Boxing
Vergil Ortiz Jr. records fifth-round KO of Brad Solomon for 15th victory
Make that 15 wins, 15 knockouts for Vergil Ortiz Jr.
The 21-year-old star prospect pulverized Brad Solomon for three knockdowns en route to a fifth-round KO at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif., and live on DAZN on Friday night.
After softening up Solomon with thudding punches through the first three rounds, Ortiz dropped the 36-year-old journeyman with a left power jab in the fourth. Solomon's legs were never the same after that. In the fifth, Ortiz rocked him with a huge right hook that put the Lafayette, La., native on his bike. Ortiz gave chase and landed a barrage of punches, including another right hook around the guard that put Solomon down on a knee.
Smelling blood, Ortiz (15-0, 15 KOs)Â smothered Solomon and made him take another knee moments later, courtesy of another right hook.
The welterweight sounded wise beyond his years following his fourth victory this year.
"I just took my time in there and didn't try to rush things," Ortiz said live on DAZN. "I think I had to utilize my jab, but most importantly, I had to figure out the range."
He certainly did that as he handed Solomon his first loss by knockout.
"I knew he was going to be a tough cookie to break," Ortiz added, "but, luckily, I have a good team behind me and all my smarts."
Sparring with the likes of Brandon Rios, Mikey Garcia, Josesito Lopez and Jose Ramirez is certainly paying off for Ortiz, who continues to impress at 147 pounds.
Solomon joined Antonio Orozco (in August), Mauricio Herrera (in May) and Jesus A Valdez Barrayan (in January) as a KO victim of Ortiz during a busy 2019 for the Dallas native.
With Ortiz and Ryan Garcia, Golden Boy Promotions easily touts one of the best prospect pairs in boxing.
Alberto Machado blasts Luis Porozo to the body for second-round KO
Machado tapped into his "El Explosivo" nickname in a big way Friday. After suffering back-to-back losses to Andrew Cancio earlier in the year, Machado reentered the win column in his lightweight debut. The former super featherweight champion earned the KO by dropping Porozo three times in the second round — all on punishing left hooks.
Machado (22-2, 18 KOs) definitely learned something from those losses to Cancio, considering both defeats came via body punches. How much of a dent the 29-year-old can make in the lightweight division, though, remains to be seen.
