The "King Kong" Saga continues, as Cuba’s Luis Ortiz has signed with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing following his exit from Golden Boy Promotions. His first fight under the banner will be announced tomorrow; Carlos Takam was reportedly the planned foe, but the Cameroonian will instead fight Johann Duhaupas.
Sorry, guys. Nobody called it.
Ortiz (25-0, 22 KO) has faced a variety of issues in his rise through the heavyweight ranks, a good number of them self-inflicted. He obliterated Lateef Kayode for the interim WBA belt in 2014, lost it due to a failed drug test, won it again by knocking out Matias Ariel Vidondo thirteen months later, and twice defended it against Bryant Jennings and Tony Thompson.
That’s when more trouble started.
Ortiz, who has expressed frustration with his inability to get a top fight, entered into multiple ill-fated negotiations with Alexander Ustinov as part of the WBA’s equally ill-fated heavyweight tournament. After the fight fell apart multiple times, he and his team bought out his contract and left Golden Boy.
As Rafael mentions, this makes Ortiz vs. Anthony Joshua a possibility. Here’s hoping.