Terence Crawford and Vergil Ortiz Jr. have both maintained their undefeated streaks, yet one may possess a more formidable punch. This belief is rooted in the experience of Egidijus Kavaliauskas, who has faced both fighters in the ring.
Crawford’s career is marked by an impressive journey through weight classes. Beginning as a lightweight in 2014, he has ascended to become a four-division world champion, holding undisputed titles in both super-lightweight and welterweight. His recent fight saw him securing the WBA super-welterweight title at 154 lbs against Israil Madrimov.
In contrast, Ortiz Jr. has transitioned to super-welterweight for different reasons, as he struggled to meet the 147lb weight limit. In his latest bout, he claimed the WBC interim super-welterweight title against Serhii Bohachuk, despite being knocked down twice. Ortiz ultimately won through a controversial majority decision, marking the first time he went the distance in his career.
Kavaliauskas, affectionately known as ‘Mean Machine,’ has fought both Crawford and Ortiz. Crawford managed to stop him in the 9th round during their December 2019 match, while Ortiz Jr. ended the fight faster with an 8th round stoppage in August 2021.
When questioned about the punching power of Crawford and Ortiz, Kavaliauskas had a definitive perspective. In a recent interview, he declared: “I think Vergil Ortiz has more power. He’s a more powerful and more stronger and aggressive guy.”
Ortiz Jr. was initially slated to fight Jaron Ennis in February, but the bout fell through. Currently, he is considering a match with Israil Madrimov. A victory there could bolster his claim for a chance against Crawford, who is widely regarded as the current pound-for-pound king in boxing.
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