12-26-2021, 02:18 PM
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."
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."