Fight preview: Vergil Ortiz vs. Michael Mckinson - why ask why?

Particulars: Saturday, August 6, 2022, from Dickies Arena, Fort Worth, Texas: Vergil Ortiz vs. Michael “The Problem” McKinson, USA vs. Britain, welterweights. (DAZN.)

Background: Ortiz fought four times in 2019 - extraordinary for nowadays.  I was told long ago by a neurologist and veteran ring doctor of countless big fights, that staying sharp means staying safe. I agree. 

Now that Ortiz, 24, has ‘arrived,’ maybe his team feels less need to work him, as he fought only twice last year, but Covid and whatnot might have re-arranged schedules, etc.  

Ortiz’s opponent, Briton Michael McKinson, 28, is bright, articulate, and motivated because Ortiz is a gigantic raising of the bar. He’s in way over his head, outclassed and outgunned, but game. He looked okay beating Alex Martin in a minor upset. Ortiz was scheduled to fight McKinson earlier this year but became ill. My point remains, why was this fight ever scheduled?

And why not – take on Ortiz, from McKinson’s perspective? Is he cashing out?  

Ortiz has won every fight by stoppage. That said, while much of it is match-making – Vergil is not an enormous puncher - Ortiz does have power. 

Fighters Grades: (Speed, Power, Defense, Reach, Age, Stamina, Experience)

Vergil Ortiz: B B B B B B B Total: B (3.0)

Michael McKinson: B-C- B B C+ B C+ Total: C+ (2.6)

Reality check: No idea why Team Ortiz picked McKinson – over to Max Boxing Editor John J. Raspanti (sound of crickets). John, why?

Editor John crickets: I mean John: It feels like a showcase fight. They were supposed to have fought before. Call it a makeup bout. 

Ortiz is quick enough, has some power, is youthful, intelligent, and seemingly a good dude. 

He has boxing fundamentals down cold. 

This includes all the punches - Vergil has knocked out opponents with body shots and headshots.  

He is NOT front-foot heavy. His offense may be his best defense but while no Mayweather, Ortiz is a solid defensive fighter. Ortiz is no Tyson of the Welters, but 18 of 18 KO’s says a lot about timing, shot selection, and training. All that good stuff aside, fights like this don’t serve Ortiz, fans, or the sport well.  

Nothing against McKinson, a typically fearless Brit. He does throw a good straight left (he’s a southpaw), but his right seems to carry zero power. It’s under-utilized, and he isn’t a very good jabber. A one-armed bandit and the ‘good’ arm isn’t Hammer of the gods.

McKinson’s stance. 

Okay – unique. It is super wide, but Mckinson still manages to be massively front-foot heavy. His defense is to fall into his opponent if he, McKinson misses shots – a not unheard-of technique, and so far, it’s worked. Head movement is minimal, and with that wide stance, he keeps his distance.

Fight and prediction: 

This is boxing. Anything might happen. While constantly exaggerated – when’s the last time DAZN hasn’t mentioned it three-four times - southpaws and right-handers do tangle feet - and cause cuts from accidental butts. With southpaw McKinson’s cement-like lead right foot stuck to the canvas – even with a wide stance, Ortiz will eventually time him.

Vergil Ortiz TKO Michael McKinson, 9.