Photo: Ed Mulholland/HBO
Hard-hitting Heavyweight contender Luis “King Kong” Ortiz (27-0, 23 KOs) is set to face Derric Rossy (31-12, 15 KOs) on the undercard of Shawn Porter vs. Andre Berto on April 22 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Announced by Lou DiBella on Thursday morning at a press conference in Manhattan, the bout will be televised on Showtime.
This will be the first bout of the year for Ortiz, who signed with Al Haymon on Wednesday, coincidentally on his 38th birthday.
Ortiz previously had a two fight deal with Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing that finished up in December with a TKO of David Scott in Manchester Arena. Ortiz also was with Golden Boy Promotions before that.
Big stakes lay ahead for Luis Ortiz, who is the WBA Mandatory challenger for the winner of IBF champion Anthony Joshua, and former world champion Wladimir Klitschko on April 29.
Ortiz’s manager Jay Jiminez explained the decision to sign with Haymon to Boxing Scene.
“Look, Luis is in line to face the winner of Joshua-Klitschko for the WBA strap but I felt we needed a shoulder to lean on, you know a real backbone like having a godfather you know… and after giving this much thought and careful consideration and being in multiple conversations back and forth with Luis Decubas Jr, who works with Haymon, I really felt this was the best move for Luis Ortiz at this time for his future and career,” said Jiminez.
