With Vitali Klitschko having retired in 2012 and Wladimir Klitschko having been beaten six weeks ago, there is no shortage of heavyweight titleholders. WBA/WBO champion Tyson Fury, WBC champion Deontay Wilder, and the winner of this weekend’s fight between Charles Martin and Vyacheslav Glazkov for the vacant IBF heavyweight title may dominate the headlines, but interim WBA World heavyweight champion Luis Ortiz (24-0. 21 KOs), the undefeated southpaw from Miami by way of Camaguey, Cuba, may soon be the man to beat.
With his seventh round TKO of Bryant Jennings behind him and a potential fight with WBA #7 ranked Alexander Ustinov just ahead, all eyes are on Luis Ortiz.
Among those whose eyes are on “The Real King Kong” is Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach.
Talking with Radio Rahim, Roach said, “I actually have an offer to take him…I just don’t know if I have time. I haven’t answered them yet, but there is a request. I have trained heavyweight champions before. But this might be one of the better ones coming up.”
Roach has forgotten more about boxing than most of us will ever know. If he were to train Ortiz, it might turn a monster into something even scarier.
But there are issues. One is Freddie’s health, another is his busy schedule. Neither is likely to change. Even Manny Pacquiao’s imminent retirement will free up only so much time.
But before anything can happen, clarity regarding the possibility of Roach training Ortiz is needed.
When he was reached by phone by BoxingScene.com/Ringsidefightnews.com and asked what he thought about Freddie Roach becoming his trainer, Ortiz said, “I have no information on that subject. I have no information on what Freddie Roach said and I don’t know anything about this…My job is being in the gym and to reach the best physical condition for my next fight.”
It’s possible that discussions are taking place about which Ortiz is unaware. It wouldn’t be the first time that management is pulling the strings and the fighter is the last to know. But one can also never be sure if Freddie is telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, or if he’s sending out feelers in his own inimitable way.
Not that it concerns Luis Ortiz either way.
“It seems that now all the coaches want to work with Luis Ortiz,” he said. “I just want to say that I am happy with the work I have done with my coach Herman Caicedo. If you do not need to repair your car, why take it to the mechanic?”
This article was penned by the author who is not related to the WBA and the statements, expressions or opinions referenced herein are that of the author alone and not the WBA.
