Tweet
Recent rumors of a fall showdown versus unbeaten heavyweight titlist Deontay Wilder. Highly respected boxing journalist Keith Idec recently reported on BoxingScene.com the news of a potential clash between the two, with sources indicating that all signs were pointing to a November 4 showdown at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Ortiz says: "It was news to Ortiz' ears—at least until talking to his own team and learning that, for now, it's just more of the same talk."
"Opponents using Luis' name as leverage for another fight is nothing new," notes Herman Caicedo, Ortiz' head trainer. "Look, we commend Deontay—or at least whoever is speaking on his behalf—for appearing to be serious about fighting Luis. I know that he's not very big on fighting (Bermane) Stiverne again, likely because no TV network wants the fight.
"But until his team can figure out a way for his next fight to not be his mandatory challenge, we're just going to continue with business as usual. We get our hopes up way too often, and then find out (Ortiz) is just being used as leverage without any real interest from those mentioning his name."
"If they told me the fight was tomorrow, I'm on a plane today to fly wherever the fight is taking place," insists the 38-year old southpaw from Miami by way of Cuba, whom hasn't fought since 7th round stoppage of David Allen last December. "But for my business, everything runs through the team I trust, beginning with my manager Jay Jimenez who I talk to constantly. We're not seeing anything (so far) where he can step around Bermane Stiverne to fight me or anyone else.
"I get where Stiverne is coming from because I'm going through the same crap with (unbeaten, unified titlist) Anthony Joshua. I've been his mandatory challenger (through the WBA) forever, but the WBA doesn't want to act until Wladimir Klitschko (whom Joshua stopped in 11 rounds this past April) decides what he wants to do with the rest of his career. That's the fight I've been waiting for—that or the WBA title that Joshua is holding ransom through all of this."
"We've wasted a lot of training camps believing a big fight was going to happen, only to find out it's either a much smaller fight or none at all," laments Ortiz. "I'm in the gym, regardless. I'm always in shape and ready to go.
Ortiz says: "It was news to Ortiz' ears—at least until talking to his own team and learning that, for now, it's just more of the same talk."
"Opponents using Luis' name as leverage for another fight is nothing new," notes Herman Caicedo, Ortiz' head trainer. "Look, we commend Deontay—or at least whoever is speaking on his behalf—for appearing to be serious about fighting Luis. I know that he's not very big on fighting (Bermane) Stiverne again, likely because no TV network wants the fight.
"But until his team can figure out a way for his next fight to not be his mandatory challenge, we're just going to continue with business as usual. We get our hopes up way too often, and then find out (Ortiz) is just being used as leverage without any real interest from those mentioning his name."
"If they told me the fight was tomorrow, I'm on a plane today to fly wherever the fight is taking place," insists the 38-year old southpaw from Miami by way of Cuba, whom hasn't fought since 7th round stoppage of David Allen last December. "But for my business, everything runs through the team I trust, beginning with my manager Jay Jimenez who I talk to constantly. We're not seeing anything (so far) where he can step around Bermane Stiverne to fight me or anyone else.
"I get where Stiverne is coming from because I'm going through the same crap with (unbeaten, unified titlist) Anthony Joshua. I've been his mandatory challenger (through the WBA) forever, but the WBA doesn't want to act until Wladimir Klitschko (whom Joshua stopped in 11 rounds this past April) decides what he wants to do with the rest of his career. That's the fight I've been waiting for—that or the WBA title that Joshua is holding ransom through all of this."
"We've wasted a lot of training camps believing a big fight was going to happen, only to find out it's either a much smaller fight or none at all," laments Ortiz. "I'm in the gym, regardless. I'm always in shape and ready to go.
Comment