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It seems that not too long ago, several of Boxing’s “elder heads” were picking Luis Ortiz to not only become world’s heavyweight champion, but to hold on to the strap for a very long time. It did not pan out quite that way. Predominantly on the grounds that along the way we came to discover that he has a fatal “blemish”, a typical one in fighters. His chin just does not measure up to the rest of his rather robustious constitution.
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Although, one should take under advisement that “Señor” (and his chin) has been overcome only on two occasions, both coming against the heaviest-handed “Boxer” (in a very “broad” sense of it…) across the land, one Deontay Leshun Wilder. And parenthetically on those beatings, it’s important to take into account that on the twain, Mr Wilder was unambiguously failing (tremendous difficulty for the Alabamian) it on points to the more nimble-fisted Ortiz, before his “Nuclear” power provided him with the great equalizer.
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This one should prove to be a good scrap, after all, we’ll be seeing the 6th best heavyweight (Ruiz) in the world being pitted against the 7th (Ortiz). I have not checked the odds but this fight has quite a few intangibles to be given due consideration.
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Other than his mandible, Ortiz’ other glaring weakness to consider would be his age. Purportedly the Cuban (a 2nd world country) was born in 1979, which would make him a near-rickety 43 years of age. But, for the longest time, there has been casual conversations where it has been brought up by the cognoscenti and “learned ones” that Ortiz may in point of fact be older than previously stated. Ponder always that back in November of 1994, George Foreman (himself also a power puncher with solid boxing fundamentals) became Champion at the age of… 45.
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Regardless, 43 is befittingly considered an “elderly” age, even for “big men” who often come into their own in their mid-30s. But casting care aside with reference to his age (and chin), what overall picture does Ortiz present? The same as he did back in 2015 when most of the “learned people” in “Fistiana” expected him to become World’s Heavyweight Champion no later than 2017.
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In fact, back in 2015, the lion’s share of the (by then) ramshackled “know-it-alls” guessed that even Wladimir Klitschko would not be able to turn back the challenge of Ortiz, and also predicted that up-and-coming, enterprising young Anthony Joshua would also flounder vs Ortiz. So far,it has not come to pass.
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His power is unquestioned(28 of 33 wins inside the distance), lest we forget that “King Kong Ortiz” (not a sobriquet of my “christening”…) was the first man to KO the very durable Bryant Jennings back in 2015, something that even “Dr. Steelhammer”, Wladimir Klitschko had been unable to bring about over the course of 12 gruelling rounds, and Ortiz did it in a mere 7 stanzas.
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Ortiz is sizable, powerful, robust (at least, from the neck downwards) and technically very sound, plus he has a wealth of amateur experience ,having fought in over 360 amateur engagements. Plus, he is a Southpaw, an iron-handed lefty at that. One could additionally consider that his chin is not suspect when making allowance for the fact that Wilder is such a harrowing puncher. And even now, after 3 sporting misfortunes, Wilder is still no worse than the 3rd best heavyweight on the planet. Take heed, dear overeager cannon fodders…
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So why, oh why, is a former world champion (on credit of a rocambolesque “defrocking” of an overconfident Anthony Joshua) like Andy Ruiz “toying with disaster” by taking Ortiz on instead of pursuing fights with supposedly “softer touches” with the likes of Frank Sánchez, Dillian Whyte, Joseph Parker, Derek Chisora, Kubrat Pulev, Michael Hunter, Otto Wallin or even the overly predictable (not to write “robotic”) Joe Joyce and Efe Ajagba?
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For the reason that Ortiz is unreservedly marked as a (very) daunting undertaking, even at his age. And Ruiz and his management have accurately assessed that a triumph over the Cuban will deposit Andy Ruiz right back in the thick of things and likely in line for big money fights versus Oleksandr Usyk, an appetizing obstacle for a (on the verge of) reappearing Tyson Fury, a comebacking opponent for the returning Wilder, or even a third go around with his old nemesis, Anthony Joshua
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The question that remains is… will Ortiz upset Ruiz’s apple cart, or will the bottom finally fall out on the middle aged Ortiz?
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And what does “young” Andy have going for him in this modern day affair of honor (and money and laudations) ? Well, for most of the “uninitiated”, Ruiz is basically an obese boxer (a former world Champion at that), an oddity toiling away in the aptly titled (by some) “overweight division“.
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Some see Andy Ruiz just as an out of shape (and sometimes he is!) and a few (who should know better) even claim he’s got no power (his 22 KOs beg to differ). In reality, Ruiz’s somatotype seems to suit him (for the most part) in the horse sense of his craft and the way it comes naturally to him.
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He is fat (at the very least) but he’s got good physical conditioning, he’s overweight but he’s actually quite athletic, with fast hands and ability to throw very good combinations. Often, bodybuilder type pugilists tend to be stiff and slow in reacting, but Ruiz’s physique allows him to be malleable, “pliable”, flexible and fluid in his boxing.
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I cannot choose a winner in this one (I like Andy as a person, but I see Ortiz as more well-rounded), but this is a legitimate top notch heavyweight scuffle, and likely to prove fulsomely more satisfying (depending on one’s particular tastes) than the recent Usyk vs Joshua “rumpus” in Arabia, and ensuing shenanigans from Mr Joshua who acted all hot and bothered afterwards, not to call him an outright nutcase with an attitude problem…
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Wallack’s Point,
Friday, September 2nd, 2022.
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Text: Ronald William Miller
Image: All rights reserved.
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And now, for something completely different, but perhaps… more “mouth-watering” (nice… “shock absorbers)”,
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