According to boxer Luis Ortiz’s birth certificate, the Cuban southpaw was born on March 29, 1979, making him 40 years old. OK, boomer. We have video evidence that he fought Pernell Whitaker for a gold medal in the ‘84 Olympics:
We’re just joking (the above Luis Ortiz is a Puerto Rican lightweight), but some conspiracy theorists genuinely believe “King Kong” is much older than officially listed. Just peep these hilarious memes:
There’s merit to this ridiculous running gag though. Most Cuban fighters spend their primes as amateurs after Fidel Castro banned the sport professionally. To pursue their pro boxing dreams, many Cuban fighters including Ortiz end up defecting to the United States at ages where most fighters are contemplating retirement. Because diplomatic relations between the US and Cuba are worse than Top Rank and PBC, it’s virtually impossible to confirm the fighters’ birth certificates. Maybe one-day VADA will start carbon-dating fighters?
It’s not just internet trolls that have something to say about Ortiz’s age. Tyson Fury (okay, bad example of a non-internet troll) said earlier this year that the Cuban is “147 years old.” If true, he would surpass Jeanne Calment, who lived until 122, as the oldest person ever to live. Heavyweight contender Amir Mansour believes Ortiz is at least ten years older than his listed age. Mansour claims to have learned this from a source who competed with Ortiz on the Cuban Olympic boxing team. If Mansour’s accusations are true, Ortiz looks insanely good for 50.
We hate to spoil the party, but there’s a good chance Ortiz isn’t lying about his age. There’s footage of “King Kong” fighting in the amateurs in 2005.
Whatever age Ortiz is, he still has the skill, size, and power that give him more than a fighting chance against Deontay Wilder this Saturday in their highly-anticipated rematch.
