Luis Ortiz: record, next fight and profile →
Promoter Kalle Sauerland, who represents heavyweight contender Filip Hrgovic, wants the IBF to throw down the hammer at their top contenders - because top rated fighters are refusing to take part in a final world title eliminator with Hrgovic.
Former IBF heavyweight champion 'Prince' Charles Martin is ready to get back on the horse after suffering the third defeat of his career last Saturday night in Hollywood, Florida.
As BoxingScene.com previously reported, a hand injury has prevented heavyweight contender Luis Ortiz from accepted a potential fight against Filip Hrgovic, which would have been an IBF final eliminator for a mandatory crack at Oleksandr Usyk.
Filip Hrgovic has once again reached familiar ground. Efforts to stage a final title eliminator for the unbeaten Croatian will proceed to the next available ranked contender to determine the mandatory challenger for the IBF heavyweight title. As previously reported by BoxingScene.com, an invitation was submitted by the sanctioning body to Hrgovic and Luis Ortiz, the latter who declined the offer according to Hrgrovic’s team.
Filip Hrgovic and his team hope that from the first IBF-sanctioned heavyweight fight of 2022 comes the chance to move within one win of challenging for his first major title.
Luis Ortiz’s post-fight victory lap will end with a hard decision to make. BoxingScene.com has confirmed that the International Boxing Federation (IBF) has sent out a letter to both Ortiz and Filip Hrgovic on Monday, giving both heavyweight contenders three days to accept an invitation
Kalle Sauerland, promoter for undefeated Olympic bronze medal winner Filip Hrgovic, cautions that Luis Ortiz will have to face his fighter in order to force a mandatory IBF title shot.
It wasn’t a busy weekend for the sport but as the world welcomed 2022, boxing ended and then began its latest seasons with notable action at heavyweight and Jr. bantamweight.
By Corey Erdman - Every generation of heavyweight boxing has its big men whose ultimate career achievements are simply winding up on a list of best fighters to not win a heavyweight title. The 60s and 70s had a litany of them, stuck behind a handful of all-time greats who ensured the likes of Jerry Quarry, Earnie Shavers, Jimmy Young and more never held the gold. The 90s had David Tua and Ike Ibeabuchi, memorable and thrilling fighters who for very different reasons never made it to the top.
Luis Ortiz refuses to throw in the towel. On Saturday night in Florida, King Kong defeated the dangerous Charles Martin, a former IBF world champion, by knockout in their International Boxing Federation heavyweight eliminator.