Ortiz, who normally fights from an orthodox stance, boxed from the outside as a southpaw, using footwork and jabs to set up quick counters. Lopez pushed forward, bursting with jabs and right hands, though he had difficulty cutting off the ring, especially following the third and fourth rounds.
It was reported that Lopez fought with a tear in his esophagus as well as complications with his asthma. A doctor following the bout said that Lopez was lucky to be alive. The fact that he still went 12 rounds while dealing with such an intense medical situation is pretty amazing.