Welterweight contender Vergil Ortiz, Jr. (17-0, with all 17 KOs) of Grand Prairie, Texas steps in the ring on Saturday, August 14th, for an important showdown with contender Egidijus “Mean Machine” Kavaliauskas (22-1-1, 18 KOs) at The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, and streaming live on DAZN. Fighting as a headliner in his home state for the third time, Ortiz (pictured) lives and trains in Oxnard, California, at the world-famous Robert Garcia Boxing Academy, the 23 year-old says he knows what’s on the line against the formidable Lithuanian.
A decorated amateur and two-time Olympian, Kavaliauskas is best known for a moment that came when he faced WBO welterweight titlist Terence Crawford at Madison Square Garden in December 2019. Kavaliauskas landed a punch that dropped Crawford (although it was not officially rued a knockdown) before being stopped in the ninth round of a competitive fight.
“First of all he’s probably the biggest test of my career,” said Ortiz, “but he’s also an opportunity for me to show everyone in the boxing community that I am who people think I am. He’s a good fighter, but I feel like I will win not just because of my power, but also my intellect and knowing what the right moves are. I’m in my hometown basically. All of Dallas is going to be there. It would mean a lot to me to give them a really good show.”
Despite being a seven-time national champion and the winner of the 2013 Junior Olympics as an amateur, Ortiz says his amazing success, including being named 2019 The Ring magazine Prospect of the Year, has come as something of a surprise. “I didn’t picture this happening,” he admits. “Not so soon in my career at least. I know I’ll be champion one day, that’s for sure. But I didn’t expect Prospect of the Year and I didn’t expect to have a 100% knockout ratio.
Last seen in the ring on March 20th of this year beating former WBO champion Maurice Hooker by a seventh-round technical knockout, Ortiz says his power is a natural gift he’s had since childhood. “In my seventh amateur fight, I hit a kid so hard for a nine-year-old,” he recollected. “But when I really realized I had abnormal power, I was 15 or 16 and 110 lbs and I realized I was starting to stop all my opponents.”
To cope with the inevitable aches and pains of his chosen profession, Ortiz says he plans to incorporate THC-free cannabidiol (CBD) products, specifically the Brains’ Pure CBD brand, into his regimen after fights. “I do deal with post-fight injures and inflammation often,” he admitted, “so, I’m looking forward to all the benefits of THC-free CBD to help with my recovery. Hopefully other fighters will see this and get onboard with Brains and the benefits of CBD.”
A committed supporter and avid fan of professional boxing, Ricky Brar, CEO & Chairman, Brains Bioceutical Corp., says he’s thrilled to be adding Ortiz to his roster of athletic ambassadors. “Vergil Ortiz is the hottest young fighter in boxing,” said Brar, “and a fine young man outside the ring. He’s a terrific addition to our team and we look forward to watching him become the superstar he was born to be. The undisputed champions of athletic rest and recovery make providing athletes access to quality, tested, THC-free cannabidiol products our number-one priority.”
