Interesting match up. Ortiz may be shot now, but back then he took big shots from Wilder and survived. Ortiz is definitely a better boxer than Zhang, and he's better than anyone Zhang has faced in terms of boxing ability. It took massive shots from Wilder to eventually finish him and the first fight was waved off, and Ortiz could have easily won via TKO in the first fight, and was probably unlucky not to. I'm going for Ortiz via UD. If Hrgovic can do it, 2018 Ortiz can.
Zhang beats him, bigger stronger and tougher. Would not be forced to fight by Ortiz. Picks his moments.
Zhang is bigger, better chin, was a more successful amateur and his main weakness, stamina, would not be an issue vs Ortiz who doesn't throw a lot and tends to fade himself late. So I'm favouring Zhang to win the battle of counter punching southpaws.
Ortiz would not enjoy the status of a skilled Southpaw, Zhang would stop him despite his slightly worse stamina, Ortiz would have his moments but Zhang stops him between the 6th and 8th round...
For me it was difficult to judge just how good Ortiz was back then, he was a bit of an animal for sure but boxing ability wise I'm not sure where I'd put him in next to the likes of Ruiz Chagaev Scott Pulev Takam etc...is he slower on his feet than Takam for example? It'd be a great fight and you'd think either would have the power to knock the other out but perhaps Zhangs IQ gets him winning on points.
Big Bang Zhang was a year older when he beat Big Joe than Ortiz was when he fought The Dosser for the first time. Zhang was two weeks away from turning 40 and Ortiz was two weeks away from turning 39. Ortiz whose noggin is a punch magnet isn't withstanding Big Bang's Chinese power who unlike one-trick pony The Dosser actually possesses skills and punch variety and can hurt you and take you out with both hands