Ortiz is welterweight's hidden jewel

Challenges Reid Saturday night for NABF title on Freitas-Barrios card in Miami

05.08 - Press Release - He doesn't speak a single word of English.

His first 17 pro fights were in his native Venezuela. In fact only six of his 29 matches have been away from home, three in the United States at Foxwoods Resort Casino (CT), Madison Square Garden (NY) and Thomas & Mack Center (Las Vegas).

The aforementioned combination may explain why few boxing fans outside of South America have heard of International Boxing Union welterweight champion Elio "El Chingo" Ortiz (24-5, 18 KOs). The workmanlike Venezuelan, however, could be a household name, at least in boxing, after Saturday night when he challenges Teddy "Two Gun" Reid (21-5-1, 15 KOs) for his NABF welterweight title.

Hundreds of thousands of fans will be watching the Reid-Ortiz 12-round co-feature on Showtime Boxing, headlined by the WBA/WBO super featherweight championship match between champion Acelino "Popo" Freitas (33-0, 30 KOs) and challenger Rodrigo Barrios (39-1-1, 29 KOs), at the Miami Arena in Florida.

Ortiz' last fight was May 2nd on ESPN2 Friday Night Fights, when he captured a 12-round unanimous decision from world-class challenger "Sucra" Ray Oliveira for the IBU World crown. This somewhat surprising victory earned him the No. 8 by The Ring, as well as the No. 12 ranking in the World Boxing Association.

Elio has already shocked non-believers, stopping then 29-0 Omar Weiss -- the current No. 4 rated junior welterweight in the International Boxing Federation -- via a 10th round TKO. Ortiz went the distance against 45-2 Sharma Mitchell, losing a 12-round decision for the World Boxing Association title and on very short notice Elio went into present WBC & WBA welterweight champion (17-3) Ricardo Mayorga's backyard (Costa Rica) two years ago. After taking an early advantage, Ortiz was knocked out in the 10th round for the WBA Latin Americas Light Middleweight championship.

Elio's first-round KO win against Juan Nieto set-up a WBU welterweight title fight for him against 35-1 defending champ Michelle Piccirillo in May 2001 at New York City's famed Madison Square. The fight was stopped in the fourth round with Ortiz leading due to an accidental head butt and declared a no contest.

Although Ortiz may not be able to express it in English, Elio's actions speak louder than words, and Saturday night the welterweight division's hidden jewel could be shining bright on Showtime.