Erickson Lubin isn't some journeyman looking for a paycheck and an easy way out.

Vergil Ortiz knows he's hungry and determined. So while he understands why he's the favorite, it'll be anything but an easy night November 8 at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.

"He has intellect, experience and power," Ortiz said during their first press conference this week. "He likes to fight, I've seen his fights before. He legitimately goes in there to fight people. I respect that about him."

Over the last few years, Ortiz’s admiration for Lubin (27-2, 19 KOs) has only increased. With the 29-year-old on a three-fight winning streak, he feels like he’s just entering his prime.

But, no matter how impressive Lubin has looked recently, arguably no other 154-pound contender has put together a run quite like the current interim WBC junior middleweight beltholder.

Ortiz, 27, beat then-top 5 contender in Serhii Bohachuk in August last year before following that Fight of the Year contender six months later with a disciplined victory over perennial contender and former WBA champion Israil Madrimov.

Those victories placed him firmly on the map in his third weight class, though Lubin is of that ilk — if not higher. Ortiz needs to be on his A game and even that might not be enough.

Returning from a hand injury, Ortiz (23-0, 21 KOs) expects to raise his game a few levels to beat Lubin and move on to bigger matchups.

"I'm very motivated," Ortiz said. "I wanna win and look good doing it. Being in the ring with someone of Erickson Lubin's pedigree just motivates me to train harder."