Boxing Monthly: The Safest Bets

Boxing Monthly: The Safest Bets

Mark E. Ortega

February 2014 ed. of Boxing Monthly

I was lucky to get included in renowned British boxing magazine Boxing Monthly this month. This is my fourth appearance in the publication, this time a six-page spread detailing 14 prospects to keep your eye on as well as five unbeatens I think will lose their perfect record this year.

Porter wins rematch with Diaz; Jack and Periban fight to draw

Porter wins rematch with Diaz; Jack and Periban fight to draw
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
September 12, 2013


LAS VEGAS – Former lightweight titleholder Julio Diaz will fight his slip into gatekeeper status kicking and screaming as evidenced by the effort he put up in losing a unanimous decision to undefeated Shawn Porter on Thursday night in a ballroom of the MGM Grand.

The 10-round fight, which was televised on Fox Sports 2, was a rematch. In December, Porter and Diaz fought to a draw that most felt was edged by the veteran fighter. Perhaps people leaned Diaz's way because they were shocked at the tremendous effort he put forth as well as taking into consideration the fact that most had written him off following a bad knockout loss to Kendall Holt the year before.

Diaz gave his career new life in the draw with Porter and subsequent close loss to Amir Khan in March. In the meantime, Porter easily decisioned unbeaten but lightly regarded Phil Lo Greco earlier in May.

Click here to read the rest...

Wilder blasts Liakhovich in one round on ShoBox

Wilder blasts Liakhovich in one round on ShoBox
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
August 9, 2013


INDIO, Calif. – 2008 Olympic bronze medalist Deontay Wilder had never gone more than four rounds in his professional career. Veteran Sergei Liakhovich, who previously had never been stopped before the ninth round, seemed the guy to extend the undefeated KO artist.

However, the former WBO titleholder didn't make it a full minute. The bout headlined a three fight ShoBox card at the Fantasy Springs Resort & Casino.

That Liakhovich was stopped wasn't the surprise, the way in which Wilder sent him spiraling to the canvas 43 seconds in was.

“Sometimes it scares me when I can tap a guy and hit him and they just fall,” said Wilder after the knockout. “Did you see the reaction when I hit him? It was like he was falling from a roof or something.”

Click here to read the rest...