Heavyweight contender Luis Ortiz of Cuba will be 41 years old in a few days, but that is an insignificant number according to his way of looking at life.
Ortiz has other choice but to wait for a fight, due to the lack of a real opponent. The man known as ‘King Kong’ is hoping that a new opportunity will come around to prove his worth in the ring.
The Cuban has already turned a page after suffering the knockout defeat to then WBC world champion Deontay Wilder in their November rematch.
The plans of his team and Premier Boxing Champions were to line up a return date in July.
But now with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the return of Ortiz is now in limbo.
“I keep training, preparing as always, physically, because mentally I am always strong. In the gym, I do what needs to be done every day, as instructed by my coach. I’m training, let’s say at 50 percent,” Ortiz told George Ebro.
Ortiz was hoping to get lined up in a fight with former unified world champion Andy Ruiz – but Ruiz indicated that he needs a tuneup after suffering a dominant twelve round decision loss to Anthony Joshua in December.
“It gives me great joy that people think a little more about me. I am determined to continue my career. All of those people who are out there, not only Ruiz, but 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.
“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.”
–boxingscene.com
