Vergil Ortiz Jr Demolishes Thomas Dulorme in One Round, Sets Sights on Tim Tszyu

On Saturday night, Vergil Ortiz Jr., the rising star of the welterweight division, needed just one round to dispatch Thomas Dulorme in their highly-anticipated bout at Save Mart Arena in Fresno, California. The victory, which came by way of a devastating left hook to the body, not only maintained Ortiz's perfect record of 21 wins with 21 knockouts but also set the stage for a mouthwatering clash with former junior middleweight titlist Tim Tszyu on August 3 in Los Angeles.

For Ortiz, the fight against Dulorme represented a long-awaited return to the ring after a series of health issues had forced him to withdraw from three scheduled bouts since 2022. The young contender had been battling rhabdomyolysis, a condition doctors determined was a consequence of the lingering effects of COVID-19. As a result, Ortiz had only experienced one round of boxing in almost two years before facing Dulorme.

Despite the layoff, Ortiz showed no rust as he systematically broke down his opponent. The end came at 2:39 of the opening frame when Ortiz landed a perfectly-timed left hook to Dulorme's body, sending the Puerto Rican crumpling to the canvas in agony. Referee Thomas Taylor reached the count of ten, signalling the end of the fight and another impressive victory for Ortiz.

"I'm very happy," Ortiz said in his post-fight interview. "It was a very calculated shot. I can't really explain it in words. I just feel [when to throw punches like that]. I heard him make a sound, and the way he fell, I knew it was over."

The win marked Ortiz's second consecutive first-round knockout of the year. At the same time, for Dulorme (26-7-1, 17 KOs), it was his second opening-round defeat in his last three outings, having suffered a similar fate against Jaron "Boots" Ennis in 2021.

With the Dulorme fight behind him, Ortiz's focus now shifts to his upcoming clash with Tim Tszyu (24-1, 17 KOs) on the undercard of Terence Crawford's challenge of WBA 154-pound belt holder Israil Madrimov. Tszyu, who recently lost his titles via decision to Sebastian Fundora in a gruelling battle that left him with a bloody gash to his head, represents a significant step up in competition for Ortiz.

Undaunted by the challenge, Ortiz issued a direct message to his future opponent. "Hey, Tim," he said in the ring. "I know you're watching. I'm ready for you. Let's get ready for World War III. Let's put on the best show for the people."

As Ortiz's star rises, the boxing world eagerly awaits his showdown with Tszyu, a fight that promises to be a thrilling clash between two of the sport's most exciting young talents. With his health issues behind him and his skills sharper than ever, Vergil Ortiz Jr. appears poised to take the next step in his journey toward becoming a world champion.