Undefeated knockout boxer Vergil Ortiz Jr. releases statement after staying overnight in hospital

• Vergil Ortiz Jr. spent Monday night in a hospital, he said this week.
• The 23-year-old knockout puncher was supposed to headline a Los Angeles event Saturday.

LOS ANGELES — Undefeated knockout boxer Vergil Ortiz Jr. released a statement Tuesday saying he stayed overnight in a hospital and regretted withdrawing from his fight Saturday.

The 23-year-old welterweight is one of the most promising young fighters in combat sports as he has a ferocious record of 18 knockouts from 18 wins and remains unbeaten.

He was scheduled to return to the ring against Michael McKinson, who is also an undefeated boxer, on March 19 at the Galen Center in Los Angeles.

However, the bout fell apart this week due to Ortiz's hospitalization for rhabdomyolysis.

The CDC describes the condition, sometimes called rhabdo, as the breakdown of damaged muscle "which results in the release of muscle cell contents into the blood."

It added: "The proteins and electrolytes released into the blood can cause organ damage."

Among other causes, physical exertion is listed as a risk factor for rhabdo, which can lead to seizures, nausea and vomiting, permanent disability, and even death.

"Vergil is recovering well in hospital and is expected to make a full recovery," a Golden Boy statement sent Tuesday to Insider said.

Vergil Ortiz Sr., who trains his son, said Vergil Jr. "was dropping weight too fast for me. That's when I knew something was wrong," according to ESPN Ringside.

"He just seemed like he was off-balance. He wasn't himself. I thought maybe he had something on his mind.

"He could have almost died with this stuff. His kidney and liver were starting to go down. We caught it at the right time," Ortiz Sr. finished.

Ortiz Jr. said they received attention for the condition 'on time'

Ortiz Jr. said he was "sorry and disappointed" to have withdrawn from Saturday's showdown.

He said: "Camp was going great, I was doing very good in sparring and training in general. But for the last two weeks, I didn't feel like myself.

"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," he said. "We ran some tests and the doctor concluded that I had rhabdomyolysis.

"I was hospitalized [Monday] 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."

In a separate tweet, he apologized to McKinson, saying: "I'm sure you trained your ass off. We're just fighting trying to provide for our family. I hope you still get the chance to fight."

As for McKinson, it appears a replacement opponent is being sought, so that the event can be salvaged.

Juan Carlos Salgado, who has not fought since 2018, could be propelled into the show, pending commission review, according to Boxing Scene.

Blair Cobbs and Alexis Rocha, who fight in the co-main event, could have their bout promoted to main event status.

The show, for now, goes on.