Vinny’s Views: Luis Ortiz Handles His Business This Time Around in the Ring & Mikey Garcia Is Biting Off Way More Than He Chew!
By Vinny “Glory Days” Lucci
“Deep down you want me on that wall. Deep down you need me on that wall!” –Jack Nicholson quote from “A Few Good Men.”
In case you missed it the other night Showtime Boxing presented the return of Luis “King Kong” Ortiz in a spectacular two round knockout of Razvan Cojanu on the undercard of Mikey Garcia’s triumphant unification match against Robert Easter,JR. at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Ortiz’s ring entrance was filled with an over exaggerated bravado that seemed missing as of late. There was an internal confidence that was bubbling over from within and not for theatrical purposes. The bout itself was uneventful for a round and a half as he patiently stalked his opponent with a heavy jab looking to engage the pocket. Prefight Cojanu had given interviews where he said his fight plan was to feel out Ortiz for three rounds and then take him into deep waters after seeing what he had. Not much of a fight plan if you haven’t prepared to nullify his southpaw jab and figure out how to smother his power.
In the second round after cutting off the ring by stepping inside Razvan’s lead foot Ortiz unleashed a two punch combination that deposited his foe on the canvas. The referee immediately stepped in and started the ten count. The fallen boxer quickly tried to regain his senses and lift his semi prone body skyward when his equilibrium ignored his mental command and gravity set in a second time. The ref continued the count as he bravely struggled to get both shoe soles adhered to the ring apron. Once again for the third time he fell forward to his knees where referee instantly called off the fight. Ringside fans and viewers alike thrilled at watching the re-emergence of the biggest threat to either Anthony Joshua or Deontay Wilder’s title reigns.
Astonishingly the entire staff of Showtime broadcast analysts missed the significance of the three knockdowns on one punch as an historical footnote in annals of boxing infamy. This Ringside Report’s mind reverberated with glorious memories of Mike Tyson’s first crowning of heavyweight title with a first round demolition of WBC champion Trevor Berbick thirty two years ago where Iron Mike invented the hat trick of three on a match. It would have been beyond amusing if in either fight had the extinct “three knock downs in any round is a mandatory TKO.” Even after the action was called to a halt both Chief reporter Jim Gray and host Brian Custer failed to mention the three knockdowns as Showtime played the looping lead right hook and straight left hand sequence over and over.
Post-fight Ortiz was chocked up and moved to tears barely able to summarize to Gray the importance of the victory where just moments before he pounded his chest in true King Kong fashion as a defiant warning to the two belt holders. Through his tears, his interrupter was able to relate the fact that just one week ago he was informed by doctors they found a lifesaving cure for his baby daughter. With so much motivation to excel his forward momentum in division one has to wonder what would have happened if that was Deontay Wilder in ring last night and not Razvan Cojanu.
With no hard feelings implied and not a dis it’s hard to imagine Cojanu anywhere near another title event regardless of his size. His record now stands at 16-4, 9 KO’s. His Victor will ride shotgun into a mandatory slot next year raising his ledger to 29-1-2, 25 KO’s.
The Vinny Factor:
Regarding the main event Ringside Report defied logical odds and boldly predicted Garcia would walk his man down closing the distance inside the pocket and systematically take Easter, JR. apart regardless of his tremendous height and freakish reach advantages. Upon carefully study the reason Mikey did not produce a knock out is because he was never taught to turn his punches over in the Emanuel Steward “Kronk Gym fashion.” Going into his proposed next event the point may be mute. Garcia is currently calling out undefeated welterweight king Errol Spence Jr. who comfortably enters ring on fight night at middleweight. Mikey at junior welterweight limit of 140 pounds looks bloated and lacks the snap in punches he had at junior lightweight. Ringside Report takes the initiative to be the first to give a standing ovation for his pride, courage, and determination in his quest to secure his championship into ring immortality by seeking out the greatest challenge possible.
Some “Glory Days” advice, forget it Mikey you’re superseding your own greatness and will be adding a needless loss to a hall of fame ledger. Early Vegas musing on odds reflect Spence as an overwhelming favorite possibly posting at Spence, JR. -3500, to Garcia +1000. Garcia is trained by brother Robert and father Eduardo who need to remain sane and keep his best interests at heart. Mikey can still enhance his legacy by targeting another unification match against WBO Champion Ray Beltran and then going for broke against WBA wunderkind Vasyl Lomanchenko. Having just relinquished his newly won IBF junior welterweight title he lifted from Sergey Lipinets the smart move would be to re-enter it next year and hunt down the other champions Kiryl Relikn, Jose Ramirez, Regis Prograis, and Maurice Hooker. At thirty years of age and having already squandered perhaps his finest two years in a self-imposed exile over contract disputes the Garcia clan doesn’t need to reach for the sky but rather look to build on his legacy with his feet planted firmly on the ground.
Stay tuned…
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