This coliseum, with a seating capacity of 80,000—expandable to over 100,000 with standing-room tickets—offers the perfect setting for a historic night of boxing. De La Hoya’s ambition reflects Ortiz Jr.’s meteoric rise in the sport, especially following his recent victory over Israil Madrimov, a triumph that solidified his status as one of boxing’s fastest-rising stars.

Following a dominant performance against Madrimov in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia—where he retained his WBC interim super welterweight title via unanimous decision—Ortiz Jr. has captured the attention of the boxing world. Now, De La Hoya is looking to capitalize on this momentum by securing a fight that not only elevates Ortiz Jr.’s profile but also marks a major milestone in his career.

In an interview with FightHype, De La Hoya revealed his plans to stage a “homecoming party” for Ortiz Jr. in his home state of Texas, pitting him against a top-10 ranked opponent. This bout would serve as a stepping stone to future matchups against elite names like Tim Tszyu, Errol Spence Jr., and Terence Crawford, further establishing Ortiz Jr. as a premier contender.

AT&T Stadium: The dream venue for a historic boxing night

“I’m thinking about doing a homecoming party for him in Dallas and fighting a top-10 guy. Then go after Fundora and then go after Crawford after he comes back down to 154 after he fights Canelo at 168,” De La Hoya said. However, his most ambitious vision is a potential showdown between Ortiz Jr. and Errol Spence Jr. at AT&T Stadium.

“There are a lot of options out there for Vergil. I’m excited. Imagine if we can put together a Vergil-Spence fight at Dallas Stadium, at the Cowboys Stadium. That would sell out the place. I think that’s something to consider as well. There are some good options for Vergil,” De La Hoya added.

The rise of Vergil Ortiz Jr.

A potential fight for Ortiz Jr. at AT&T Stadium wouldn’t just be a milestone in his career—it would be a landmark event for boxing in Texas. With Ortiz Jr.’s growing fan base in his home state, the massive scale of the stadium, and the possibility of an Errol Spence Jr. showdown, the stage is set for an unforgettable night in the sport.

So far, at the age of 23 years old, Vergil Ortiz Jr.’s career has been brilliant. He has a record that speaks of pure perfection: 18 fights held, all of them won by knockout. More than a few people think that the Dallas native will soon have a shot at one of the 147-pound World titles.

The March 19 fight at the USC Galen Center in Los Angeles California was set to be explosive, as Ortiz Jr. was set to collide with Michael McKinson. Nicknamed The Problem, the British fighter is making his U.S. debut with a 21-0-0 record and is waiting to meet the fighter he will face.

What is Vergil Ortiz Jr.’s medical condition?

Golden Boy Promotions, headed by Oscar de la Hoya, announced that Vergil Ortiz Jr. would not be able to fight on March 19 because he suffers from Rhabdomyolysis, a metabolic syndrome that completely prevents him from being physically active.

“I was doing very good in sparring and training in general. But for the last 2 weeks, I didn’t feel like myself. I just felt like my body was deteriorating and I didn’t know why and it was frustrating. Being the fighter that I am I tried toughing it out, but when it’s your own body fighting against you there’s little you can do. Luckily my dad was also able to tell I wasn’t right and took me to the Doctor. We ran some tests and the doctor concluded that I had Rhabdomyolysis.” posted Vergil on his Twitter account.

The medical condition suffered by the brilliant American prospect is so delicate that rest was not enough to stop it: “I was hospitalized and had to stay overnight. It could’ve been a lot worse and I’m thankful that we caught it on time. I am very sorry if I let you guys down believe me if there was a hair of a chance of me fighting, I would be.”.

What is rhabdomyolysis and what symptoms does it produce?

The rhabdomyolysis occurs when some skeletal muscle tissue ruptures due to overload and its protein content, mainly myoglobin, spills into the bloodstream. Myoglobin can cause damage to the kidneys as they are unable to drain it.

This medical condition occurs for traumatic or non-traumatic or indirect reasons. The former include falls or contusions, such as a car crash, long periods of muscle compression due to immobilization, burns or high-intensity electric shocks, and bites from poisonous insects or snakes.

Non-traumatic causes of rhabdomyolysis, which an athlete such as Vergil Ortiz Jr. may suffer, include high muscle overload from overtraining and an excessive increase in body temperature or have contracted various bacterial infections that can intoxicate the muscle tissues.

The symptoms of rhabdomyolysis, which are perfectly consistent with those expressed by Vergil Ortiz Jr., are a pain in joints such as the shoulder, hip, or lower back, excessive muscle weakness and fatigue, and the presence of dark-colored urine.

“He was dropping weight too fast for me. That’s when I knew something was wrong.I just know my son so well, he can’t go from 100 miles per hour one day to zero the next”, said Vergil Ortiz Sr. to ESPN’s reporter Mike Coppinger.

The consequences of rhabdomyolysis can be fatal if not treated immediately, as there may be irreversible damage to the kidneys and liver and even cause heart damage with the risk of suffering cardiovascular accidents.