It has been confirmed by ESPN.com, how Cuba’s Luis Ortiz will face German-based Russian Alexander Dimitrenko on March 5th. Southpaw Ortiz, 24-0(21) will be making the second defence of the interim WBA heavyweight title he won by stopping little-known Matias Ariel Vidondo last October. The 36-year-old who is known as “The Real King Kong,” is coming off a very impressive stoppage win over Bryant Jennings who he halted in the seventh-round in December.
Luis Ortiz
Golden Boy’s fighters to watch in 2016
Photo: Tom Hogan-HoganPhotos/Golden Boy Promotions – Golden Boy Promotions has a great reputation in the sport as one of the leading promoters as well as a skill for creating and promoting world champions and boxing superstars. Having worked and promoted multi-divisional world champions including: Bernard Hopkins, Erik Morales, Juan Manuel Marquez, Miguel Cotto, Marco Antonio Barrera, Sugar Shane Mosley, Canelo Alvarez, Lucas Matthysse, Jorge Linares, Randy Caballero, Abner Mares, Deontay Wilder, Danny Garcias, Keith Thurman, DanielJacobs, Leo Santa Cruz, Peter Quillin, and Adrien Broner. In 2016, Golden Boy Promotions is looking to the future to usher in the New Era of Boxing spearheaded by current WBC, RING Magazine and Lineal Middleweight World Champion Canelo Alvarez (46-1-1, 32 KOs).
5 Boxers to Watch in 2016
Boxing in 2015 had arguably its most memorable year in a long, long time.
Finally Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquaio fought. Wladimir Klitschko was dethroned. Serious contenders faced off and created some deserving champions and some modern greats further enhanced their reputations.
With 2015 having been such a great year for the sport, much is expected of 2016. With all major promoters now showing a willingness to put on the fights the fans want to see, this year may separate the good from the great. With this in mind, here are five boxers that could make huge waves in 2016.
Golden Boy’s stars finish out year in impressive fashion
LOS ANGELES (December 21, 2015) – Golden Boy Promotions closes their last fight weekend of 2015 with big fights and big victories in the United States and Mexico.
From Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York on Saturday, December 19, Luis “The Real King Kong” Ortiz (24-0, 21 KOs) put on a spectacular performance and proved to the boxing world to be a serious threat in the heavyweight division when he defeated former world champion contender Bryant “By-By” Jennings (19-2, 10 KOs) on HBO Boxing After Dark® via seventh round technical knockout. Ortiz maintained his undefeated status and his WBA Interim Heavyweight World Title, putting him in the running to face any of the heavyweight world champions in 2016.
Luis Ortiz powers past Bryant Jennings
(Photo Credit: Alex Menendez – HoganPhotos/Golden Boy Promotions) VERONA, NEW YORK (December 19, 2015) – The 2015 boxing year culminated with a tremendous show at Turning Stone Resort Casino as WBA Interim Heavyweight Champion Luis “The Real King Kong” Ortiz (24-0, 21 KOs) closed the show by maintaining his title with a knockout-of-the-year candidate over Bryant “Bye – Bye” Jennings (19-2, 10 KOs) in the seventh round of their scheduled bout live on HBO Boxing After Dark.
Ortiz stops Jennings in 7th
(Photo Credit: Alex Menendez – HoganPhotos/Golden Boy Promotions) Interim WBA heavyweight champion Luis “The Real King Kong” Ortiz (24-0, 21 KOs) put the world on notice tonight with a very nice 7th round stoppage win over a tough as nailed 31-year-old American Bryant “By-By” Jennings (19-2, 10 KOs) in a fight televised by HBO Championship Boxing from the Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, New York.
Bryant Jennings: 229.5 lbs. vs Luis Ortiz: 239 lbs.
Saturday’s HBO Boxing After Dark doubleheader telecast begins at 10:15 p.m. (ET/PT).
Opening up the telecast from Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, NY is a 10-round junior lightweight rumble that showcases Nicholas Walters in a matchup against Jason Sosa.
Jennings vs. Ortiz Final Press Conference Quotes and Photos
Fighters featured on the December 19 HBO Boxing After Dark and HBO Latino shows shared their final thoughts ahead of Saturdays fights at the final press conference today at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York. Former heavyweight world title contender Bryant “By – By” Jennings (19-1, 10 KOs) of Philadelphia was joined at the final press conference by his opponent Cuban heavyweight Luis “The Real King Kong” Ortiz (23-0, 20 KOs), who will clash in the main event on the HBO Boxing After Dark telecast on Saturday for the WBA Interim Heavyweight World Title.
Bryant Jennings/Luis Ortiz on for December
America’s former world title challenger, Bryant Jennings (19-1, 10ko), will square off against undefeated Cuban, Luis Ortiz (23-0, 20ko) on December 19 in New York, in what is set to be an intriguing clash of heavyweight contenders.
Ortiz’s promoter Oscar De La Hoya continues his quest to provide fan-friendly fights, matching the 6′ 4″ southpaw and WBA [interim] champion with the Gary Shaw promoted Jennings, who fans last saw in April, giving a good account of himself in defeat against long-time champion, Wladimir Klitschko.