Ortiz Defends Title Against Thompson

Fresh from a knockout victory over Bryant “By-By” Jennings and eager to continue his quest to be the best heavyweight in the sport, WBA Interim Heavyweight Champ 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) at the DC Armory, in Washington D.C. on Saturday, March 5

The bout will be televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Opening up the live broadcast will be world title contender Sadam “World Kid” Ali (22-0, 13 KOs) against former WBA junior welterweight Champion Jessie Vargas (26-1, 9 KOs) in a 12-round co-main event for the vacant WBO Welterweight Championship.

“This fight is just another stepping stone on my path to becoming the unified heavyweight world champion,” said Luis Ortiz. “I came to the United States to chase my American Dream and fighting at the nation’s capital is a dream come true. My life is coming full circle, and I know that this fight will put me a step closer to achieving everything I have worked so hard for in my career.”

“I’m happy to be back on HBO fighting for another world title,” said Tony Thompson. “If you look at my competition and his [Ortiz], it’s not even close. This isn’t the amateurs. I’m going to use my experience as a professional to take him places he’s never been. Odlanier Solis was a great Cuban amateur but he was also an Olympic Gold Medalist, and I beat him twice. Ortiz thinks he has it tough. I’ve been avoided for my entire career. Just about all my fights have been on short notice and in foreign countries. If I fought the guys Ortiz fought, I’d be undefeated too. If Ortiz is King Kong, I’m Godzilla; Godzilla coming to whoop some ass!”

“To fight for the world championship is something that I have been training and fighting for my whole career,” said Sadam Ali. “I am grateful for the opportunity and promise all my fans I will not let them down. On March 5, I will have my hands raised up in victory as the new WBO Welterweight World Champion.”

“This is a different Jessie Vargas,” said Jessie Vargas. “I learned a lot from my last fight and I am ready to prove that I am still a world champion. I’m coming back with a Vengeance!”

“Jessie Vargas knows what’s at stake this time around” said Carl Moretti, VP, Top Rank. “He plans to take full advantage of this opportunity and we fully expect his hand to be raised as the winner in what promises to be a great fight.”

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February 8, 2016