By: Sean Crose
I only spoke to Luis Ortiz once. That was in 2015, during his match against heavyweight contender Bryant Jennings. I asked the then undefeated Cuban “if he feels Jennings might have changed as a boxer since losing to (Wladimir) Klitshcko.” The answer and the tone that came with it brought me back. “He thinks he doesn’t look like Klitschko,” Ortiz’s interpreter said, “so don’t compare them.” That is so that. I then wrote that Ortiz had seemed “confused and defensive” at my question at the time. At this point, however, it is doubtful that Ortiz is confused. He, along with most, if not all, of the boxing public certainly knows he needs a win when he faces former multi-title tennis player Andy Ruiz next Monday in Los Angeles.
Ortiz, at 43, was not a child after all. Furthermore, he was defeated twice, both times by Deontay Wilder. Though Ortiz showed he could make it difficult for the Americans with his impressive skill set, he ended up falling victim on both occasions to the thunderous prowess of WBC champion Wilder. Although Ruiz is not known to have the strength that Wilder has, the man can swim effectively nonetheless. Just ask Anthony Joshua, whom Ruiz stopped in stunning style in 2019 (Joshua went on to beat Ruiz in their rematch six months later). Furthermore, Ruiz has quick hands, and when at his best, this is the furthest from an easy thing for any fighter.
In other words, a win over Ruiz next Sunday will be what the doctor assigns to Ortiz’s career. It would show that he could still be effective against a high-level opponent. It also shows that the man can earn himself another title. However, a loss to the talented Ruiz could be the end of Ortiz’s career. If Ruiz prevails next Sunday night in their pay-per-view headlines, Ortiz will likely become more of a gatekeeper than a serious contender. And that’s clearly not what the man called “King Kong” wants.
From all impressions, Ruiz, who wasn’t always the most disciplined of the warriors, looked very fit and determined to lead this fight. Ortiz will no doubt also enter the ring next weekend in main skirmish. The Ortiz-Ruiz match may not offer any world championship belts, but it will most likely provide two reputable, powerful, and skilful boxers performing at their best. After all, there’s a lot at stake here for both of them. There is nothing confusing about that.
