Lets talk about the great Bantamweight Manuel Ortiz. 15 Defences Of His Title. Never started boxing until the age of 20/21. Overcame a bad start to be become a true ATG. Lets have a disscussion about him, post fact, stories etc on him DISCUSS
So little footage exists (none of which I've seen) for me to determine for myself, but from accounts I've read from first hand sources, he was said to have been arguably the greatest of the Mexican champions, among the most talented and underrated fighters of that stacked era. How I wish there was more footage to base it on.
I know there's a few of his bouts filmed (such as the 3rd Luis Castillo fight and I believe one of his fights with Vic Toweel), but they're very rare to come across.
I feel the same way as Sweet Pea on this subject. There are posters on here that have seen footage. Based purely on my reading, i rate him as one of the greatest bantamweights of all time. He apparently was an offensive minded fighter, who had a long reach but preferred to fight 'in the trenches', and had a brutal body assault in his locker.
I've spoken to posters on CBZ that befriended, trained with, and watched Ortiz live on many occcasions. Real first hand sources. I've heard nothing but the highest praise for the man. I'll have to devote some more time to my studies of him.
Maybe the best bantam champ ever, even if his title reign was fleshed out with some unnecessary rematches. Talented boxer, but also a rugged and gritty warrior who regularly featured in some exciting battles.
Just a side note. Aboriginal KO machine, Elley Bennett belted the life out of Cecil Scoonmaker to become the no.1 contender to Manny Ortiz. Ortiz refused to fight Bennett after extended negotiations. Instead, Ortiz met Vic Toweel, lost his title and drew the colour line against Bennett after finding out he was Aboriginal. There is no room for any arguement that Toweel would have beaten Bennett. A racial shame.
Bennett lost to Harold Dade directly after beating Scoonmaker. Dade then went on to lose to Ortiz within the next year. And just where the hell do you get off claiming Toweel would've had no chance against Bennett, as if they were different levels of fighters or something? Toweel was the far more accomplished and proven fighter than Bennett. Sounds like fanatical bull**** to me.
Think I might have have the Luis Castillo fight on 8mm in Liverpool. Don't hold me to it but I'll check it out next week when I'm there. In the back of my mind I'm wondering if I'm getting it mixed up with the Willie Pep vs Lulu Perez fight which is definitely there. Hopefully I've got both. Teeto, you'll be first to know.