By Scott Gilfoid: Unbeaten heavyweights Luis “King Kong” Ortiz (27-0, 23 KOs) and Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller (18-0-1, 16 KOs) could be facing each other on April 22 or May 20. Ortiz’s promoter Eddie Hearn is in favor of the fight, and why wouldn’t he? Ortiz is the more experienced fighter of the two with his extensive amateur background. Miller brings a lot of punching power and youth to the table at 28.
Ortiz is about to turn 38-years-old in March, although many boxing fans believe him to be in his early 40s. Ortiz had looked good in his pro career until recently when he failed to impress in wins over Dave Allen and Malik Scott. It’s not that Ortiz didn’t dominate though two fighters. He definitely dominated them both.
Showtime and HBO are both said to be interested in televising the Ortiz-Miller fight. They’ll bid on the fight. This could give Ortiz his first real test of his career, because he’s been facing guys with little talent and/or punching power thus far. Miller can punch with a lot of power to the head and body.
At 6’4”, 280+ pounds, Miller has the size to compete with the 6’3”, 235lb Ortiz. It’s not hard to figure out how to beat Ortiz. He has problems with guys that pressure him and set a fast pace. Ortiz always did have problems with fast pace fights even in his days in Cuba on the National amateur team. Ortiz does well when he’s the one setting the pace, but he struggles if his opponents take the fight to him.
Hearn said this to skysports.com about the Ortiz-Miller fight:
“That’s a fight we’re really looking to make in America and I think there is a very good chance you will see that fight in April,” said Hearn. “I think it’s a great fight between two very highly ranked and unbeaten fighters. Jarrell Miller loves to talk and it’s a fight we would love to make. I would do my own card for that in America. That would be the headline fight, and that’s what we are working toward.”
The winner of the Ortiz vs. Miller fight could face either the winner of the Anthony Joshua vs. Wladimir Klitschko fight or the Fres Oquendo vs. Shannon Briggs match-up. I’m sure they’d likely prefer to fight the Joshua-Klitschko winner, because the payday would be bigger in that fight.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Miller beats Ortiz. I’m not as impressed with Ortiz as I was in the past. He seems to be getting older, and he’s slow and hittable. If Miller can land his big power shots on Ortiz, I think he’ll beat him. Ortiz is at the age now where he’s vulnerable.