Vergil Ortiz Jr. and Keith Thurman Closing in on December Fight
Golden Boy is finalizing a deal to put Vergil Ortiz Jr. against Keith Thurman on the Benavidez undercard December 12.
Vergil Ortiz Jr. and Keith Thurman are nearing a deal to fight on the David Benavidez undercard in Arizona on December 12, per Golden Boy Promotions boss Oscar De La Hoya.
De La Hoya told Fight Hub TV that the matchup is being finalized. "There's been rumors about Keith Thurman. So, we're finalizing that deal there, and hopefully we can have him on the Benavidez card in December," De La Hoya said.
The fight would take place at 154 pounds as Ortiz continues working to establish himself in the junior middleweight division. Thurman, 37, is coming off a stoppage loss to Sebastian Fundora and would be looking to prove he still belongs at the championship level.
The matchup reportedly emerged after negotiations between Ortiz and Jaron Ennis stalled. Thurman provides a recognizable name from his welterweight championship days, though critics have noted that a win over the aging former champion may not move the needle much for Ortiz in the 154-pound rankings given Fundora already stopped him.
Ortiz has the talent to be a problem at junior middleweight, but the division's elite have so far proved difficult to pin down for negotiations. Landing on a Benavidez undercard in December gives the fight a big platform regardless of the competitive questions surrounding Thurman at this stage.
I like Vergil Ortiz's talent, but this fight tells me Golden Boy is struggling to get the matchups that actually matter at 154. Thurman's name still carries weight with casual fans, but Fundora already stopped him. What does beating Thurman prove that we don't already know?
The Jaron Ennis fight falling through is the real story here. That was the fight that would have answered every question about Ortiz's ceiling. Instead, we get a name-brand opponent whose best days are behind him.
That said, Ortiz on a Benavidez undercard in December is a smart business move. The platform is there, the exposure is there, and if Ortiz makes a statement with the finish, it sets up bigger things in 2027. Sometimes you take the fight that's available and make it look spectacular. Ortiz has the power to do exactly that.
