles at welterweight were severe, and making 154 pounds after a long absence will place his conditioning under scrutiny. Moving to middleweight would relieve the cut but take him away from the fights that made his comeback commercially interesting.
Choosing an opponent presents another problem. A dangerous contender such as Serhii Bohachuk or Charles Conwell would be a major gamble after the layoff. Pairing Ortiz with an obscure journeyman would turn the date into little more than paid sparring.
The December card can begin repairing the damage, but Ortiz needs more than activity. He needs a credible opponent and a performance strong enough to remind the division why Ennis against Ortiz once felt unavoidable.
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