Erickson Lubin hasn’t reached the top of the junior middleweight mountain, but he’s steadily climbing.

The soon-to-be 30-year-old had some slip-ups along his journey, but currently, he’s right where he wants to be. Come November 8 at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, he’ll have a chance to solidify himself as one of the division’s top dogs when he takes on Vergil Ortiz Jr.

“This my third undefeated fighter in a row,” Lubin said during a recent press conference. “I’m looking to become that dude at 154 pounds.”

Although he did come up short against Sebastian Fundora in April 2022, Lubin (27-2, 19 KOs) has picked up three consecutive victories, with the latest coming at the expense of Ardreal Holmes Jr. on May 10.

Even with that stoppage victory under his belt, Lubin is a heavy underdog against Ortiz, and for good reason.

Long story short, Ortiz (23-0, 21 KOs) has been a monster since the moment he turned pro. To stamp himself as one of the best fighters at 154 pounds, the interim WBC champ went on an unforgettable run.

First, he picked himself up off the deck twice against Serhii Bohachuk 13 months ago in Las Vegas and won a majority decision. He then beat top-five contender and former champion Israil Madrimov at ANB Arena on February 22 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Lubin is no fool. He’s been watching some of Ortiz’s violent handiwork from a distance. He also knows that come fight night, the Texas crowd will be cheering for his opponent, who is from nearby Grand Prairie.

He couldn’t care less that the crowd will be on Ortiz’s side. He also doesn't care how he gets it done. The only thing that matters to him is finding a way to escape with Ortiz’s interim WBC strap.

“It’s gonna be a great fight,” Lubin continued. “Only thing that matters to me is walking out of the arena with my hand raised and the crowd silent.”