Andriy Kotelnik could be next for Victor Ortiz
by Scott Christ on Oct 4, 2010 6:25 AM EDT
in Boxing News Analysis
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After over a year of carefully picked bouts following a loss to Marcos Maidana, it looks like Golden Boy Promotions is ready to move Victor Ortiz back up the ladder. FanHouse's Lem Satterfield reports that Andriy Kotelnik is being discussed as a December opponent for Ortiz.
The fight would be a co-feature for the December 11 HBO fight between Amir Khan and Maidana. Khan and Maidana have also fought Kotelnik, with Maidana losing a narrow decision in a good fight, and Khan dominating Kotelink. Most recently, Kotelnik turned some heads with a very good performance in a disputed loss to Devon Alexander on August 7, which cemented his status as one of the best fighters at 140 pounds.
Richard Schaefer says it could be a statement fight for Ortiz, and he's right. Since losing to Maidana, Golden Boy has been very careful with Ortiz. They've matched him against three fighters who are either clearly shot or well past their peak in Antonio Diaz, Nate Campbell and Vivian Harris, and he also had a Fight Night Club bout with tomato can Hector Alatorre earlier this year. He has made some changes in his approach, boxing more than he used to and notably trying to avoid pure firefights, which is what got him into trouble against the powerful Maidana. With Harris on September 18, Ortiz started very tentatively in the first round, but quickly found out that the veteran from Guyana doesn't take a punch well anymore, and turned into the old Victor Ortiz, blowing Harris out of the water with ease. The old Victor Ortiz -- which Schaefer also says he saw in the Harris fight -- used to beat up on overmatched opponents, and that's what he did with Harris.
A potential win over Kotelnik would absolutely be the best of Ortiz's career, and not easily attained. Kotelink isn't very powerful, but he's a smart fighter, takes a great punch, and is very fundamentally sound. Kotelnik doesn't allow guys to capitalize on mistakes, because he doesn't make a whole lot of them. The one bad loss of his career was to Khan, whose height and hand speed made his safety-first approach one that clearly frustrated and neutralized Kotelnik.
And the fight has some danger. Part of me wonders if this is the "right" fight for Ortiz, but it's sink or swim time for him. We're well-aware of what he can do with second-rate and old fighters. Kotelnik isn't worn out or shot and has been competing at the world level, and competing pretty well. Ortiz has no more to learn from fighting easy opposition. He has to prove if he has it or if he doesn't, and Kotelnik is definitely the toughest available option for December.
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I’m glad to see Kotelnik isn’t getting ducked as too dangerous for his name value after all the trouble he gave Alexander. The guy’s legit top-10 at 140, and I think he has a real shot against Ortiz, especially if Ortiz comes out slow and tentative like he has since the Maidana fight.
by Verklemptomaniac on Oct 4, 2010 9:40 AM EDT reply actions
Excellent card. Let’s hope this actually comes off. My money will be on Kotelnik to get robbed. No way he gets a decision against a GB fighter.
yeah
Ortiz will get the benefit of all the close rounds etc. I like Vic, somehow, but I hope that in some way Kotelnik can win clearly enough to get a decision.
I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘’Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.'’ (Bernard Hopkins)
how awesome is 140 right now?
"Mug an old lady, and if you have the right connections the WBO will rank you seventh." -Steve Farhood
And waiting in the wings:
Mabuza, Olusegun, McCloskey, Kamegai
Good matchup; props to Ortiz for taking this fight. So, right now we have Khan-Maidana, Alexander-Bradley and Ortiz-Kotelnik possibly happening. I’d say that’s pretty much a best case scenario. Those are the six best fighters in the division.
Don't forget Zab.
Ortiz and Kotelnik over Super Judah? Hmmmm.
"The terror of the unforeseen is what the science of history hides, turning a disaster into an epic"
by Oli Goldstein on Oct 4, 2010 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions
Depends on which Zab shows up, I guess.
Kotelnik did sorta beat Alexander, who I think is better than Zab right now. I know, styles make fights, but still.
I’d still take Zab over both of them all day, every day. Kotelnik’s a good, solid fighter, but I really think it was his style that made it so difficult for Devon that night. For the sake of argument, I also think Kotelnik won.
"The terror of the unforeseen is what the science of history hides, turning a disaster into an epic"
by Oli Goldstein on Oct 4, 2010 5:29 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Until proven wrong, I’d still pick a fit and focused Zab over anyone at 140. He brings more power, skills, speed, and experience than the other JWWs, and he’s gone toe to toe with bigger, stronger 147lb fighters.
Yeah, that’s funny, because I have the inverse opinion: until proven focused against top-level competition, I’m keeping my money out of any Judah fight.
He’ll be 33 this month, so the time is now if the time’s ever to come again. Lucas Matthysse will be a test of his chin and determination, if not his accuracy, because that dude is nothing if not hittable. I’m not rooting for or against Judah, although his presence does make things a little more interesting in an already great division. I’m just saying, there’s no reason to be convinced yet.
Maybe Maidana rematch
if Ortiz gets by Kotelnik? Especially if Maidana loses to Khan. Maybe even if he beats Kahn. Maidana-Ortiz II already looks good to me, but obviously Khan is a bigger fight for Maidana right now.
I still need to see how Zab does next month vs. Matthysse
I know a lot of folks are high on Zab now, and I’m not sure they’re wrong, but I need to be convinced.
I mean Zab has not proven anything for years… I mean no one should put much stock on a fight where he was fighting a blown up junior lightweight.
It has been 7 years since Judah made 140…
"Boxing is dirty," said Casamayor. " The day I’m not ready to be a dirty fighter is the day I don’t fight anymore because it will mean that I have no heart for it anymore."
I like Ortiz in this fight. He has shown he can box. Has good hand speed and power, he might not hurt or even try to KD/KO Kotelnik, but definatly has enough to back him up then move and re-set. He wont be undersetimating Kotelnik at all which Alexander might of done.
"A hero has faced it all: he need not be undefeated, but he must be undaunted." - Andrew Bernstein
i still think kotelnik-alexander was a real solid fight, sort of like collazo-berto from last year. gonna be one of the years most underrated fights. anywho this is pretty cool that kotelnik has another chance to play spoiler for the major plans at 140.
Texans 18-1 in 2010-2011 season PERIOD
by battle axe of doom on Oct 6, 2010 12:55 AM EDT reply actions
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