Tag Archives: Luis Ortiz

Posted on 04/16/2022

By: Hans Themistode

Even the staunchest fans of Andy Ruiz Jr. were bemused by his opponent selection.

It was recently revealed that the former unified heavyweight champion would make his first ring appearance of the year against unheralded Tyrone Spong. Although the former kickboxing champion hasn’t competed in the sport of boxing since 2019, he happily answered the call.

Ruiz Jr. vs. Spong was set to take place on July 16th in a homecoming bout for Ruiz Jr. as the pair were expected to trade blows in Plaza de Toros in Mexico City. Despite the breaking development, Ruiz Jr. will not be facing Spong after all. Instead, the Mexican star will take on longtime heavyweight contender, Luis Ortiz.

According to Mike Coppinger of ESPN, who was the first to report on the switch of opponents, Ruiz Jr. not only agreed to face Ortiz initially, but he also signed his name on the dotted line before inking his contract to face Spong.

After stumbling upon the original news, Ortiz lambasted Ruiz Jr.

“He’s a coward,” said Ortiz of Ruiz Jr. during a recent interview with the El Nuevo Herald. “He knew how badly I wanted to fight him but he decided to take an easy route. I repeat, he is a coward.”

With the two now scheduled to face off in what’s likely to be a pay-per-view headliner in August later this year, the former two-time heavyweight title challenger is licking his chops.

Even at the age of 43, Ortiz proved that he not only has the requisite skills to compete against the upper echelon of the division but more importantly, the desire. Throughout his long and fruitful career, Ortiz has only suffered defeat at the hands of Deontay Wilder in both 2018 and 2019. Regardless of his shortcomings, Ortiz is currently on a two-fight win streak.

On the first day of 2022, Ortiz waged an all-out war against former titlist, Charles Martin. Although Ortiz was sent crashing down to the canvas on two separate occasions, he flipped the tables on his man in the sixth, as he would go on to stop the former IBF trinket holder.

Despite his attempts to face Spong, a showdown against Ortiz aligns more with the Mexican star’s current ambitions. Since scoring one of the more surprising victories in recent memory against Anthony Joshua in June of 2019, Ruiz Jr. would return to the ring in considerably less than optimal shape. As a result, Ruiz Jr. would lose a wide unanimous decision against Joshua in their immediate rematch.

While Ruiz Jr. expressed disappointment, he’s bounced back nicely, winning a wide unanimous decision against perennial fringe contender, Chris Arreola in May of 2021. Should Ruiz Jr. continue his winning ways, the 32-year-old has stated time and time again that he would love nothing more than to re-wrap his waist with championship gold.

Posted on 01/03/2022

By: Hans Themistode

Luis Ortiz believed he had something to prove heading into his showdown against Charles Martin on the first day of the New Year. At the ripe old age of 42, Ortiz was steadfast in his belief that despite his age, his dream of becoming the first Cuban-born heavyweight champion was still within his grasp. However, as the two locked horns at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida, the hard-hitting contender was almost on the wrong end of a knockout loss.

While Ortiz sauntered to the middle of the ring with confidence, Martin, a former transient heavyweight champion, did the same. As the two began exchanging leather, it was Ortiz that hit the canvas in rounds one and four.

Although things appeared grim, Ortiz dug deep at the midway point of their showdown and rallied back. In the sixth round, in particular, the Cuban southpaw dropped his man after connecting on a strong right hand which led to a barrage of punches. Shortly after, Ortiz closed the show, finishing Martin later in the round.

The win for Ortiz was his second straight since coming up short in his bid to win a world title against Deontay Wilder. As Ortiz begins to sift through the names near the top of the division, he reveals that he would be interested in facing some of the more notable contenders. Or, in a perfect world, Ortiz would love to bypass them altogether and try his hand at another world title.

“I want to fight Andy Ruiz, I want to fight Dillian Whyte,” said Ortiz to ESNEWS. “[Tyson] Fury doesn’t have an opponent, I’m ready for anybody.”

Fury, 33, has spent the last two years concentrating on his rivalry with former heavyweight champion and Ortiz conqueror, Deontay Wilder. Although Fury credits Wilder for being the second-best heavyweight in the world, the Alabama native was unable to snag a victory from Fury during their back-to-back showdowns.

During their most recent contest on October 9th, late last year, Fury crawled back to his feet on two separate occasions to score the stoppage win in the 11th.

Since then, both Fury and his promoter Bob Arum revealed that the current WBC titlist could face either Robert Helenius or Andy Ruiz next. At the moment though, nothing is finalized, leaving Fury without an opponent for the time being.

Considering his come-from-behind victory, Ortiz would love nothing more than to share the ring with Fury and receive his third crack at heavyweight gold.

Posted on 12/29/2021

By: Hans Themistode

Luis Ortiz can feel the forceful hands on his back pushing him out the door.

Although the Cuban heavyweight contender believes he’s in incredible shape, he’s well aware that many believe he should walk away from the sport of boxing. At the age of 42, however, Ortiz is still holding out hope that he’ll one day be able to accomplish his dreams of becoming a world titleholder.

Despite two failed attempts against Deontay Wilder, Ortiz is just days away from re-entering the ring. On the first day of the new year, the multiple-time title challenger will take on former IBF heavyweight champion Charles Martin at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

While Ortiz has done his best to ignore the outside noise surrounding his need to hang up the gloves, the Cuban star has issued one final warning to any and everyone who believes his time near the top of the heavyweight mountain has come to an end.

“King Kong is ready to destroy anyone who thinks I should retire,” said Ortiz.

Following Ortiz’s first defeat to Wilder in March of 2018, the deleterious knockout artist reeled off three straight victories before suffering defeat at the hands of Wilder once again. Since then, Ortiz has made a transient ring appearance against Alexander Flores in November of 2020, registering a first-round knockout win.

The Cuban southpaw would then spend the entirety of his 2021 calendar on the sidelines. Still, despite his recent stretch of inactivity and regardless of his advanced age, Ortiz is only willing to hang up the gloves when the man upstairs instructs him to do so.

“I will retire from boxing when God says I should.”

Posted on 12/21/2021

By: Hans Themistode

Even at the age of 42, Luis Ortiz believes his time near the top of the heavyweight division is far from over.

In just a few more weeks, the Cuban native will look to prove that age is nothing more than a number when he takes on former IBF heavyweight champion, Charles Martin. The two are slated to face off on the first day of the new year at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

While Ortiz has scored several devastating wins throughout the course of his career, following two defeats at the hands of former WBC belt holder Deontay Wilder, Ortiz has become somewhat of a forgotten man in the grand scheme of things. More than anything, the slick and powerful southpaw has patiently watched as names such as Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk, and Andy Ruiz Jr., have received their just due as the best in the division.

Ortiz, on the other hand, believes his name should still be mentioned amongst the elite. However, while Ortiz is convinced that his skills are second to none, he has a strong hunch as to why his name isn’t mentioned by any of his top contemporaries.

“You know why my name isn’t mentioned?” Questioned Ortiz during a recent virtual press conference. “Because they avoid me. I don’t know why they avoid me but they do.”

Although Ortiz believes his name should still be protruding near the top of the heavyweight division, he’ll have an opportunity to climb his way back up the ranks come January 1st. Since losing a close but clear unanimous decision to Adam Kownacki in September of 2018, Charles Martin has hit the reset button. As a result, the former world titleholder has reeled off three straight stoppage victories.

Still, despite the current streak of Martin, Ortiz is confident that he’ll be able to put an end to it. Most recently, following his seventh-round stoppage defeat at the hands of Deontay Wilder in November of 2019, Ortiz has bounced back. The Cuban made quick work of Alexander Flores in November of 2020, stopping him in the first round.

While Ortiz has failed to enter the ring since then, he confidently speaks of his work ethic and commitment to staying in the gym. Should the Cuban star pick up the victory against Martin, he isn’t expecting any of the former or current world champions to call him out publicly. Although he’s bemused by the lack of top names willing to face him, Ortiz believes he has an idea as to why his name isn’t exactly at the forefront of everyone’s mind.

“Maybe it’s because they got their panties in a bunch. I don’t know but I’ll be ready for when they call my name.”

Posted on 09/19/2021

By: Hans Themistode

Even with a world title opportunity ostensibly in his future, Joe Joyce refuses to sit idly by.

The heavyweight contender saw his ranking shoot up to number one in the WBO, mostly due to his recent run of big-time wins. After proving his doubters wrong by picking up the knockout victory against Daniel Dubois in November of 2020, Joyce followed that up with another impressive win. This time, at the expense of Carlos Takam.

The two clashed on July 24th, earlier this year at Wembley Arena in front of a jam-packed crowd. While the British native struggled early on, he would eventually end his night early, scoring the stoppage win in the sixth round.

Although Joyce could sit on his hands and wait for his mandated title shot, the former Olympic silver medalist would much rather keep his winning train going. With the division’s two belt holders currently on the verge of defending their titles in the next few weeks, Joyce attempted to lure former champion Joseph Parker to the negotiation table. Yet, with the former titlist scheduled to make a ring appearance against a familiar face, Joyce revealed that his team reached out to another highly rated contender but to no avail.

“That was an option,” said Joyce in reference of Parker during an interview with IFL TV. “Now he’s obviously going to fight Dereck Chisora. I think [Luis] Ortiz was mentioned but I’m not sure he wants the smoke. He didn’t want a war with the big juggernaut.”

Ortiz, 42, has been mostly quiet over the past year. The Cuban native saw his heavyweight title dreams go up in smoke courtesy of a Deontay Wilder right hand in November of 2019. Since then, Ortiz has made just one ring appearance, stopping journeymen Alexander Flores in July of 2020 in the very first round.

The tenuous effort of Flores gave Ortiz hope that he could make a quick turnaround since he sustained little to no damage. With that said, he continues to remain inactive on the sidelines.

In a perfect world, Joyce would be presented with a contract with Ortiz’s name printed on the dotted line. No matter the case, the 36-year-old contender will press on with his training in the gym in the hopes that he’ll return sooner rather than later.

“I’m just training and waiting on my fight date. I should be out before the end of the year.”

Posted on 05/02/2021

By: Hans Themistode

A socially distanced packed house at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California waited patiently for the main event to begin last night. Featured, was the return of former unified heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr. and fringe contender Chris Arreola.

While most of the eyes watching them last night were simply interested in seeing how their contest would shake out, heavyweight contender Luis Ortiz was there on a business trip.

“The fight was good,” said Ortiz during an interview with FightHype.com. “The fight was really interesting. He now has the opportunity, I’ll wait for his decision. Kong is right here. I came to watch him, wished him good luck in his fight and he knows I want to fight.”

Despite Ruiz Jr. (34-2, 22 KOs) heading into their showdown as a gargantuan favorite, Arreola proved that he still has plenty left in the tank as he floored his man early in the second round and fought him on mostly even terms.

Ruiz Jr. would eventually steady himself and pull away during the second half of their contest to win by unanimous decision. The win for the former champion was his first in nearly two years. In June of 2019, Ruiz Jr. became the first fighter of Mexican descent to become heavyweight champion as he dropped and later stopped Anthony Joshua in their contest. His time on top of the boxing world, however, proved to be transient as Joshua easily out-boxed and outmuscled an overweight Ruiz Jr. in their rematch six months later.

In need of a change, the Mexican star joined trainer Eddy Reynoso and his crop of stars including Ryan Garcia and Canelo Alvarez. So far, things have gone according to plan as he has reportedly lost more than 50 pounds.

Long before Ruiz Jr. made his return to the ring, Ortiz (32-2, 27 KOs) expressed an interest in the two facing off. The Cuban product has effectively put two knockout defeats at the hands of Deontay Wilder behind him as he scored a first-round stoppage win of his own against Alexander Flores in November of 2020.

At the moment, what’s next for Ruiz Jr. is unclear. Shortly following his win, the 31-year-old stated that due to the nature of his close contest with Arreola, that he would have no issue with running things back. He’s also indicated that a showdown with Wilder would be high on his agenda.

Regardless of his decision, Ortiz simply wants Ruiz Jr. to know that he’s ready, willing and able to take him on next.

“I’m here waiting for Junior. I’ll wait, I’m ready for whatever may come. I’m ready for this.”

Posted on 02/21/2021

By: Hans Themistode

Dominic Breazeale was viewed as a step-up fight. The kind that wouldn’t be an easy night at the office for Otto Wallin, but one that he should ultimately walk away from with his hand raised in victory if he wanted to place himself in title contention.

After 12 rounds with the former multiple-time title challenger, Wallin cruised past Breazeale and proved that another title shot could be just around the corner. Still, the Swedish product has more work to do if he wants to place himself in the front of the line when the dust at the top of the division clears between unified champion Anthony Joshua and WBC/Ring magazine belt holder, Tyson Fury, a man Wallin nearly defeated almost two years ago.

In order to get his next crack at a world title, Wallin will need to step up his competition. Luckily for him, the heavyweight division is filled with plenty of names that, if he beats, can place him on the map. Let’s take a look at the best matches to make for him next.

Charles Martin

Charles Martin’s title win in January of 2016 was a bit fluky. His contest against Vyacheslav Glazkov ended early in his favor due to Glazkov suffering an injury to his right knee. The injury was so bad in fact, that Glazkov has never fought again.

Still, despite the fortunate win, Martin (28-2-1, 25 KOs) loss the title in his first defense against Anthony Joshua in the second round. Outside of an additional loss to Adam Kownacki in 2018, Martin has reeled off three straight stoppage wins. His title reign may have been a short one, but defeating a former world champion is exactly the sort of win that Wallin needs plastered on his own resume.

Michael Hunter

There’s a lot to like about Michael Hunter. Since making the move to the heavyweight division he’s won seven contests with a draw against top contender Alexander Povetkin sandwiched in between. He was last seen in the ring closing out his 2020 with a fourth-round knockout win over Shawn Laughery.

Hunter (19-1-1, 13 KOs) didn’t appear to be in the best of shape but he picked up the win and continues to rise. For Wallin, beating an older Dominic Breazeale is a solid win, however, taking down a younger, fresher fighter in Hunter would begin to turn a few heads.

Dereck Chisora

Just when you think Dereck Chisora has nothing left in the tank, he turns back the clock a few years and makes everyone look a bit foolish. Going into his heavyweight showdown against Oleksandr Usyk in October of 2020, Chisora (32-10, 23 KOs) wasn’t given much of a shot. The expectations were for the British contender to get outboxed for 12 rounds and look lethargic while trying to catch up to his man. While he didn’t pick up the win, Chisora put up one helluva fight.

Chisora’s career has always been a rollercoaster ride. He lost three straight fights to Robert Helenius, Vitali Klitschko and David Haye in 2011/2012, then reeled off five straight. He was knocked out cold against Dillian Whyte in 2018, then bounced back and started leaving his opponents comatose for three straight contests.

Chisora would present Wallin with the ultimate risk but a decent reward as a win over him would make everyone take notice.

Luis Ortiz

While a win over the other names on this list would make a few fans latch on to Wallin’s bandwagon, a victory over Luis Ortiz would make just about everyone jump on board.

Regardless of the dust on his birth certificate, the 41-year-old is still regarded as one of the best heavyweights in the world. Like most, the chin of Ortiz simply couldn’t hold up against the power of Deontay Wilder. Still, Ortiz (32-2, 27 KOs) carries around the sort of clout that Wallin needs.

Even at his current age, Ortiz is seldom, if ever called out. For Wallin, if he were able to not only call out the former title challenger but actually defeat him, he wouldn’t have to beg for a title shot. One would be presented to him immediately.

Kubrat Pulev

Kubrat Pulev is good, very good even but he doesn’t appear to be great. Under normal circumstances, Wallin would have little to gain in defeating him. With that being said, Pulev has the power of perception standing in his corner.

Just a few months ago, Pulev (28-2, 14 KOs) was standing across the ring from unified champion Anthony Joshua. Although it wasn’t exactly a close contest and despite Pulev getting knocked out in the ninth round, most of the boxing world remembers that he was at the very least, fighting for a world championship to begin with. Those opportunities aren’t given to just anyone.

A dominant win over him would make boxing fans compare performances. Considering the roll he’s on, if Wallin can somehow end things earlier than Joshua did, many will begin to consider Wallin as a worthy title contender.

Posted on 01/01/2021

By: Hans Themistode

The big fights are easy to identify. Even the most casual fans will tune into matchups headlined by Terence Crawford vs Errol Spence Jr. or Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua. While those fights are undoubtedly huge, discussing them has become incredibly repetitive.

The sport of boxing doesn’t revolve around those obvious big fights, and more times than not, those marquee matchups either take years to materialize or fail to happen at all. The anticipation would go through the roof if Canelo Alvarez agreed to take on Jermall Charlo or if Manny Pacquiao and Terence Crawford came to a bout agreement. But there are a ton of other possible matches that are floating under the radar. One’s that would make fight fans and even casuals run to their television screens. Let’s take a look a look at some of them now.

Luis Ortiz vs Andy Ruiz Jr

When it comes to the heavyweight division, much of the attention is on unified champion Anthony Joshua as well as WBC/Ring magazine belt holder Tyson Fury. There is little doubt that their showdown would entertain. However, a contest between former champion Andy Ruiz Jr. (33-2, 22 KOs) and multiple time title challenger Luis Ortiz would possibly produce even more fireworks.

Both big men know how to box but more importantly, they know how to bang and enjoy doing it. Outside of his defeats to Deontay Wilder, Ortiz (32-2, 27 KOs) has never come close to losing a fight. The now 41-year-old is fresh off a first-round knockout win against Alexander Flores in early November. Ruiz Jr., on the other hand, is still searching to get back on track following his one-sided loss against Anthony Joshua in late 2019. Both men hit hard, have sturdy chins and need a big fight.

This one has fight of the year candidate written all over it.

Jermall Charlo vs Chris Eubank Jr

WBC middleweight belt holder Jermall Charlo (31-0, 22 KOs) has been described in a variety of ways. Brash, brazen, loquacious and even arrogant. In many respects, so has WBA interim titlist Chris Eubank Jr.

Charlo, 30, has done his best to quiet his doubters with his most recent performance, an easier than expected win against perennial contender Sergiy Derevyanchenko. Eubank Jr. though, is in a similar position. Sure his world title win was a bit fortuitous considering his opponent in Mat Korobov dislocated his shoulder in the second round of their matchup, Eubank Jr. (29-2, 22 KOs) proved in his prior fight that he can not only compete with the elite but beat them convincingly. That much was proven after sending former champion James DeGale into retirement.

In terms of Charlo and Eubank Jr., both men have expressed plenty of interest in facing each other. With nothing set in stone for either man at the moment, both should look to make this showdown happen next.

Erickson Lubin vs Jarrett Hurd

Has there ever been a boring fight involving Jarrett Hurd? Of course not. The former unified Jr middleweight champion was once viewed as the class of the division. Those thoughts however, have mostly dissipated following his surprising defeat to Julian Williams in mid-2019.

Still, with only one loss plastered to his record, the Maryland native is far from done. A possible matchup with Erickson Lubin would prove just that, provided he wins.

Lubin, much like Hurd (24-1, 16 KOs), saw his stock take a considerable hit the moment his head bounced off the canvas courtesy of a Jermell Charlo left hand in 2017. He’s rebuilt himself nicely since then reeling off five straight wins. If he wanted, Lubin could sit back and await his second crack at a world title but the 25-year-old loves a good fight. Ironically enough, Hurd loves himself a good scrap as well. It’s a matchup made in boxing Heaven.

Terence Crawford vs Keith Thurman

No not Manny Pacquiao and no not Errol Spence Jr. Terence Crawford (37-0, 28 KOs) should pick a fight with former unified welterweight champion Keith Thurman. By all accounts, Spence Jr. is the top name in the division and the one Crawford should continue to lure into the ring. With that being said, Thurman (29-1, 22 KOs) was Spence Jr. long before he broke into the championship mix.

The biggest wins on the Dallas native’s resume came at the expense of Danny Garcia and Shawn Porter. While they were impressive victories, Thurman took care of business against both men in 2016 and 2017 respectively.

Injuries, of course, have held back the 32-year-old Thurman. And despite his loss to Pacquiao in his last ring appearance, he proved that there’s still plenty left in the tank.

Fans have grown tired of begging and groveling for a matchup between Crawford and Spence Jr. Instead, they should switch their focus and hope that Crawford faces Thurman. The former champion may have lost countless fans due to his inactivity in the ring but he’s still one of the best fighters in the world.

Posted on 12/26/2020

By: Hans Themistode

Heavyweight contender Luis Ortiz was minding his business. The Cuban native just finished unwrapping presents with his children for Christmas and enjoyed watching their faces light up with excitement. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, Ortiz received a present of his own as fellow contender Dillian Whyte brought up the possibility of facing him in the first half of 2021. From there, Ortiz frantically reached for his phone and started dialing numbers.

“I heard my name and I got excited,” said Ortiz during a recent interview with Boxingscene. “I called my manager, my coach, and (Al) Haymon to ask if there’s a possibility so I’m waiting patiently.”

Whyte’s interest in a showdown with Ortiz (32-2, 27 KOs) stems from his failed attempts to drag current WBC interim titlist Alexander Povetkin back into the ring with him. In late August, Whyte was riding high from an 11 fight win streak that dated back to 2015. With his persistent call outs to fight for a world title, WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman assured Whyte that as long as he got past Alexander Povetkin, that his wish would be granted.

Things started off well for Whyte as he outboxed his man during the first three rounds before dropping him twice in the fourth. As the bell rang to kick off the fifth, Whyte (27-2, 18 KOs) seemed to be on track to stopping Povetkin and securing his title shot. Unfortunately for Whyte however, Povetkin had other plans as he scored a devastating left uppercut that immediately left Whyte unconscious before his head bounced off the canvas.

Since then, Whyte enacted his rematch clause. Part two between them was set to take place in late November until Povetkin informed team Whyte that he contracted COVID-19. Unlike most athletes who have had a quick and successful turnaround from the virus, Povetkin, 41, is said to be dealing with issues with his lungs.

Whyte took the time to sympathize with his opponent and urged him not to rush back. In the meanwhile, as he awaits Povetkin to receive the green light, Whyte called for a matchup with Ortiz.

“They keep saying that he’s sick so they keep delaying it,” said Whyte on Toe 2 Toe podcast. “Okay that’s fine, I want you to be at your best when I fight you so I’ll tell you what. Have as much time as you want. Let me fight Luis Ortiz in February then I’ll fight Povetkin later in the year.”

For Ortiz, he’s spent a mere 45 seconds inside of the ring this year. After taking some time to recover after his one-punch knockout loss at the hands of Deontay Wilder in November of 2019, Ortiz returned this past November against fringe contender Alexander Flores. Ortiz wasted no time in flooring his man with a body shot in the first round.

Following the win, Ortiz told reporters that he would love to make a quick turn around since he sustained no injuries or damage in the bout. Originally, Ortiz was believed to be eyeing a showdown with former heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr., however, with Whyte naming him as a possible opponent, Ortiz is now shifting his focus.

“Look, I think me and Whyte would be a good fight. I think our fans would love it and I would love to jump in there with him and stand toe to toe with him and exchange some blows. If he’s available and willing – I’m available and ready.”

Posted on 12/17/2020

By: Hans Themistode

With one fatal left uppercut, all of the hard work that heavyweight contender Dillian Whyte had put forth went right down the drain.

Following 16 straight wins to start his career, Whyte suffered a major setback at the hands of fellow British rival and current unified champion Anthony Joshua via seventh-round stoppage. Despite the loss, Whyte had spent five full years rebuilding himself. By all accounts, he had done just that as he reeled off 11 straight wins.

Just when the former WBC interim titlist reached the top of the ladder and came within striking distance of his first world title crack, Russian contender Alexander Povetkin pushed him back to the bottom of the barrel. When the two met earlier this year in late August, Whyte was in clear control. In the fourth, Povetkin seemed to be on his way to an early night in the emergency room as he was dropped twice during the round.

Then, seemingly out of nowhere, Povetkin ducked low, cocked back and fired a left uppercut that left Whyte unconscious. Following the loss, Whyte (27-2, 18 KOs) immediately enacted his rematch clause. However, due to COVID-19, Povetkin has been forced to delay their second meeting.

While Whyte could continue to bide his time on the sidelines until his man fully recovers, he’d much rather face another big-name opponent in the meanwhile.

“They keep saying that he’s sick so they keep delaying it,” said Whyte on Toe 2 Toe podcast. “Okay that’s fine, I want you to be at your best when I fight you so I’ll tell you what. Have as much time as you want. Let me fight Luis Ortiz in February then I’ll fight Povetkin later in the year.”

For the 41-year-old Ortiz, a fight against Whyte could be exactly what the doctor ordered. Following two failed title contests against then belt holder Deontay Wilder, Ortiz (32-2, 27 KOs) has picked up several wins. Most recently, the Cuban native annihilated Alexander Flores in the first round roughly one month ago. A matchup between both Whyte and Ortiz would pit a pair of contenders that are ranked safely within the top six of the WBC sanctioning body.

With no exact date in mind in terms of when Povetkin will be fully fit to return to the ring, Whyte views a contest with Ortiz as not only a matchup that would allow him to stay active, but also one that he has been chasing for quite some time.

“I tried to fight Luis Ortiz three or four times. I’ll fight Ortiz in February and Povetkin in April or May. I want Povetkin to recover and be good. It’s a serious situation and he’s older. They say his lungs have problems because of Covid so let me and Ortiz fight and I’ll fight Povetkin after.”

Posted on 11/11/2020

By: Hans Themistode

Heavyweight contender Luis Ortiz has been clamoring for another shot on the big stage. After suffering two losses to former WBC titlist Deontay Wilder, Ortiz sat idle on the sidelines until this past weekend. In his return fight, the Cuban born product took on fringe contender Alexander Flores. If Ortiz was hoping to work on his craft while banking a few rounds, his hopes were immediately shot down as Flores went down in the first 40 seconds of their contest.

Any criticism that the former title challenger receives for his choice of opponent is understandable but just like the public wants him to face better opposition, Ortiz feels the same way.

“I want bigger names, better fights and better opponents but it’s just not happening,” explained Ortiz to Fight Hub TV. “There really wasn’t a better opponent to have. I want to fight everybody that says I’m not worthy, too old or washed up but in the meantime, I’m going to take whatever PBC and Al Haymon put in front of me.”

Well before Ortiz (32-2, 27 KOs) found himself on the wrong end of a Deontay Wilder right hand, the Cuban southpaw was widely viewed as the division’s boogieman. Although a third fight is unlikely to happen, Ortiz would love to face Wilder again, again and again.

“I still have a thorn in my side from losing twice to Wilder. If I could fight him 30 times I would until I get the win.”

As things are presently constructed in the heavyweight division, the path to another world title shot is an arduous one for Ortiz. Currently, unified champion Anthony Joshua is preparing for his IBF mandatory challenger in Kubrat Pulev. Should he get past him, he has another mandatory awaiting. This time of the WBO variety in Oleksandr Usyk. Tyson Fury, the WBC and Ring magazine belt holder, is weighing his options for a homecoming contest which is set to take place in early December. He may also be forced to face Wilder for a third time as a pending legal battle is currently underway. Outside of their mandatory obligations, both Fury and Joshua have expressed a desire to face one another for all of the heavyweight marbles. Effectively leaving Ortiz out of the championship mix.

Still, the 41-year-old has his eyes on a former belt holder. One that has just as much to prove as he does.

“The immediate fight is Andy Ruiz,” explained Ortiz. “It’s two fighters looking for get back and redemption. Ruiz is looking to prove that he wasn’t a fluke and I’m looking to prove that I still belongs and that I’m not too old.”

Ruiz, a former unified heavyweight champion, became the first Mexican born fighter to hold a heavyweight belt when he unseated Joshua in mid 2019. His title reign however, was immediately truncated as he lost the rematch six months later via lopsided decision. Since then, he has changed trainers and is now working under the tutelage of Eddy Reynoso, trainer of pound for pound star Canelo Alvarez.

Ruiz is rumored to be facing off against former title challenger Chris Arreola later on this year.

Posted on 09/03/2020

By: Hans Themistode

Cuban native Luis Ortiz is making one final push to reach the mountain of the heavyweight division. The former WBA interim titlist and two time title challenger, is set to return to the ring as the co main event on November 7th, against Scott Alexander. 

The headliner on the night is former unified champion Andy Ruiz. He’ll look to get his career back on track and erase the “lucky” label that has seemingly been attached to him when he takes on Chris Arreola. 

For Ortiz, he’s spent long stretches of his career near the top of the division. Along with his eye-catching knockout performance’s came a reputation of being the division’s boogieman. Yet, with one Deontay Wilder right hand, those myths were quickly thrown out the window. The two went toe to toe in a fight of the year candidate back in 2018. It was the first time in the career of Ortiz that he found himself fighting for a world title and he did not disappoint. 

After spending the majority of the first half of their contest out boxing his man, Ortiz, like most Wilder opponents, found himself looking up at the ceiling lights while the referee began his count. The Cuban native managed to make it back to his feet but was once again sent down to the mat, this time for good. 

It was the first defeat of his career, but Ortiz (31-2, 26 KOs) saw his stock rise. So much so that he earned another shot at Wilder one year later. This time around, things ended anticlimactically as Wilder finished Ortiz with a single punch in the seventh round. 

Now, at an age where fighters typically decide to hang up their gloves, Ortiz is looking to make another run. 

For Scott Alexander (16-3-2, 8 KOs) his career has been spent in boxing obscurity. The career long journeyman has never found himself in the title hunt, nor has he faced any of the upper echelon of the division. 

He is however, riding a two fight win streak, albeit against less than stellar opposition. 

With Tyson Fury handing Ortiz a gift in dethroning Wilder earlier this year, the Cuban native will attempt what he hopes to be an easier road to a world title. 

Posted on 05/29/2020

By: Hans Themistode

Boxers around the world have been affected negatively by COVID-19. But none more so than Heavyweight contender Luis Ortiz. At 41 years of age, the former WBA interim world champion has become a ticking time bomb. He hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down, but Father Time has a close eye on him. 

At one point, Ortiz (31-2, 26 KOs) was known as the boogieman of the division, but two stoppage losses to former WBC titlist Deontay Wilder quickly changed that narrative. 

But even with Wilders right hand permanently tattooed on his forehead, Ortiz still has hopes of becoming the first Cuban born Heavyweight world champion. For now though, he simply sits back and waits until the phone rings for another opportunity.

“I’ve stayed at home like everyone else,'” Ortiz said to George Ebro. “But I’ve remained active, with proper physical preparation. I already have my ring at home and there I do the exercises. I’ve been told I could fight again between August or September. In any case, I’ll be ready.”

A third fight with Wilder is out of the question. But with title holders such as Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, the Cuban big man still has plenty of options. 

For now, it’s all about placing himself in a win, win situation, which is easier said than done. Both Wilder and Fury have a third date penciled in for one another, while Joshua on the other hand has a candlelit dinner of his own with Kubrat Pulev. Other contenders such as Dillian Whyte, Dereck Chisora, Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois all have previously booked matchups as well. 

With that being said, there is a recently un retired former world champion who is currently in search of his own dance partner at the moment as well.

“I’m not a boxer sitting down to pick names for some convenience,” Ortiz added. “I’m going against whoever it is and whoever I want. Now there’s a lot of talk about Mike Tyson’s return. If he wants to, I’ll even go against him. I just need a name and a date.”

Posted on 03/25/2020

By: Hans Themistode

Heavyweight contender Luis Ortiz is in search of a fight. Which isn’t exactly surprising considering his track record. 

The last time he was seen in the ring, Ortiz (31-2, 26 KOs) was seemingly just a few rounds away from becoming the first Cuban born Heavyweight world champion. 

On November 23rd, at the MGM Grand Arena, in Las Vegas Nevada, Ortiz found himself standing across the ring from then champion Deontay Wilder. Through six rounds, Ortiz was on his way to making history. Cuban born fighters have always garnered a ton of respect in the boxing world. They’re often slick, defensively responsible, strong and maybe even a bit boring. Ortiz was all of that, minus the boring part. 

For as good as Cuban born fighters have proven to be, the Heavyweights have shown that they are just that. Good, but not great. 

Yet, with six rounds left in his second shot at a Heavyweight title, Ortiz almost hit champion status. But then, like most of Wilder’s fights, everything came to an end as Ortiz was stopped in the 7th round.

With two cracks at a world title coupled with two losses, Ortiz seems perfectly content with going from contender to high level gatekeeper.

“All of those people who are out there, Kownacki the one who lost, Povetkin, Dillan Whyte … they all want to fight for world titles, but first they have to go through King Kong. I am the metal test,” Ortiz said. It gives me great joy that people think a little more about me. I am determined to continue my career.”

The soon to be 41 year old Ortiz is on the back end of his career at this point. But the big fights that he seems to always be in search of, could be coming his way very soon. 

Former unified Heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz is reportedly ready to take his career more seriously. After causing one of the biggest upsets in boxing history with a win over Anthony Joshua in June of 2019, Ruiz fell off a cliff in the immediate rematch, losing virtually every round. 

Now, with Ruiz claiming that he wants to turn things around, the former Heavyweight champ wants to get his hands on a tune up fight before jumping back into the deep end of the water. 

Ortiz though, wants to hear nothing of it.

“Why does [Ruiz need] a tune up fight? We as boxers need opponents to help us lift our name. I prefer to always fight against people with marksmanship and not those who are below my level. And now more than ever I am dangerous for anyone who wants to rise in this division. I feel young, my children are the engine of my career.”

With much of the boxing schedule on freeze due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Ruiz might opt to jump into a big showdown with Ortiz to make up for lost time.