Vergil Ortiz Jr. and Erickson Lubin are finalizing a deal for a junior middleweight fight Oct. 18 in the U.S. on DAZN, sources told The Ring.

Ortiz (23-0, 21 KOs) is coming off a career-best performance, a unanimous-decision victory over former titleholder Israil Madrimov in February in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Ortiz was in talks to fight Keith Thurman, but Thurman is set to challenge Sebastian Fundora one week later in Las Vegas, The Ring reported Thursday.

Ortiz, 27, is rated No. 2 by The Ring at 154 pounds. There are talks to match him with Jaron “Boots” Ennis early next year in one of the best fights that can be made in boxing. Ennis will make his junior middleweight debut Oct. 11 vs. Uisma Lima.

Lubin (27-2, 19 KOs) has reeled off three consecutive wins since he was stopped by Fundora in Round 9 of their April 2022 slugfest. Most recently, Lubin TKOed Andreal Holmes in Round 11 of an IBF title eliminator in May to become the mandatory challenger.

The organization ordered Bakhram Murtalizev to defend his IBF title against Lubin, but Lubin, 29, will instead head into a higher profile fight, albeit without a title on the line.

In Lubin’s lone title challenge, he was stopped in the opening round by Jermell Charlo in October 2017. Lubin is The Ring’s No. 7 boxer at 154 pounds.

Mike Coppinger is The Ring’s senior insider. He was formerly ESPN’s boxing insider. Follow him on X and Instagram: @MikeCoppinger