Carlos Ortiz in hunt for
‘World’s Greatest Ever’ Lightweight award Spectacular Three-Day
Celebration
November 17, 2009
LAS VEGAS (Nov. 17, 2009) – Puerto Rican
great Carlos Ortiz, 4-time world champion in two weight classes, is
still fighting but now it’s for global votes in the Lightweight Division
of the “World’s Greatest Ever Boxer” (WGEB) promotion.
Ortiz presently is in heated competition for top honors in arguably the
most stacked “WGEB” weight class with nine other official Lightweight
candidates: Joe “The Old Master” Gans, Benny “The Ghetto Wizard”
Leonard, Tony “Canzi” Canzoneri, Henry “Homicide Hank” Armstrong, Ike
Williams, Roberto “Hands of Stone” Duran, Julio Cesar “JC” Chavez,
Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker and Floyd “Money” Mayweather, Jr.
On-line voting at GreatestEver.com allows boxing fans from around the
world to select the greatest boxer in each of the original eight weight
classes, highlighted by the all-time pound-for-pound “The World’s
Greatest Ever Boxer.”
Ortizm who moved from his native Puerto Rico to New York City before
starting his pro boxing career (1955-1972), defeated six world champions
– Duilio Loi, Joe Brown, Flash Elorde (twice), Ismael Laguna (twice),
Nicolino Locche and Sugar Ramos (twice).
In 1959, Ortiz became the first Puerto Rican world champion in more than
30 years, since Sixto Escobar, as well as only the second all-time from
his country, when he stopped Kenny Lane in the second round for the
vacant world light welterweight title. Carlos added the WBA lightweight
title belt to his display case in 1962 by winning a 15-round decision
against Brown.
Ortiz is among numerous “WGEB” nominees attending the Dec. 11-13 weekend
festivities. “It is an honor and privilege to be chosen as a candidate
along with some of the world’s greatest boxers of all time,”
International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee Ortiz said. “I am looking
forward to spending time with my fellow World Champions. I’m also
looking forward to spending time in Las Vegas with boxing fans from
around the world. It should be a great event.”
The winners in the eight divisions, plus “The World’s Greatest Ever
Boxer,” will be announced Sunday, Dec. 13, the final day of a three-day
celebration of these outstanding boxers in The Paris Las Vegas.
The weekend of events Dec. 11-13 at the Paris Las Vegas include a USA
vs. The World pro-boxing show on Saturday (Dec 12). Final results of the
global on-line vote at GreatestEver.com will be announced Sunday (Dec.
13) at“The World’s Greatest Ever Boxer” black-tie awards dinner. Tickets
to the dinner are available at (702. 617.9730). The Retired Boxers
Foundation (RBF) is the official charity.
Tickets for the US vs. World pro boxing show are priced at $150 (Super
VIP), $100 (Platinum), $80 (VIP), $65 (Gold) and (newly added) $40. The
fight card plus hospitality packages are priced at $500 (Super VIP),
$400 (Platinum) $250 (VIP) and $150 (Gold), as well as for the Greatest
Ever Dinner Awards Ceremony and Entertainment at $1000 (Super VIP), $800
(Platinum), $450 (VIP) and $250 (Gold).
