Luis Ortiz (27-0) was fined and suspended for eight months by the Nevada State Athletic Commission in 2014, after a urine sample taken after a KO over Lateef Kayode in Las Vegas tested positive for the banned anabolic steroid nandrolone Ortiz never offered the usual; denial and in effect fessed up to the violation.
He then scored two quick KOs setting up a fight with tough Bryant Jennings whom he dispatched with a picture perfect uppercut, and followed that up with a KO over shop worn Tony Thompson.
However, “King Kong” allowed a running Malik Scott to survive over 12 rounds in Monaco in November 2016. One month later, he stopped David Allen in Manchester, United Kingdom, but looked as if he had lost more than a step. Suddenly, he was looking mortal—maybe even beatable.
Now according to a report by Thomas Hauser in TSS, The New York State Athletic Commission has advised DiBella Entertainment that it wanted to test Ortiz for performance enhancing drugs on short notice prior to his schedule fight with journeyman Derric Rossy (31-12) at the Barclays Center and on the undercard of Porter-Berto. The following day, April 12, Tom Brown (the promoter who was representing Ortiz) notified Sal Musumeci (Rossy’s promoter) that Ortiz had injured his thumb and would be unable to fight. A photograph of Ortiz with his thumb in a cast was reportedly circulated on the Internet. The fight was canceled.
Hauser went on to say that, “the cancellation cost Team Rossy a $75,000 pay-day and, in Derric’s mind, the opportunity to turn his career around. Acting on Rossy’s behalf, attorney Jim Thomas sent a letter to Brown, demanding that Rossy be paid fifty percent of his $75,000 purse (which, Thomas says, Derric was guaranteed if he was ready and willing to fight and the bout was called off)….Thomas also asked for a doctor’s report and all other proof that Ortiz had, in fact, been injured… Thomas also asked for a doctor’s report and all other proof that Ortiz had, in fact, been injured…”
Ortiz, 38 (maybe), has been a fan favorite ever since he waxed Monte Barrett in April 2014. Many sympathize with his efforts to gain a title fight as he took on the mantra of someone to avoid. However, this latest episode with the injured thumb combined with his relatively lethargic efforts in his last two ring outings suggest that it may be time for King Kong to hire a savvy Public Relations consultant. The fact is, the shine is begging to lose a tad of its luster.
No doubt he is probably past his prime.