The Old Dog With New Tricks: Keith Thurman’s Punching Power Is A Threat To Vergil Ortiz Jr.

Trainer Greg Hackett believes the potential Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Keith Thurman fight in October is a “50-50.” He says the veteran Thurman (31-1, 23 KOs) won’t be coming to lose, and still has his punching power at 36.

Hackett says he doesn’t see this fight as one that will prepare Ortiz Jr. (23-0,21 KOs) for a possible fight against Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis for early 2026. Boots and Thurman have entirely diffferent fighting styles, and there’s a big age difference.

Thurman’s Veteran Power and Craftiness

“If you beat Keith Thurman, that’s a solid win, but Vergil has got to be careful. Thurman is a veteran and crafty, and he can still punch,” said Greg Hackett to YSM Sports Media about what Vergil Ortiz Jr. would be up against, fighting Keith Thurman.

It’s potentially a dangerous fight for Vergil Jr. because the former WBA and WBC welterweight champion Thurman still has as much power as he did during the prime of his career. What he’s missing is his speed, reflexes, and his mobility. His last fight against Brock Jarvis in 2024 showed that he’d lost a lot of his game but now power.

“It doesn’t prepare you for any other fight because all these guys are different,” said Hackett when asked if Thurman will prepare Vergil Jr. for a clash against Jaron Ennis in early 2026. “Boots and Thurman, they don’t fight nothing alike.”

Greg is right. ‘Boots’ Ennis and Thurman are nothing alike. The only benefits Ortiz Jr. gets from fighting ‘One Time’ are the payday and staying active. It beats just sitting around waiting until the Ennis fight in 2026.

50-50 Ortiz-Thurman Prediction

“It’s 50-50. Vergil has got the momentum of having beaten Madrimov and Thurman; he’s Keith Thurman,” said Hackett. “You never know what you’re going to get with Thurman. One thing we do know is he’s not coming to lose. So, I’m going to say it’s a 50-50 fight.”

Hackett is giving Thurman too much respect. It’s not a “50-50” fight between Keith and Ortiz Jr. Thurman has got a puncher’s chance, but that’s it. Otherwise, it’s going to be a one-sided contest with Vergil Jr. beating Thurman easily. It’s a big step down in competition for Vergil Jr. from his bouts against Israil Madrimov and Serhii Bohachuk.

“The Madrimov fight gave Vergil some confidence that he could walk him down. That’s not Keith Thurman. He’s not going to run like that. He’s not going to move like that. He’s going to move, but he’s going to fire, too,” said Hackett.

It’s not that Thurman won’t try to move. He just doesn’t have the wheels that he had eight years ago, but even back then, it wouldn’t have prevented Ortiz Jr. from walking him down. Shakur Porter and Danny Garcia both gave Thurman problems with their pressure. Ortiz Jr. is bigger than those guys and more relentless.