Vergil Ortiz Jr vs Keith Thurman SAT, DEC 5, 2026 12-round middleweight

[robelneo]

One fighter wants to reach greatness, and another fighter wants to hang on. Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Keith Thurman will slug it out in the featured co-main event on DEC 5, 2026 Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale, AZ.

Keith Thurman is coming out of the worst loss in his career against Fundora, probably because of his long lay off  but seeking to regain his lost glory and this could be the fight where he can regain that glory again if Virgil understimate Thurman , when a fighter struggle to be on top again unexected things happen.

Do you believe Thurman can pull an upset?

Thurman steps into this spot fresh off a punishing March defeat against Sebastian Fundora. His prize for that showing is an assignment against another heavy-handed puncher, elevated all the way up to 160 pounds. Convincing fight fans that the former welterweight titleholder retains the tools to pull off an upset here is a massive uphill battle.

Ortiz brings a spotless 24-0 record with 22 knockouts, having wiped out Erickson Lubin in two quick rounds last November following grueling triumphs over Israil Madrimov and Serhii Bohachuk. Thurman built his legacy on signature wins over Shawn Porter and Danny Garcia a decade ago. Those past glories provide zero proof that he can survive Ortiz’s current assault.

Vergil Ortiz Jr. Gets Keith Thurman On PPV on December 5

[FinneysTrueVision]

After his last fight against Fundora, I said that Thurman should have retired a long time ago. I imagine he is being paid very well to continue fighting against opponents he has practically no chance of beating.

It’s very disappointing the way Vergil’s career has progressed. Some of that can be blamed on other fighters ducking him, but he has also had weight issues and management/promotional problems that have kept him sidelined.

Vergil had good wins against Bohachuk and Madrimov. I would have expected him to get an opportunity against some of the bigger names or at least one of the world champions after that. Instead, he has lost momentum and has to fight a badly faded Thurman to keep busy. He is still at an age where he can accomplish something noteworthy if he continues winning without any more setbacks.

[freedomgo]

I thought Thurman had already retired after he was beaten up in his last fight. I'm surprised he recovered so quickly and now has another fight. I think he's not really looking for a comeback to revive his career, what he's probably chasing now is money. But anyway, since he's not a boring fighter, I will watch this fight.

[Sanitough]

I'm not so familiar with Vergil Ortiz Jr. but 24 wins and 0 losses is something impressive.

So I was looking at the odds for this fight and here's what I found.

Fighter   Decimal odds   American odds
Vergil Ortiz Jr.   1.11   -900
Keith Thurman   7.00   +600
Draw   21.00   +2000

Thurman is a heavy underdog here, so knowing that he's a former welterweight champion I can't help but be tempted,
I think I would have to take that +600.

[SatsPH]

I thought Thurman had already retired after he was beaten up in his last fight. I'm surprised he recovered so quickly and now has another fight. I think he's not really looking for a comeback to revive his career, what he's probably chasing now is money. But anyway, since he's not a boring fighter, I will watch this fight.

Yeah, it's obvious that Thurman is already way past his prime. But he knows how to stir fight with his trash talking and most likely fighting for the payday. However, it will be another lost for him against the hard hitting Ortiz Jr.

We might as well see Ortiz fighting Fundora or the other names at this division, Boots Ennis. But I guess he needs to get this one first before he can set up between those two champion at 154 lbs. And with that, I don't think that Thurman can win this fight, it will be as good as it gets in the early rounds or during the press conference because of his mouth.

[Japinat]

I thought Thurman had already retired after he was beaten up in his last fight. I'm surprised he recovered so quickly and now has another fight. I think he's not really looking for a comeback to revive his career, what he's probably chasing now is money. But anyway, since he's not a boring fighter, I will watch this fight.

Yeah, it's obvious that Thurman is already way past his prime. But he knows how to stir fight with his trash talking and most likely fighting for the payday. However, it will be another lost for him against the hard hitting Ortiz Jr.

That's where he will certainly win. And I would not be surprised if Team Thurman, despite being the heavy underdog, might even request a bigger share of the purse.

It hasn't been announced yet but I believe that's how things will play out.

We might as well see Ortiz fighting Fundora or the other names at this division, Boots Ennis. But I guess he needs to get this one first before he can set up between those two champion at 154 lbs. And with that, I don't think that Thurman can win this fight, it will be as good as it gets in the early rounds or during the press conference because of his mouth.

After his performance in his last fight, it's hard to expect him to win again, although Fundora's size was really giving him trouble, so maybe we should give him another chance but the bookies wouldn't lie, the odds themselves already make it obvious who is expected to win.

Vergil Ortiz Jr by KO

[coin-investor]

This is very surprising. Many thought that Vergil would finally meet Boots Ennis and that Thurman would retire. I don't know what happened suddenly. The Golden Boy promotion opted for a Thurman match.

This is a cherry-picked fight, we all know that Thurman looked very bad and took a lot of beating from Fundora.
Whatever Thurman says about this fight, trying to make people believe that he can beat Vergil Jr. I don't think people will believe it, but let's give him the benefit of the doubt. He is a former unified champion, he might have something left for him.

[Franklyn-wood]

I thought Thurman had already retired after he was beaten up in his last fight. I'm surprised he recovered so quickly and now has another fight. I think he's not really looking for a comeback to revive his career, what he's probably chasing now is money. But anyway, since he's not a boring fighter, I will watch this fight.

Yeah, it's obvious that Thurman is already way past his prime. But he knows how to stir fight with his trash talking and most likely fighting for the payday. However, it will be another lost for him against the hard hitting Ortiz Jr.

We might as well see Ortiz fighting Fundora or the other names at this division, Boots Ennis. But I guess he needs to get this one first before he can set up between those two champion at 154 lbs. And with that, I don't think that Thurman can win this fight, it will be as good as it gets in the early rounds or during the press conference because of his mouth.

I am still thinking what Thurman feels like when he decided out all the boxers he could literally hand chose to compete with Vergil Ortiz in the upcoming events by December 6. In my own opinion I think he is not fit enough to challenge Vergil at this time considering that fact that he is just recovering from injuries from a previous match, adide from that Vergil Ortiz is far a boxer he be competing with at this time.
He must be doing this not to revive his career but for money, because there is no traces that he will win.

[aioc]

He must be doing this not to revive his career but for money, because there is no traces that he will win.

He's fighting to revive his career and to make money. Thurman used to be the unified welterweight champion, and he has beaten the likes of Porter, Danny Garcia, and Josecito Lopez, who are also great fighters. He wants to finish his career with a great win, or he wants people to forget his disappointing loss to Fundora by fighting and finishing strong, even if he loses against the very dangerous Ortiz Jr.
I believe he will do better in this fight. One of Thurman's biggest issues is his long layoff; he always takes a long layoff after his bout. In this match, he is still fresh because his last fight happened in March of this year against Fundora.

[TastyChillySauce00]

This is very surprising. Many thought that Vergil would finally meet Boots Ennis and that Thurman would retire. I don't know what happened suddenly. The Golden Boy promotion opted for a Thurman match.

This is a cherry-picked fight, we all know that Thurman looked very bad and took a lot of beating from Fundora.
Whatever Thurman says about this fight, trying to make people believe that he can beat Vergil Jr. I don't think people will believe it, but let's give him the benefit of the doubt. He is a former unified champion, he might have something left for him.

Yep, what a surprise. I thought that Virgil would be getting a better fight, and it's shocking so many people his return fight is against Thurman. Thurman is so washed, and i have watched how Fundora bullied him. So Thurman has nothing to offer against in this game.
Thurman is old, slow, and have low durability. I don't think Thurman can survive in this game. He will be cooked by Virgil.

All in all, i don't like this card, but i'm gonna bet on Virgil by KO.