Manuel Ortiz (boxer)

Manuel Ortiz (July 2, 1916 May 31, 1970) was one of the very best boxers of the 1940s, and was named to Ring Magazine's list of the 80 Best Fighters of the Last 80 Years. In 1996, he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Manuel Ortiz
Statistics
Real nameManuel Ortiz
Weight(s)Lightweight
Featherweight
Bantamweight
Height5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
Reach66 in (168 cm)
NationalityAmerican
Born(1916-07-02)July 2, 1916
Corona, California
DiedMay 31, 1970(1970-05-31) (aged 53)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights131
Wins100
Wins by KO54
Losses28
Draws3
No contests0

Amateur career

Ortiz, who was of Mexican American descent, started an amateur career in 1937. Within a year, Ortiz won the Southern California Amateur Flyweight Title, the Golden Gloves Title, and the National AAU title in Boston. He also defeated Chief Lopez, who was an Olympic runner-up, and Bobby Hagar (father of former Van Halen frontman Sammy Hagar) twice. In their first fight, Ortiz decked Hagar 17 times. In their second match, Ortiz decked Hagar twenty times.

Professional career

Ortiz turned pro in 1938 and in 1942 won the World Bantamweight title by beating Lou Salica.[1] He defended the title a division record of 15 times against 11 boxers[2] before losing to Harold Dade in 1947. He regained the title in a rematch later in the year, and defended the title four more times before losing the belt to Vic Toweel in 1950. He retired 5 years later in 1955.

Outside the Ring

  • Ortiz made a very brief appearance in a gym scene in the 1947 movie Killer McCoy.
  • Ortiz served in the U.S. Army.
  • Ortiz died from cirrhosis of the liver after a long illness in 1970.
  • Ortiz is the very first boxer in the prominent boxing online database on Boxrec.com, having the Global ID number of simply "1".[3]

See also

References

  1. "Manuel Ortiz - Lineal Bantamweight Champion". The Cyber Boxing Zone Encyclopedia.
  2. "Manuel Ortiz, p. 648" (pdf). The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall Of Fame Official Record Book. International Boxing Hall Of Fame. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  3. http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=1&cat=boxer
Achievements
Preceded by
Lou Salica
World Bantamweight Champion
7 Aug 1942 6 Jan 1947
Succeeded by
Harold Dade
Preceded by
Harold Dade
World Bantamweight Champion
11 Mar 1947 31 May 1950
Succeeded by
Vic Toweel
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