Carlos Ortiz Wiki
Carlos Ortiz Biography
Who was Carlos Ortiz?
Puerto Rican boxing legend Carlos Ortiz has died at the age of 85.
The former two-weight world champion died Monday in New York. His death came the day after a three-class International Boxing Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
Ortiz was a regular fixture since his induction in 1991 and his tragic passing was confirmed by the World Boxing Organization.
Career
They said: “The WBO family is mourning the passing of legendary lightweight and junior welterweight champion Carlos Ortiz.
“Born in Ponce and raised in New York, Ortiz was
one of the best and most popular boxers of the 1960s. May he rest in peace.”
The WBC added: “We have very sad news again in the boxing world, as Puerto Rican world champion Carlos Ortiz has passed away.
Carlos was an outstanding world champion in two divisions and had a fabulous 17-year career between 1955 and 1973, accumulating a record of 61 wins with 30 knockouts, 7 losses and a draw.
Ortiz moved to New York from Puerto Rico and in 1955 turned professional at just 18 years old.
Just four years later, in 1959, he became the light welterweight champion of the world.
In 1962, Ortiz dropped down to lightweight, where he won the WBA title and then the WBC version.
After a storied 17-year career, his last fight was in 1972, when he lost to Scottish icon Ken Buchanan at New York’s famed Madison Square Garden.
Ortiz joins Wilfredo Gómez, Wilfred Benítez, Félix Trinidad, Héctor Camacho and Miguel Cotto as Puerto Rican legends.
