The Heavyweights- Now or Never?

The Heavyweights- Now or Never?

The 28th of November, 2015. Just another date in history to most but for boxing fans it marked a “changing of the guard” or at least that’s what they hoped.

When Tyson Fury met Wladimir Klitschko, the dominant force of Heavyweight boxing for a decade, at the Esprit Arena, Dusseldorf for the WBA (Super), WBO, IBF, IBO & Ring Magazine Championships it was seen as yet another routine defence for Klitschko. What followed was one of the most unexpected and shocking turn of events in the blue ribbon division for some time. By the end of twelve rounds there was nobody in any doubt that Fury had done the unthinkable, he had made believers out of the doubters and, like it or not, cemented his name in the annals of time. He ended the seemingly unstoppable reign of Wlad with a comfortable twelve round unanimous decision and left fans and experts alike wondering what was next for a division that had laid stagnant and dormant for far too long.

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British heavyweight David Allen lands big fight he wanted with Luis Ortiz

British heavyweight David Allen lands big fight he wanted with Luis Ortiz

It’s official: Luis Ortiz will make a quick return from his recent, dull 12-round win over Malik Scott and face British heavyweight David Allen on the big Joshua-Molina bill in Manchester on December 10. The fight was announced today and both fighters are delighted.

Unbeaten Cuban Ortiz expects to be able put on a far more fan-friendly fight against Allen, 9-1(6), who has promised he will “come to fight.” Allen reportedly asked promoter Eddie Hearn for this particular fight quite some time ago, convinced as he is that he can defeat the southpaw known as “King Kong.”

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British heavyweight David Allen: I’m made of marble. I’ll stand and trade with Luis Ortiz

British heavyweight David Allen: I'm made of marble. I'll stand and trade with Luis Ortiz

Could once-beaten British heavyweight David Allen be the fighter who “comes to win” against Luis Ortiz in the Cuban’s next fight, set for December 10 in Manchester? Promoter Eddie Hearn was as dissatisfied as anyone else with Ortiz’ wide but dull decision win over a negative Malik Scott at the weekend, vowing later to find a far more game opponent for “King King” on the Anthony Joshua-Eric Molina bill.

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Disappointment over Ortiz-Scott, Hearn says he will find “someone who will come to win” for Dec 10 return

Disappointment over Ortiz-Scott, Hearn says he will find “someone who will come to win” for Dec 10 return

Cuban heavyweight contender Luis Ortiz, by his own admission, and that of his promoter, was dissatisfied with the decision victory he pounded out over Malik Scott last night in Monaco. Ortiz, who won via lopsided scores on the three cards, blamed Scott’s negative tactics for the dull encounter. Ortiz wanted a showcase in his Matchroom debut but it failed to materialise.

Fans are split now on whether or not the powerful southpaw is as good as it once appeared. Any fighter can have a less than spectacular night, and Scott was less than willing to go to war, but is Ortiz the big threat to the likes of Deontay Wilder (who of course crushed Scott inside a single round a few years back in a non-title fight) and Anthony Joshua that many felt he was? Is age catching up with Ortiz who, at 37, is no spring chicken?

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Luis Ortiz decisions Malik Scott, looks poor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLz1IgpLd0o

Undefeated heavyweight contender Luis Ortiz (26-0, 22 KOs) looked really poor in beating American Malik Scott (38-3-1 13 KOs) by a 12 round unanimous decision on Saturday night at the Salle des Étoiles, in Monte Carlo. The final judges’ scores were 120-105, 120-106 and 119-106.

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Ortiz defeats Scott; Sosa beats Smith – results

Ortiz defeats Scott; Sosa beats Smith - results

Unbeaten highly ranked heavyweight contender Luis Ortiz (26-0, 22 KOs) did what he had to do in defeating Malik Scott *38-3-1, 13 KOs) by a 12 round unanimous decision on Saturday night to stay unbeaten in their clash at the Salle des Étoiles in Monte Carlo, Monaco.

This was supposed to have been a showcase fight for the 37-year-old Ortiz, but Scott had other ideas. He chose to stall out the fight by running around the ring, taunting Ortiz and not engaging. The results of the contest was diaster with angry boxing fans at ringside booing the lack of action. Ortiz couldn’t be blamed for it though. He was trying his best to get to Scott, but the American was totally reluctant to fight him.

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Spike/HBO/Sky Sports Preview: A busy weekend full of stay busy bouts

Spike/HBO/Sky Sports Preview: A busy weekend full of stay busy bouts

The year in boxing for 2016 has played out like the filming process on a movie set, hurry up and wait. Surely boxing fans are happy to see a busy fight schedule this weekend after a dreary month of October. Busy as it may be it’s full of stay busy fights in all too common theme in boxing over the last decade. To be fair it wouldn’t be the first time a great action fight arose out of a chalk full of ho-hum bouts with the two biggest named fighters facing non-competitive opponents.

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Luis Ortiz: First on my list would be Deontay Wilder, he’s talking s**t!

Luis Ortiz: First on my list would be Deontay Wilder, he's talking s**t!

Go back a few months, and Cuban heavyweight Luis Ortiz could scarcely get himself an opponent, let alone a big name or a reigning champion. But, having signed with Matchroom, the big, powerful and previously avoided southpaw is closer than ever to the big, big fights his talents deserve. This doesn’t mean Ortiz will get all he wants – he must first get past Malik Scott tomorrow night in Monaco – but the likes of Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua are at least possibilities now.

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Luis Ortiz: 239.5 lbs. – Malik Scott: 246.4 lbs.

YouTube video

Saturday’s Special Edition of Boxing After Dark begins live at 4:00 p.m. ET/PT from Monte Carlo. The special from Salle des Etoiles in Monte Carlo features a heavyweight showdown between knockout machine Luis Ortiz taking on Malik Scott.

*There will be an evening replay at 11:00 p.m. (ET/PT).

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Anthony Joshua’s three-fight plan: Molina, Klitschko, Ortiz

Anthony Joshua's three-fight plan: Molina, Klitschko, Ortiz

IBF heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua insists he is fully focused on his upcoming December 10 challenger Eric Molina, but the 17-0(17) star is also looking towards the future. Joshua makes the second defence of his belt against the dangerously determined Molina, and AJ is already planning his third and fourth defences.

As fans know, the word is that Joshua, if he’s victorious against Molina, will engage in his very first super-fight next spring against former king Wladimir Klitschko.

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