Luis Ortiz vs Charles Martin – Results & Post-Fight Report

Luis Ortiz twice came off the canvas, as he knocked out Charles Martin in six rounds of their IBF heavyweight title eliminator at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

Ortiz had twice unsuccessfully challenged for the WBC title, losing in thrillers to Deontay Wilder, while Martin had the briefest of reigns as IBF champion back in 2016, before surrendering his belt to Anthony Joshua in April of that year. Both men were coming into this one on the back of lengthy lay-offs.

There was drama from the opening round here, as Martin scored a first round knockdown, connecting with a sneaky right hand that felled the Cuban. Martin was getting better of the boxing element of the fight, which was a surprise considering Ortiz’s background, and the former world champion was winning the battle of the southpaw jabs. Martin notched a second knockdown in round four, tying a shot when Ortiz came in to perfection, although ‘King Kong’ beat the count comfortably enough.

Behind on all three cards, Ortiz came to life in the sixth, as a massive left hook landed flush on Martin’s face, and he immediately looked out on his feet. Ortiz went for the jugular, and several follow up shots forced Martin to seek refuge on the canvas. As he fell, his glove got tangled in the ropes, and the referee had to free him. Martin beat the count, and then battled admirably, until another barrage of heavy shots had him on the deck once more, where this time the action was halted by the official.

On a night that showcased mainly heavyweights, Cuban prospect Frank Sanchez banked his 20th straight win as a professional as he won every round of his ten round affair with late notice replacement, Christian Hammer. Hammer was decked in the final frame, and lost 100-89 on all three scorecards.

Jonathan Rice stunned Michael Polite Coffie in July with a fifth round stoppage win, and he repeated the trick, this time taking a unanimous decision victory over ten rounds. A 99-91 scorecard, and two more at 97-93, ensured that Coffie suffered back-to-back defeats.

Ali Eren Demirezen was behind by a point on all three scorecards going into the eighth round of his ten rounder with Gerald Washington, but the Turk managed to force a stoppage as Washington eventually drained of energy, and his trainer, Buddy McGirt, chose to stop the contest.

Viktor Vykhryst had to survive a major scare, stopping Iago Kaladze in two rounds, with the Ukrainian on the floor in rounds one and two, and Kaladze down three times before being halted. The final heavyweight attraction saw Lenier Pero take an eight round win on the cards against Geovany Bruzon.

At lightweight, exciting prospect Frank Martin scored two knockdowns against Romero Duno in the fourth, before stopping the Filipino in the same round. Light heavyweight Atif Oberlton remained unbeaten, as he stopped Ernest Amazu in two rounds.