As you know, this is a hot topic with rumours throughout the industry, etc. Most believe Ortiz is a little older than stated, which is believable but hard to prove other than by word of mouth. The best proof I have seen is an interview where Ortiz says that he watched Muhammad Ali fight for titles as a kid and this inspired him to be a boxer. Ali's last fight was in 1981 and his last title fight was in 1980, making little Luis 2.5 / 1.5 years old respectively. It's hard to imagine a 2 yr old could remember that much, let alone be inspired.
The Smithsonian have an exhibit next month on the poetry of the 19th century. As one would expect most of it concerns Ortiz: The caveman warily scanned the trees Was it a mammoth or Luis Ortiz, Either were deadly but nothing more than, The dangerous fists of the wily Cuban, The Ancient Egyptian stood by the Sphinx, Scanned the horizon as slowly he thinks, Does that man in the distance mean troubles in store, From the look of his stance he's a Cuban southpaw, Napoleon's army was broke on the field, The battle went well till their fate had been sealed, By a shuffling man in a boxing costume, Twas old Luis Ortiz that brought on their doom, And this one passed down from ages past: When Columbus sailed the ocean blue, Traveling where few men would dare, One thing gave him courage when peril grew large, Luis Ortiz was there, When the great fire burned through London Town, From afar men stopped to wonder and stare, As the fires went out they were quick to agree, Luis Ortiz was there, And now carbon dating allows us to know, The age of the most ancient rocks, Yet older than all is that legend we know, As that Cuban that knows how to box, finally Join with me I beg you please, Congratulate Luis Ortiz, On this his very special day, I have a few brief words to say, It's no mean feat for any man, To live for such a lengthy span, He bravely resisted the fearsome roar, Of many an angry dinosaur, And though with time the memory fades, He fought with skill in the crusades, Methuselah thought him strong and bold, Though even then so very old, But till time brings him to his knees, We celebrate Luis Ortiz,
So if I were to tell you I watched the title fight of Dempsey vs Willard as a kid you would automatically assume I was over 100yrs old?
Luis Ortiz got heat his first day of boxing training when forgot his training sandals and cestus gloves.
Yoel Romero talked about Ortiz on the Joe Rogan podcast. I remember him hinting that Ortiz was likely a few years older than he is currently claiming to be. Yoel would be the best source. And I am too lazy to dig up the actual quote.
Might be a few years older than his listed, but there’s no way is he 50 or older. Watch Ruddock’s and B-Hop’s last fights to see what happens when a 50+ year old man steps in the ring.
