Serious question about Luis Ortiz.

[Combat Talk Radio]

Leading into the Wilder fight he was undefeated. Wilder ended that. So there's credit for that.

However...

• Ortiz has two real "Names" on his record, one in Malik Scott, and he got taken the distance by Scott. The same guy Wilder knocked out early. The other, a WAY past prime Tony Thompson.
• He has a solid KO ratio, but again, it's not like he really fought anyone worth noting other than Scott and Thompson, and he was unable to KO or even drop Wilder - a guy once dropped by a journeyman in Harold Sconiers.

Given these two, my ask is this: What exactly made Ortiz an elite fighter in your eyes?

I don't even care about his age. I'm questioning his resume and why he's so highly rated.

Ortiz is clearly a "name" fighter, he draws money. But why exactly? Just because he's Cuban? Like how Gamboa was a cash draw with only one valid and one contested signature win?

[kiaba360]

Jennings was also a decent opponent and a good performance. I agree with your overall premise that his resume isn't great and that he isn't "elite", but that's what happens when you're avoided. Power, southpaw stance, and amateur background do hold some significance. This was Ortiz's first true test, and he gave a good account of himself in a loss.

Maybe the fact that Wilder didn't get knocked down means that he's improved? I think he was very fortunate that Ortiz couldn't capitalize in the 7th. It reminded me of Joshua/Klitschko.

[TheBigLug]

I don't think anybody should have thought he was an elite fighter, that's never been proven but he was always a potentially dangerous fight for any heavyweight and tonight he showed why, even though he lost in the end.

He's certainly not elite. I don't consider any heavyweight right now to be truly elite talents.

[MrFactor]

Who are the elites at HW?? Ortiz doesnt have Klitschko on his record. There are no elites at HW to fight. EVERYBODY at this point is just trying to find their way. Wilder, Joshua, Parker and Ortiz are the closest things we have to elites at this point.

[GhostofDempsey]

Never elite. Just a weak division. Weakest ever.

[champion4ever]

But so was Wilder. Mike Tyson just recently called him the weakest of the heavyweight title holders. However, he proved Mike wrong tonight. He displayed not only power but heart and a chin. Stiverne was the only notable opponent on Wilder's resume as well.

[Ray*]

I think I pointed this out yesterday when picking against him in my discussion with a poster on here. The thing about us boxing fan is we pick with our heart. We don’t analyse things to the finest details. I said the Ortiz or 3/4 years ago stands a better chance, than this version. If you are the boogeyman and then going 12 rounds with Malik Scott then that isn’t great now is it?

[SlySlickSmooth]

His KO over Jennings was the win to put him over. Jennings had just gone 12 hard rounds with Wlad who is also a fantastic puncher.

Also anyone who follows boxing knows how well schooled Cuban fighters are. Sharp, fundamentally sound, and generally trained to counter punch with authority. Add that to a Heavyweight frame who has shown good power makes for a threat in a division where one punch can dramatically change a fight.

[Combat Talk Radio]

But so was Wilder. Mike Tyson just recently called him the weakest of the heavyweight title holders. However, he proved Mike wrong tonight. He displayed not only power but heart and a chin. Stiverne was the only notable opponent on Wilder's resume as well.

Not even. If we're talking "name" fighters, 9 out of Deontay's last 12 opponents were "names". Yes, half of them shouldn't be, but as noted in another post, it's a weak division. Very weak division.

When the best stand-in for a WBC title fight you can find is Charles Martin you know it's slim pickings out there.

[R_Walken]

Ortiz is probably the most skilled HW with great amateur background and a high KO %

He doesn’t really have the names but because he’s a skilled Cuban with no fan base it’s easy for guys with a name to skip over him

I think the fact that none of the top names wanted to fight him for years shows that he was a high risk top end talent in the HW division

It seems in boxing If the guys being avoided then he’s usually deserving of the hype even if he doesn’t have the scalps on the resume

He’s not a name and brings no $ to the table don’t know why the TS would think he is