Sports

Luis Ortiz, 42, could fight Filip Hrgovic to decide the IBF mandatory challenger to Oleksandr Usyk | Boxing News


Luis Ortiz has been challenged to a fight by Filip Hrgovic to decide who will get a world title chance against Oleksandr Usyk.

Ortiz, the 42-year-old contender from Cuba, twice climbed off the floor to explosively knock out former champion ‘Prince’ Charles Martin on Saturday night.

Martin and Hrgovic were ranked at No 1 and No 2 respectively by the IBF prior to Ortiz’s brutal reminder of his own threat.

Charles Martin, Luis Ortiz
Image:
Ortiz KO’d Charles Martin

“Ortiz has to fight Hrgovic if he wants to do the final eliminator,” Hrgovic’s promoters, the Sauerlands, said.

Hrgovic warned: “Ortiz will freeze from my punches!

“My power will send him for a cold shower.”

Charles Martin Luis Ortiz
Image:
Ortiz has re-emerged as a major heavyweight threat

A final eliminator would decide the mandatory challenger to the belt currently held by Usyk.

Usyk is expected to defend the IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight titles in a rematch with Anthony Joshua.

Ortiz has twice challenged for the WBC title in the past but was knocked out on both occasions by Deontay Wilder.

Martin Ortiz
Image:
Ortiz twice recovered from knock-downs

They are the only two losses in the southpaw’s 37-fight career.

Hrgovic is unbeaten in 14 and has been frustrated in his search for an opponent for a final eliminator fight.





Source link

2 thoughts on “Luis Ortiz, 42, could fight Filip Hrgovic to decide the IBF mandatory challenger to Oleksandr Usyk | Boxing News

Comments are closed.