The temperature between the mild-mannered Ortiz (24-0, 22 KOs) and always-talkative Thurman (31-2, 23 KOs, 1 NC) was timid, and there was plenty of respect shared between the pair as they promoted their fight, which will provide chief support for the cruiserweight title unification bout between David Benavidez and Michal Cieslak.

DAZN will offer the event to subscribers of its Ultimate plan and on pay-per-view.

“I just want the best fights," Ortiz said. "I’m really excited to be part of this Benavidez card, especially in Arizona. It’s gonna be a movie."

For Ortiz, the protagonist's career over the last year has unfortunately been a dramatic saga filled with unpleasant twists in the script.

Ortiz last fought on November 8, 2025, stopping Erickson Lubin inside of two rounds. In the immediate aftermath, Ortiz appeared ready to fight then-uncrowned contender Jaron "Boots" Ennis, but prolonged negotiations were scrapped once he got into a legal battle with Golden Boy Promotions in January. The dispute wasn't settled until July.

Ennis moved on to beat Xander Zayas for the WBA and WBO 154-pound crowns and is headed toward a title unification fight against IBF beltholder Josh Kelly, and perhaps for an undisputed fight against WBC champion Sebastian Fundora after that.

Ortiz looked around the landscape, and with many of the top names at 154 unavailable, he moved on to 160 to begin making his mark in a new weight class.

“I just want to be in exciting fights. That’s the point of boxing. I want to be remembered as a guy who never said no to a fight," Ortiz said.

“I’m just very happy to be back in my element. All I know is boxing. I’m facing a very game opponent in Keith Thurman. He was my favorite welterweight in 2017, and I picked him over Shawn Porter and Danny Garcia."

Just how much Thurman, 37, has left in the tank, more than a decade removed from his heyday, remains to be seen. The former unified welterweight titleholder last fought on March 28 and was bulldozed by Fundora inside of six one-sided rounds.

Thurman, of Clearwater, Florida, is 2-2 since a split-decision loss against Manny Pacquiao in July 2019 and has fought just three times this decade due to injuries and high-profile fights being unavailable to him.

"Obviously I’m familiar with Thurman, but we’re not gonna take anyone lightly," Ortiz said. “I don’t go in with the mentality to get someone out right away. I’ll feel him out and download information."

Thurman and Ortiz, ranked No. 2 at 154 pounds by The Ring, will be making their 160-pound debuts. Ortiz's five-fight run as a junior middleweight didn't yield a title shot but featured career-best wins against Israil Madrimov in February 2025 and Serhii Bohachuk in August 2024.

“I have a lot of beautiful boxing history on my resume, and I’m definitely looking to add another piece of history on December 5," Thurman said. “I know some people are doubting me after my last performance, but styles make fights. This is a great fight that you’re not gonna want to miss – don’t blink.

“This is a redemption fight. I always want to fight the best and be on the biggest stages. It’s another part of boxing history … I’m fighting one of the young guys who wants to be the future of boxing. But I’ve faced undefeated fighters in the past, and I’ve delivered some upsets. That’s what I’m planning to do."

Manouk Akopyan is The Ring’s lead writer. Follow him on X and Instagram: @ManoukAkopyan