King Kong in Europe: Analysing Luis Ortiz's Past, Present and Future
On Saturday, Luis Ortiz begins a new chapter in a professional career that, like a vintage car on a cold winter morning, needs a jump-start to regain some momentum.
The Cuban heavyweight boasts a 25-0 (22 KOs) record and has enjoyed two stints as the WBA's interim champion. And yet, somehow for a fighter who stands at 6'4" tall, he's struggled to get noticed.
Last seen knocking out Tony Thompson on American soil in March, King Kong is now looking to go on a rampage in Europe.
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In signing a deal to join Matchroom Boxing's crowded stable, Ortiz aims to raise his profile and prove to a new audience that he's worthy of a world-title shot in 2017.
His new promoters have hardly given their latest acquisition a low-key debut—the 37-year-old starts out with a fight against Malik Scott in the stunning location of Salle des Etoiles in Monte Carlo, Monaco.
Ahead of the bout, Bleacher Report takes an in-depth look at Ortiz's background, as well as predicting a potential path he could take to world domination.
The Past
Per BoxRec, Ortiz reportedly ended his amateur career with a 343-19 record.
While he helped Cuba claim a silver medal at the Boxing World Cup in 2005, individual success eluded him at international level. He was not helped by the high level of competition for places in the national team.
After defecting from his homeland to pursue a career in the paid ranks, Ortiz set up base in Miami under trainer Dino Spencer and turned pro in 2010.
His Cuban roots quickly became apparent in the United States—while so many heavyweights rely on their power to put away opponents, he demonstrated a boxing brain to go with his size and strength.
Still, there have been knockouts along the way. Lots of knockouts.
Ortiz has flattened plenty of inferior foes, although there are three notable names among his list of victims.
Former world-title challenger Monte Barrett was stopped inside four rounds in 2014, while Thompson made it to the sixth before suffering a KO loss earlier this year.
However, his best win so far came last year against Bryant Jennings, an American who took Wladimir Klitschko the distance earlier in 2015.
Jennings—never previously stopped in his career—looked to fight on the inside, only to be tenderised up-close by uppercuts. Ortiz landed three in succession to record a knockdown in Round 7 and although his opponent got back up, a right-left combination from distance led to referee Dick Pakozdi stepping in.
While Ortiz is unbeaten in the ring, there is a black mark on his CV.
His first stint as WBA interim champion was cut short when anabolic steroid Nandrolone was found in a pre-fight sample tested following a first-round stoppage win over Lateef Kayode in September 2014.
Per ESPN's Dan Rafael, the fighter was not only stripped of his belt but also fined $8,000 and ordered to serve 15 hours of community service aimed toward children with an anti-bullying message.
Although he gained the crown back with victory over Matias Ariel Vidondo the following year, the failed test was an untimely setback.
The Present
In severing ties with Golden Boy, who co-promoted the heavyweight alongside Dade Promotions, Ortiz has taken a gamble.
According to Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times, a seven-figure settlement fee had to be forked out to earn his freedom.
Having now joined forces with Matchroom, Ortiz needs to get busy. His age should not be a huge concern; he has no worries about making weight, plus history says heavies can be successful in their late 30s. A 38-year-old Lennox Lewis retired as the undisputed champion in 2004, while George Foreman won the IBF and WBA titles at the tender age of 45.
Ortiz's issue is a lack of fights, not fighting against Father Time. Despite this, he's seen as a future world champion by HBO's Harold Lederman:
Now Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn has to plot his new recruit's route to the top. Their journey together starts with a fight for the vacant WBA Inter-Continental heavyweight strap.
On paper, Scott (38-2-1, 13 KOs) looks a solid option.
However, his two defeats—against Deontay Wilder (inside two minutes) and Dereck Chisora—suggest the Philadelphian is highly unlikely to throw a spanner in the works. Scott's 32 per cent KO ratio is also a damning indictment of his power, while hoping to out-box Ortiz over 12 rounds feels like mission impossible.
Per Odds Shark, the underdog is 14-1 for victory...and that still doesn't seem a big enough price.
Hearn clearly isn't predicting Scott to cause many problems; Ortiz is scheduled to appear on the undercard to fellow heavyweight Anthony Joshua's defence of the IBF title, against Eric Molina, on December 10.
Speaking of Joshua...
The Future
Joshua vs. Ortiz is a tantalising prospect. Hearn knows this—and he seems open to making it a reality.
He told Sky Sports: "Luis Ortiz against Joshua could be a huge fight for 2017 and we have no problem in making that fight if it is the right move."
However, Ortiz will have to wait his turn for a crack at Hearn's golden boy.
While Molina is next in the queue, Wladimir Klitschko is waiting in the wings. The Ukrainian had seemingly been on the brink of signing a deal to face Joshua on December 10, only for time to run out on the deal.
Klitschko wanted the vacant WBA Super title to be on the line, as well as Joshua's IBF crown. The governing body finally agreed to the request, paving the way for the huge 2017 showdown that, according to Kevin Mitchell of the Guardian, will "probably take place outdoors in the UK next summer."
Ortiz—ranked No. 1 by the WBA—cannot remain idle while waiting to find out the identity of the new champion.
It is unlikely his December outing will be against a leading name, but Ortiz needs to do more than keep knocking over second-rate big men.
Hearn, thankfully, has one intriguing option already in his ranks.
Dillian Whyte is not someone to back down from a challenge. The Englishman has a grudge match with Dereck Chisora on December 10 to focus on right now, but Ortiz could loom large on the horizon.
What if, while Joshua takes on Klitschko next summer, the undercard features Ortiz and Whyte in a fight to decide who faces the winner of the main event?
The double-header should appeal to everyone: The boxers, who would get handsomely paid for their efforts, the broadcasters (just think of those pay-per-view buys), the promoters, who might need the rest of the year off to count their profits, and also the fans, who crave big fights after such a disappointing 2016.
Some might suggest Hearn wouldn't risk Joshua against a dangerous southpaw like Ortiz, who cleverly uses the jab to set up his left-hand power shots often thrown while into range.
But, if Joshua finds a way to defeat Klitschko, why hold him back?
The Englishman either needs to face big names in title defences (and Ortiz would meet that criteria by beating Whyte in an eliminator), or unification contests against the holders of the IBF and WBO belts.
Of course, this is all pie-in-the-sky stuff for now, even if it is nice to dream.
Before he can even contemplate title fights, Ortiz—labelled "boxing's worst kept secret" by Sky Sports Boxing on Twitter—needs to emerge from the shadows.
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