Carlos Ortiz, A Champion For All Seasons
By Robert Brizel, Real Combat Media Correspondent
New York. NY ( March 8th, 2013)– Former World Lightweight champion Carlos Ortiz of Puerto Rico, now in New York City, is largely forgotten now at age 76. The International and World Boxing Hall of Fame inductee occasionally surfaces at ringside. On one occasion at ringside, this reporter met the cordial and pleasant Ortiz with his wife, and learned a bit about his career.
Carlos Ortiz held the New York State Athletic Commission, World Boxing Association and World Boxing Council World Lightweight titles at various times from 1959 to 1968. He went undefeated in his first 27 bouts, then lost and won with Johnny Busso and former World Lightweight champion Kenny Lane. After winning the vacant NYSAC and National Boxing Association World Light Welterweight title with a second round stoppage of Kenny Lane, Ortiz defending his title twice, knocking out 31-0 Battling Torres of Mexico and winning a split decision in fifteen rounds in California over Duilio Loi of Italy.
After losing two rematches against Loi which went the fifteen round distance, Ortiz went down in weight to lightweight, winning the World Boxing Association World Lightweight title by fifteen rounds decision over Joe Brown in Las Vegas in 1962. After defending the WBA title by knocking out Teruo Kosaka in Tokyo, Japan, Ortiz unified the World Boxing Association and World Boxing Council Lightweight titles with a thirteenth round stoppage of Doug Vaillant in San Juan, Puerto Rico in 1963, and defending the WBC and WBA titles by stopping Flash Elorde in the fourteenth round in Manila, Philippines in 1964.
After losing his lightweight titles by fifteen rounds decision to Ishmael Laguna of Panama, then winning a 15 round decision rematch with Laguna and regaining his world lightweight titles in 1965, Ortiz defended WBC and WBA world titles against Johnny Bizarro, Sugar Ramos (twice), Flash Elorde and Ishmael Laguna, Ortiz lost a split decision in fifteen rounds to Carlos Teo Cruz of the Dominican Republic in June 1968 in what would prove to be his final title bout.
From 1969 to 1972, Carlos Ortiz won ten comeback bouts, before a loss to future World Lightweight champion Ken Buchanan, a sixth round stoppage on his stool between rounds at Madison Square Garden in New York City, ended Ortiz’ career for good. Ortiz retired at age 36 with a final professional record of 61 wins, seven losses, and one draw, with 30 knockouts. A class act today, former World Lightweight and Light Welterweight champion Carlos Ortiz, a champion for all seasons.
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