By Daily Sports on December 5, 2017

Undefeated #3 WBC heavyweight contender Luis ‘King Kong’ Ortiz (27-0, 23 KOs) will return to the ring for the first time in 12 months this Friday night when he faces the capable 27-year-old Daniel Martz (16-5-1, 13 KOs) in a 10 round scheduled fight on the undercard of the light heavyweight clash between prospect Ahmed Elbiali fighting Jean Pascal at the Hialeah Park in Miami, Florida.

Ortiz, 38, was given clearance a week ago by the World Boxing Council to begin fighting after he had tested positive for 2 banned substances during a VADA administered drug test. Ortiz had been scheduled to fight WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder on November 4 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Ortiz was given a $25K fine, but he was then given the green light to continue fighting.

His ranking is back up at No.3, and he’s in the position to fight for a world title if Wilder wants to schedule a fight with him again. Wilder hasn’t given any hints that he’ll do that. In that case, Ortiz will need to work his way to a No.1 mandatory position with the WBC before he gets a title shot against Wilder.

Ortiz’s management isn’t waiting around to schedule him a fight. They moved quickly in getting him a fight against Martz. The goal for Ortiz’s team is to get him a crack at a world title in 2018.

”I can’t wait to get some action and feel that ring and those gloves tight on my wrist,” Ortiz said. “I’d like to thank everyone, especially my loyal fans,” said Ortiz.

The Cuban Ortiz has looked good recently in beating David Allen, Malik Scott, Tony Thompson and Bryant Jennings. Ortiz didn’t look quite as good in his last 2 fights against Allen and Scott than he had in beating Thompson and Jennings, but, he is hoping to make a comeback statement with this fight.

•Photo shows Luis Ortiz.

Source Daily Sports

Posted December 5, 2017

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