Fresh off an impressive knockout of Bryant Jennings and having been turned down by numerous Heavyweight contenders, WBA Interim Heavyweight world champion, Luis “The Real King Kong” Ortiz (24-0, 21 KOs) will make his first title defense of 2016 when he faces former world title challenger Tony “The Tiger” Thompson(40-6, 27 KOs).
The 12-round main event will headline a fight card presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Top Rank at the DC Armory, in Washington DC on Saturday, March 5. The fight will be televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark beginning at 10:00 pm, EST/PST.
Thompson and Ortiz both participated in a conference call on Thursday to discuss their impending clash and as is usually the case, Thompson talked a top-notch game.
At 44 years of age, Thompson is still as feisty as ever and hopes to prove that he’s still got some fight left.
“I’m not the youngest guy in the sport, but I’m probably still the hungriest guy in the sport,” said Thompson.
“I’m out to prove not only to my hometown that I’m a live candidate in this division, but HBO or any other television network that chose to leave me off for whatever reason.”
According to Dan Rafael of ESPN.com, some of the opponents who turned down a fight with Ortiz include Andy Ruiz, Andrey Fedosov, Carlos Takam, Alexander Ustinov, Alexander Dimitrenko and Bermane Stiverne.
Even though it’s a short-notice fight, Thompson was eager to step up and take on the man Oscar De La Hoya has repeatedly called the most feared heavyweight in the division today.
“Short-notice fights have made my career because everybody think they’re going to catch me off guard, catch me slipping,” said Thompson.
“Stop playing with me, call me. I’ll walk to the venue and kick your ass. Don’t tell me you got nobody to fight and I live here.”
Although he dropped a decision to Malik Scott in his previous outing last October, Thompson feels that Ortiz’s style is better suited for him.
“Yeah, I lost to Malik, yes, but Malik absolutely has the wrong style for me. But it’s a different fighter. He’s not running. We’re going to meet in the middle of the ring and we’re going to decide what’s going to happen. Just like he try to knock me, I’m going to try to knock him the fuck out,” said Thompson.
Thompson, who is from Washington DC, will have the support of his family and friends and although he admits to have thought of retirement, he warns that it would be a mistake to consider him a finished fighter.
“The worst thing they can think is that I’m retired. I’m thinking about winning. If he’s King Kong, I’m Godzilla, baby. Let’s go.”
Photo by Keystone Boxing
