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An all time great, Rest In Peace champ.
Carlos Ortiz dead at 85: Ex-boxing champion passes away as tributes pour in for ‘Puerto Rico’s greatest ever fighter’
PUERTO RICAN boxing legend Carlos Ortiz has died aged 85.
The former two-weight world champion passed away on Monday in New York.
2Puerto Rican boxing legend Carlos Ortiz has died aged 85Credit: Getty
His death came the day after a three-class International Boxing Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
Ortiz was a regular fixture since his induction in 1991 and his tragic passing was confirmed by the World Boxing Organisation.
They said: “The WBO family is mourning the passing of legendary Lightweight and Jr Welterweight champion Carlos Ortiz.
“Born in Ponce and raised in New York, Ortiz was one of the best and most popular fighters of the 1960s. Rest in peace.”
The WBC added: "We have very sad news again in the world of boxing, as Puerto Rican world champion Carlos Ortiz has passed away.
"Carlos was an outstanding world champion in two divisions and had a fabulous 17-year career between 1955 and 1973, accumulating a record of 61 wins with 30 knockouts, 7 losses and a draw."
Ortiz moved to New York from Puerto Rico an in 1955 turned professional at just 18.
Just four years later in 1959, he became world champion at light-welterweight.
In 1962, Ortiz dropped to lightweight, where he won the WBA title and later the WBC version.
Following a historic 17-year career, his last bout came in 1972, losing to Scottish icon Ken Buchanan at New York's famed Madison Square Garden.
Ortiz joins Wilfredo Gomez, Wilfred Benitez, Felix Trinidad, Hector Camacho and Miguel Cotto as legends from Puerto Rico.
Carlos Ortiz dead at 85: Ex-boxing champion passes away as tributes pour in for ‘Puerto Rico’s greatest ever fighter’
PUERTO RICAN boxing legend Carlos Ortiz has died aged 85.
The former two-weight world champion passed away on Monday in New York.
2Puerto Rican boxing legend Carlos Ortiz has died aged 85Credit: Getty
His death came the day after a three-class International Boxing Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
Ortiz was a regular fixture since his induction in 1991 and his tragic passing was confirmed by the World Boxing Organisation.
They said: “The WBO family is mourning the passing of legendary Lightweight and Jr Welterweight champion Carlos Ortiz.
“Born in Ponce and raised in New York, Ortiz was one of the best and most popular fighters of the 1960s. Rest in peace.”
The WBC added: "We have very sad news again in the world of boxing, as Puerto Rican world champion Carlos Ortiz has passed away.
"Carlos was an outstanding world champion in two divisions and had a fabulous 17-year career between 1955 and 1973, accumulating a record of 61 wins with 30 knockouts, 7 losses and a draw."
Ortiz moved to New York from Puerto Rico an in 1955 turned professional at just 18.
Just four years later in 1959, he became world champion at light-welterweight.
In 1962, Ortiz dropped to lightweight, where he won the WBA title and later the WBC version.
Following a historic 17-year career, his last bout came in 1972, losing to Scottish icon Ken Buchanan at New York's famed Madison Square Garden.
Ortiz joins Wilfredo Gomez, Wilfred Benitez, Felix Trinidad, Hector Camacho and Miguel Cotto as legends from Puerto Rico.
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