Luis Ortiz is 46 years old, carrying a belly like a bloke who’s had too many Sunday roasts, and yet he’s still out there icing heavyweights. On Friday in Orlando, “King Kong” didn’t even break sweat. He folded America’s Phillip Penson in one round at the Caribe Royale, weighed a career-high 267lbs, and still landed bombs like it was 2015.
The whole thing was over in a blink. One left hand to the body bent Penson into the ropes like a wet deckchair. Seconds later, Ortiz landed the same shot up top, and that was that. Ref waved it off, fans barely had time to sip their beers. Two punches, two knockdowns, job done.
Still a Killer or Just a Pub Trick?
Penson (8-5-3) was never meant to last. This was Ortiz’s second straight first-round knockout since Andy Ruiz Jr sent him packing back in 2022. Sure, it looks good on paper, but look closer: Ortiz is lumbering in heavy, slow, built around power and not much else. At this point, is he sharpening steel or just crushing cans to keep his name alive?
His coach German Caicedo reckons the old man is still being avoided, he told BoxingScene.com: “He’s been the most avoided fighter in boxing. He’s never ducked anyone or said no to a fight.” Maybe that was true ten years ago, but right now it feels more like nobody wants to risk a payday on a bloke who might pull off a nasty upset but doesn’t bring ticket sales.
What’s Next – Payday or Retirement Cake?
Ortiz is in no man’s land. Too dangerous for prospects who don’t want to get splattered by a pensioner, not relevant enough for the big names chasing belts. Best he can hope for is one last roll of the dice against some contender who needs a scalp or a sloppy farewell fight against another past-it name.
Either way, King Kong’s clock is ticking. The belly’s getting bigger, the legs are slowing, but the left hand still wrecks people. And if boxing has taught us anything, it’s that promoters will happily throw an old warhorse into the ring if there’s a payday in it. Ortiz isn’t done – but Father Time is already warming up in his corner.
Last Updated on 09/20/2025
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