Ortiz/Martin. Jan1st
#1
Actually, it's January 2nd NZ time.  I'll have a look and see if it's being telecast.  Don't rate Martin at all.
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#2
Luis Ortiz Wants To Do a Job on Charles Martin, Send a Big Message
BY ELISINIO CASTILLO

Cuban heavyweight Luis 'King Kong’ Ortiz is getting ready for his scheduled Fox Sports pay-per-view engagement on January 1, when he will face former world champion Charles Martin.

The card will take place at Hollywood's Hard Rock Cafe and Casino in Florida.

Ortiz returns to fight after a long period of inactivity of 14 months, as his last fight was in November 2020 when he defeated Alexander Flores with a first-round knockout.

Ortiz (32-2, 27 KOs), 42-year-old, has only suffered two defeats, both by knockout at the hands of then WBC world champion Deontay Wilder.

He realizes that a lot of contenders view him as an 'old' boxer, which motivates him to make a big statement against the younger Martin.

"I practically live in the gym, already putting the finishing touches on the preparation and without losing sight of how important this fight is being so close to Miami," Ortiz told George Ebro.

“We know that [Martin] is a boxer with whom we cannot rest on our laurels, we cannot underestimate him. Our plan has been made and we are convinced that it will work. Whatever he brings that night, we will have an answer.

“Let him believe that Luis Ortiz is a bridge for others to pass. I am not anyone's bridge. Whoever comes and tries to pass over me, he will know that I am a bridge full of pointed nails, that to go through me is going to be very, very difficult. They take me as 'look at this old man, that he is still here'. My mind is strong. Every fight of mine sends a message of who Luis Ortiz is, but this January 1 it's going to be even stronger, because Charles Martin is dangerous and respectful."
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#3
Luis Ortiz vs Charles Martin
Jan 1

Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida
A FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View on New Year’s Day.
In the co-main event, unbeaten rising heavyweight star Frank “The Cuban Flash” Sanchez will square off against Puerto Rican Olympian Carlos Negron in a 10-round attraction.

The pay-per-view telecast begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and will also see heavyweight contenders Jonnie Rice and Michael Coffie battle in a 10-round rematch, former title challenger Gerald “El Gallo Negro” Washington in a 10-round showdown against Turkish Olympian Ali Eren Demirezen and unbeaten Viktor Faust facing Iago Kiladze in a 10-round attraction to open the pay-per-view.
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#4
looking forward to this
I like Martin - just think he can be interesting - tough night for him but he has shown decent resilience of late
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#5
He just hasn't beaten anyone good. Maybe Glazkov to win a bullsh*t title. Looked bad against AJ. I think Ortiz gets him in 3.

https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/631078
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#6
Fight Week

Unfortunately, the GGG-Murata middleweight unification fight scheduled for this week got canceled due to Japan’s border closure to foreigners to prevent the spread of the Omicron variant of coronavirus.

However, there is still one more world title fight to come in 2021. On Friday (December 31), WBO super flyweight champion Kazuto Ioka defends his title against Ryoji Fukunaga in Tokyo. Ioka is a four-division world champion. No U.S. TV as of now.

2022 starts with a bang. A $39.99 all-heavyweight pay-per-view on Saturday (January 1) offers up five fights from the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

The PPV line-up is:

Luis Ortiz vs. Charles Martin
Frank Sanchez vs. Carlos Negron
Jonathan Rice vs. Michael Coffie 2
Gerald Washington vs. Ali Eren Demirezen
Viktor Faust vs. Iago Kiladze

Prior to the PPV, FS1 will broadcast some of the undercard action (fighters are TBA).

By the way, the boxing PPV starts at 8PM ET/5PM PT, so it will go head-to-head with the end of the Rose Bowl (probably a blowout) and the meaningless Sugar Bowl. No conflict with either of the CFP national championship semifinal games.
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#7
Ortiz favored to defeat Martin

We have some boxing odds from Bet365 for the $39.99 all-heavyweight pay-per-view on New Year’s Day from the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

In the main event, Luis Ortiz is a 5:1 favorite over Charles Martin, Frank Sanchez is 25:1 over Carlos Negron, Jonathan Rice opened as a +250 underdog, then was quickly bet down to +120 for his rematch with Michael Coffie (-164), and Viktor Faust is a 50:1 favorite over Iago Kiladze. The bout between Gerald Washington and Ali Eren Demirezen is off the board so far.
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#8
EW OPPONENT FOR FRANK SANCHEZ

WBC #5, WBO #5 heavyweight contender Frank “The Cuban Flash” Sanchez will now face Christian Hammer in the PPV co-main event. Hammer replaces Carlos Negron, who was forced to withdraw after a positive COVID test.

* * *

Bettors have jumped all over Jonnie Rice for his rematch with Michael Coffie. Rice opened as a +250 underdog. He is now a -139 favorite.
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#9
https://fightnews.com/exclusive-interview-charles-martin/126333
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#10
Ortiz-Martin Final Press Conference

Top heavyweight Luis “King Kong” Ortiz and former world champion Charles Martin went face-to-face at the final press conference Thursday before they meet in an IBF heavyweight title eliminator headlining a FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View this Saturday, January 1 from Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

The press conference also featured rising heavyweight star Frank “The Cuban Flash” Sanchez and Christian Hammer, who duel in the 10-round co-main event.

Rounding out the heavyweight extravaganza and facing off at Thursday’s event were heavyweight contenders Jonnie Rice and Michael Coffie, who meet in a 10-round rematch, former title challenger Gerald “El Gallo Negro” Washington and Turkish Olympian Ali Eren Demirezen, who battle in a 10-round fight, and unbeaten Viktor Faust and Iago Kiladze, who square off in the 10-round pay-per-view opener at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

Here is what the fighters had to say Thursday from Hard Rock Live:

LUIS ORTIZ

“I’m very thankful for this great opportunity that my team has set me up with on Saturday night. It’s exciting to be able to give the fans a great show.

“When somebody says they’re going to knock me out, it just makes me laugh and smile. Everybody says that. But you’re facing a fighter who has been through it before, so you can try your best.

“I’m glad that he’s saying that he’s going to knock me out. He’s coming with bad intentions and so am I. Anyone can land the big shot, but it’s going to be me with my hand-raised Saturday night.

“I’m very proud to have made my pro debut here at Hard Rock and to have done it in style. I’m glad that he trained well for this fight, because he’s going to be facing a difficult fighter who knows how to adapt.

“First of all, my mind is 100% and that’s the most important thing. On Saturday night, everyone will see that physically, I’m also completely ready to become world champion.”

CHARLES MARTIN

“I’m so excited for this fight. This is a great opportunity and I’m thankful for this chance that I have. It’s great to be displayed as the headliner. PBC has faith in me and I’m going to go out and show why.

“What you see is what you get. I’ve been working hard in the gym day in and day out. It’s like second nature to me. I’m ready to let my hands speak. I’m going to be very skillful in there.

“This is going to be a great fight. You don’t really see two southpaws too often in the heavyweight division. You’re going to see some really good boxing in this fight.

“You’re going to get a knockout in this fight. We’re not going to go 12 rounds. I know I’m going to knock him out.

“I didn’t get a fair shake in my first run as champion. This is the revenge tour right now. Luis Ortiz is first on my list of these last four fights I want before I retire, which includes two against Anthony Joshua. I want to beat him down twice.

“Me and my trainer Manny Robles have been doing a lot of great work in the gym. People only see what happens in the ring, they don’t see what happens behind closed doors. I have business to take care of on Saturday and we’re ready.

“I’m remaining hopeful about getting another world title fight. I never overlook my opponent or look ahead to another fight though. Ortiz is the only opposition that I see at this moment.”

FRANK SANCHEZ

“After joining with my trainer Eddy Reynoso’s team, I’ve learned so much under his tutelage. It’s put me in position to give a great performance Saturday on pay-per-view.

“We trained hard and we trained to fight anyone who would be stepping in against me. I was ready for Negron, but I’m going to be ready for anyone standing there in front of me.

“Christian Hammer is a good fighter and I’m going to be ready for him. That’s what we train for. The opponent doesn’t matter if you’ve prepared to 100% of your ability.

“If I win on Saturday, I feel like I’m going to keep moving up and facing tougher competition. I believe I’m going to be ready for the world title fight next year.”

CHRISTIAN HAMMER

“I was with my team here in the U.S. already, supporting my teammates Viktor and Ali when I got the call about this fight. I was having a great training camp with them, so I was ready to take this fight.

“It’s my job to take these fights. I’m going to do my job and give everyone a good fight on Saturday. I know Sanchez is a good fighter, but I’ve faced a lot of good fighters. We’ll see what he’s made of.”

JONNIE RICE

“Of course, I feel pressure to repeat my performance from our first fight. A lot of people thought it was a fluke, so now I just have to do the same thing times two. I’m getting paid more this time, so I’m going to do it even quicker in this fight.

“Everyone knows how these things go. I was a big underdog in the first fight, so everyone thinks something must have gone wrong. Something had to be out of the ordinary. Let’s understand something though, it’s going to go down the same way Saturday night.

“I don’t feel like he underestimated me in the first fight. I know his attention had been on Gerald Washington. These things happen.

“I’m more confident now than ever. If he doesn’t bring me down a level, my head is going to keep getting bigger and bigger. He might have to do me a favor because right now I feel like I’m about to take over the whole world.”

MICHAEL COFFIE

“I didn’t touch Rice in the first fight, but I’m definitely going to touch him for sure on Saturday night. I definitely have a chip on my shoulder now.

“I have to prove myself. I didn’t get a chance to show what I can actually do in the first fight. I don’t even care about my record, I just want to show my skills. Everyone is going to see on Saturday.

“This time Rice is my original opponent from the beginning. We prepared specifically for him this time. I’m also a lot healthier for this camp. I’m 100% and I’m ready to go.

“This is not a real beef between us, but it’s intense and it’s part of the game. We’re going to play that game on Saturday and may the best man win. I know that it’s going to be me.”

GERALD WASHINGTON

“I feel great. It’s good to be back. I’ve been in the gym working hard with my team. I’ve learned a lot of great things and I’ve taken advantage of the time I’ve had.

“I’m looking forward to showing off my hard work and getting back into a top position in this division. My opponent is coming in hungry to prove himself, and that should make this a great fight for the fans.”

ALI EREN DEMIREZEN

“I’ve had three fights since the Efe Ajagba fight and I’ve gotten much better since then. My skills have improved and I’m very eager to get in the ring and display them.

“This is my second chance fighting in the U.S. and I want to show that I belong in this position. I have to get by this test against Gerald Washington. That’s the only thing that’s on my mind.”

VIKTOR FAUST

“I’m a very good fighter and I’m going to show everyone on Saturday. I’m planning on displaying my technique, skill and power in this fight against Kiladze.

“It’s exciting to be in this position. I love to compete and Saturday is a big opportunity for me. I know I have to give a great performance.”

IAGO KILADZE

“I work hard and train so much. I’ve had a very long training camp. I’m in great shape now and I will give everyone another great fight on Saturday night. I promise that.

“There are a lot of great fighters on this card and I’m excited to be here with them. I’m going to prove with how I fight on Saturday that this is exactly where I belong.”
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