Luis Ortiz’s responses were measured, even and devoid of emotion when it comes to his upcoming fight against Bryant Jennings, a scheduled 12-rounder on HBO this Saturday at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, New York. That is until Ortiz was asked if he had any response to Jennings’ comments about his positive test for the banned anabolic steroid nandrolone in the post-fight drug screen after stopping Lateef Kayode in the first round on Sept. 11, 2014. It was later ruled a no-contest by the Nevada Athletic Commission.
“Number one, I don’t need to prove to anyone the confidence I have in myself as a fighter,” Ortiz said through his trainer and interpreter Herman Caicedo. “I have had much better competition as an amateur than Bryant Jennings, and though I haven’t faced the opponents that Jennings has had a professional, I have tried to get better, quality opponents the last four or five fights. As far as the steroids were concerned, I tested again right after that test and everything came back negative. The positive test could have been a result of a lot of different things. The positive came from very, very minute allowances allowed. They could have been from anything. Unfortunately, that was a result, and besides, who cares about that now?
“It’s been over a year, and I’m going to show things to Bryant Jennings on Dec. 19 that he hasn’t seen before,” he added. “If that’s what he’s basing his ability to beat me on, he’s in for a very rude awakening. I am angry over this. It’s over. Here’s the point: It was a very personal matter and I’m being accused of being a cheater, and my morals as a man are being questioned. That’s never been an issue with me. I have no reason to cheat, and I understand it happened. I’ve passed every test in my past. It’s not an issue. What happened set me back an entire year, and I’m ready to make that time up.”
Ortiz (23-0, 20 KOs) said he plans to show improved conditioning from his work with Caicedo. He is more than just a power puncher, more than a four-round fighter and has what it takes to go 12 hard rounds.
“When we got together three years ago, we wanted to make a conscious change to make Luis more than a good puncher,” Caicedo said. “What I’ve seen from him is a willingness to apply what we’re teaching him and what we’re asking. He’s willing to go 12, 15 rounds as a fighter. The biggest change has been his ability to manage and keep his endurance for 12, 15 rounds at a time. Over the past two years what I’ve seen the most is his adaption into becoming a championship fighter.”
What can we expect to see from Ortiz in the ring?
“There’s no way Bryant Jennings can go the distance with me,” Ortiz said. “This fight will be stopped within the distance.”
Caicedo echoed his thoughts. He feels both fighters will be in great shape and theirs will be a fight of attrition.
“The skill level and punching power will completely sway what Jennings has as a game plan,” Caicedo said. “It’s why I say this will end in a stoppage before the 12th round.”
Joseph Santoliquito is the president of the Boxing Writer's Association of America and a frequent contributor to Sherdog.com's mixed martial arts and boxing coverage. His archive can be found here.