Luis Ortiz lands clash with Tony Thompson in Washington DC
Monday 8 February 2016 20:18, UK
Luis Ortiz will defend his WBA Interim heavyweight title against Tony Thompson in Washington DC next month.
Ortiz (24-0-KO21) claimed the belt in 2014 and has since made a couple of defences, most recently when knocking out Bryant 'By-By' Jennings in December.
The 36-year-old, who arrived in the United States from his native Cuba in 2010, will headline the card at the DC Armoury against former world title challenger Thompson (40-6-KO27).
"This fight is just another stepping stone on my path to becoming the unified heavyweight world champion," said 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."
Thompson is looking to rebuild his career, not for the first time, against Ortiz and he will go into the fight on the back of three defeats in five outings since his back-to-back victories over Britain's David Price in 2013.
But 'the Tiger' remains in confident mood and feels he can be the first professional to defeat 'The Real King Kong'.
"If you look at my competition and his [Ortiz], it's not even close. This isn't the amateurs," Thompson said.
"I'm going to use my experience as a professional to take him places he has never been. Odlanier Solis was a great Cuban amateur but he was also an Olympic gold medallist, 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."
