Manuel Ortiz (boxer)
| Manuel Ortiz | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | Manuel Ortiz |
| Rated at |
Lightweight Featherweight Bantamweight |
| Height | 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) |
| Reach | 66 in (168 cm) |
| Nationality | American |
| Born |
July 2, 1916 Corona, California |
| Died | May 31, 1970 (aged 53) |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 130 |
| Wins | 99 |
| Wins by KO | 53 |
| Losses | 28 |
| Draws | 3 |
| No contests | 0 |
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.
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. He defended the title 15 times before losing to Harold Dade in 1947. He regained the title in a rematch later in the year, and defended the title five 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".[1]
| 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 |