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As BoxingScene.com previously reported, a hand injury has prevented heavyweight contender Luis Ortiz from accepted a potential fight against Filip Hrgovic, which would have been an IBF final eliminator for a mandatory crack at Oleksandr Usyk.
Ortiz, 42-years-old, injured his left hand in last Saturday’s fight at the Seminole Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida, when he overcame two knockdowns to score a knockout of former world champion Charles Martin in the sixth round.
On Monday, the IBF gave Ortiz only a three day deadline to agree to take part in a fight with Hrgovic.
According to Ortiz’s team, there simply wasn’t enough time for Ortiz to be in top form for such a contest.
Hrgovic and his team were looking for the fight to take place on a date in March or April.
“Basically, Luis had a minimal fracture that he should being able to heal without issues, but with something like that he does not want to take any risk,” said Ortiz’s manager, Jay Jiménez, to George Ebro.
“He is being evaluated, but he cannot fight as early as April, because he would not be in [the best physical condition]. We are not against fighting against Hrgovic, or against anyone, but let it happen with the best conditions for Luis.”
Ortiz would like to secure a fight with his Premier Boxing Champions stablemate, former unified champion Andy Ruiz. Ortiz called for a fight with Ruiz last year, but it never came off.
“I’m not afraid of anyone and I’m ready to fight whoever it is,” Ortiz repeated on several occasions, after his victory over Martin.
“I would like Andy Ruiz to accept my challenge, but if not, I will be ready for whoever comes, because nobody wants to fight with a man they call ‘old.'”