Ellis vs Fortuna Predictions: ‘Speedy’ to accelerate Fortuna’s decline

WBO welterweight number-nine Rashidi Ellis faces former WBA ‘regular’ champion Javier Fortuna this Saturday, November 1. The bout takes place at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Montville, Connecticut. No news is forthcoming at press time over a UK broadcast partner.

Read on for my Ellis vs Fortuna predictions.

Ellis vs Fortuna Odds

Fortuna is the more accomplished fighter career-wise, but his age and road-wear have him as the 8/1 underdog. Ellis is priced at 1/10 while the draw is 14/1.

Ellis vs Fortuna Fight Preview

For a fighter with the nickname ‘Speedy’, Ellis’ march to the top has been slow and laborious. Periods of inactivity have marred a promising pro career that started in 2013. Chuck in a tight decision loss to Roiman Villa in 2023 and Ellis is not as close as expected to a world title shot.

At the age of 32, time is running out to realise that ambition. But Ellis is doing the work. This fight with Fortuna is his third outing of 2025. The last time the Massachusetts native fought more  than once in a calendar year was 2018. 

While Ellis waits for his shining moment, Fortuna has crammed in far more experience in less time. Debuting in 2014, a year after Ellis, ‘El Abejon’ is a former WBA interim and  ‘regular’ champion, had two further world title shots and even faced the wildly popular Ryan Garcia. While Ellis still feels like a prospect 12 years after his debut, Fortuna is a veteran despite fighting for a year less. Tellingly, the Dominican has 18 more fights in his record.

But this feels like a canny piece of matchmaking in Ellis’ favour. Fortuna is a recognisable name and face who has been in big fights. As well as Garcia, he has also boxed Joseph ‘JoJo’ Diaz Jr, Robert Easter Jr and even Britain’s Robbie Davies Jr. More juniors than an S Club 7 spin-off band. But he is fading and Ellis, who has notched up three stoppage wins since the Villa surprise, is on the rise.

On paper, Fortuna is easily the biggest name ‘Speedy’ has faced since Villa. But the 36-year-old has lost three of his last five, with two stoppage defeats. The wins were a pair of two-round knockouts of domestic journeymen back home in the Dominican Republic. A day removed from Halloween, Ellis is about to embark on the biggest example of ghostbusting since Egon on the boys strapped on the packs to fight an angry painting. 

Vigo The Carpathian probably had more punch resistance than Fortuna does these days. His peak arrived as a super featherweight, where he won two WBA straps. Lightweight was a fairly unhappy hunting ground, where two close decision losses in titles fights were rendered doubly-frustrating when signed fights against Luke Campbell and Jorge Linares fell to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

But welterweight does not sit well on a fighter who did his best work 17-pounds lighter. Fortuna is too hittable. He has been hit too much. For Ellis, that is exactly what he is looking for. But one hopes that someone has a quiet word with his opponent after this. It’s time.

Ellis vs Fortuna Full Card

Rashidi Ellis vs Javier Fortuna

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Slawomir Bohdziewicz vs Cesar Lopez Ugarte

Tevin Regis vs Anthony Mora

Douglas Marroquin vs Jesus Cruz Silva

Tyler Macari vs Katriel Young

William Guilmette vs David Rodrigues

Carlos Ojeda Perez vs Stephen Davis

Kevin Mojica vs LaTreveon Grant

Joseph Chisholm vs TBA

Giani Patrizio Liguori vs TBA

Ellis vs Fortuna Prediction

‘Speedy’ has realised he needs to pick up the pace. Three fights this year does not feel like a coincidence. Neither does the choice of Fortuna as an opponent. A win here will turn some heads and perhaps put Ellis on the radar of some top welterweights in 2026. I think Ellis takes this at 1/10.

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