Cuban dangerman Luis Ortiz returned from a one year lay-off to breeze past a hapless Alexander Flores in just 45 seconds at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Saturday night.
His return ended in odd circumstances. In the opening skirmishes, ‘King Kong’ Ortiz (32-2, 27 KOs & 2 NC) drilled Flores with a right hand to the body that saw his forearm make contact with the Californian’s right eye.
Flores’ left leg suddenly gave way from under him and he collapsed to the canvas. He struggled to his feet where the contest was waved off before a minute had passed.
Southpaw Ortiz, 41, was returning after losing a second WBC title challenge against Deontay Wilder (LKO7) in November 2019 but barely broke a sweat. Flores (18-3-1, 16 KOs) folded in alarming fashion.
Another Cuban heavy, Frank Sanchez, added to his win column with a fourth-round victory over Brian Howard, scoring three knockdowns in the process.
‘The Cuban Flash’ was aggressive from the outset before dropping Howard (15-4, 12 KOs) with a right hand late in the third. A vibrant Sanchez (16-0, 12 KOs) scored two further knockdowns in the fourth, courtesy of left hooks, before referee Jerry Cantu stepped in soon afterwards to save the overwhelmed Howard from further punishment.
Photo: Sean Michael Ham/TGB Promotions.
Unbeaten heavy Michael Coffie (11-0, 8 KOs) won another weird one against the experienced Joey Abell (35-11, 33 KOs), prevailing in the second round after Abell sustained an injury to his right arm.
Photo: Sean Michael Ham/TGB Promotions.
Abell brought early persistence, but his right arm drooped after a burst of pressure before Coffie unleashed a left hand to the body and right uppercut to drop him to the canvas. He was never likely to continue.
Main image and all photos: Sean Michael Ham/TGB Promotions.