I am going with Ortiz, Pea looked better on film but Ortiz had a better resmue at 135. Plus Pea(rightfully so) gets much love in the boxing world. Ortiz barely gets mentioned and he was one of the best lightweights ever.
So you're going with him out of sympathy? Style-wise, while Ortiz has what it takes to give someone like Chavez, Arguello, and fighters of that nature trouble, he really doesn't have the style to beat Whitaker I don't believe. A young Laguna outslicked him, and Loi's evasive pressure outdid him. He was robbed against Locche by all accounts with a draw, so I won't bring that up, but I don't see Ortiz outboxing, pressuring, or timing Whitaker often enough to win a Decision. I just don't see how. Give some analysis on how it would go down.
This would be a good fight but yeah im surprised how underrated ortiz is, in the 1960s he was one of the top 5 fighters from that decade and highly regarded his whole career, yet he's basically a forgotten fighter which doesnt make sense at all since his resume is so ****in deep. The amount of top level fighters he fought at thier primes, not like oscar de la hoya who beat up on old guys, is incredible for a guy with 70 fights.
In his prime Ortiz ruled 135 with an iron fist and disposed of all comers from 130, including Flash Elorde twice. But Whitaker would box his ears off. The only lightweight I see as a pick-em fight for PW would be Duran or Armstrong.
